The Best Elizabeth Taylor Movies

Important Movies In Elizabeth Taylor's Career

Elizabeth Taylor was definitely an icon. She left us in 2011 but because of her amazing beauty, talent and incredibly long career, she left us with some very memorable movies.

This page is dedicated to the BEST ELIZABETH TAYLOR MOVIES. It includes some movies that are important for different reasons like There's One Born Every Minute in which Taylor made her acting debut. You will find the Liz Taylor movies that you have heard of like National Velvet, Cleopatra and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. You will also find a few films that are important but perhaps less well known unless, of course, you are an avid fan of 'Liz. Those films include movies like Reflections in a Golden Eye, Beau Brummell and Suddenly Last Summer.

From a collection of what is said to be more than 50 movies, it is hard to pick a single best Elizabeth Taylor movie because best means different things to different people so on this page you will find 18 of the films considered to be key in Liz Taylor's career. I am truly amazed and impressed by the body of work that she left behind. I think you will be, too.

Click here to see Amazon's collection of Elizabeth Taylor movies.

Elizabeth Taylor At The Movies 

Here is an interesting and well-done video, a nine minute introduction to Elizabeth Taylor's movies.

There's One Born Every Minute (1942)

In the 1942 production, There's One Born Every Minute, Elizabeth Taylor made her screen debut. She was just ten years old when she appeared in this comedy as the spoiled rotten daughter of a man who manufactures pudding, who enters into the mayoral race and who makes a promise that he cannot keep. Unfortunately, it appears that you cannot BUY There's One Born Every Minute in any format. Not one of Taylor's best movies but definitely noteworthy since it was the first.

Lassie, Come Home (1943)

This is a classic movie featuring a couple of faces you might recognize including Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor, the latter who was already considered a beauty at the age of ten when she appeared in Lassie Come Home. Roddy and Elizabeth help Lassie escape an unkind master. This film is great for many reasons including the fact that we see a young Elizabeth Taylor in it but one must not forget Lassie was a great actor, too. This movie delivers a romantic score, a return to simpler times and a strong message about loyalty.

Order Lassie Come Home from Amazon.

National Velvet (1944) 

National Velvet is considered Elizabeth Taylor's break through role. She was just 12 years old when she established herself in the heart of her fans and there she would stay for the rest of her life. This classic film also features Mickey Rooney, Anne Revere (who won an Oscar as the mother), Donald Crisp and Angela Lansbury.

National Velvet tells the story of a young girl who enters her horse in the Grand National Steeplechase. It was considered by many one of the nicest movies of its time and one of Elizabeth Taylor's best movies.

Order National Velvet from Amazon.

Father of the Bride (1950)

Father of the Bride is a 1950 Vincente Minnelli movie, which stars Spencer Tracy as the father who is trapped in the details of his daughter's wedding and Elizabeth Taylor as the beautiful bride. Tracy was extremely well played and won an Academy Award nomination for his "magnificent, gruffly warm and funny" portrayal of the father and Taylor's beauty as a bride was presented in all of its glory.

Father of the Bride also earned Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and for Screenplay. The story went on to have almost as many versions as Eliazbeth Taylor did weddings...but that's another story.

Order Father of the Bride from Amazon.

A Place in the Sun (1951)

A Place in the Sun is the 1951 movie that Kenneth Turan, movie critic for the L.A. Times discusses in the video shown above as THE Elizabeth Taylor role he would recommend, if he had to chose just one. He highly praises Taylor's performance in this movie saying that she had a "young honesty and captivating naturalness." He said that this movie featured an extraordinary, standout performance by Taylor and that she was able to handle some extremely close up shots that many actresses would not have been able to handle -- from a beauty and a talent perspective.

The Amazon reviewer says that, "Taylor makes a strong impression, but Winters is awfully good in the less-glamorous role. The tone of the film is oppressive -- the film doesn't exactly breathe with possibility -- but there are lots of good reasons to give this movie a visit." If you decide this is the film to see based on Kenneth Turan's recommendation, be aware that it is not an upbeat movie.

Order A Place in the Sun from Amazon.

The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954)

1954 was definitely the busiest year of Elizabeth Taylor's movie career as she appeared in four movies. Some of these are also amongst her hard-to-find movies with one never released on DVD and one that has been discontinued on DVD. Read more...

Starring Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson, The Last Time I Saw Paris is F. Scott Fitzgerald's love story which tells of a G.I. who wants to be a writer who falls in love with alcohol when his book is not well received. Elizabeth tries to protect him from his desire to self-destruct by showering him with love.

Read more: The Last Time I Saw Paris movie review or order your copy from Amazon.

Beau Brummell (1954)

Beau Brummell has not been released on DVD (in North American format) and is therefore only available on a somewhat rare VHS videotape or by rental through Amazon by clicking here.

Elephant Walk (1954)

In Elephant Walk Elizabeth Taylor plays a newlywed who goes to a tea plantation and falls in love with someone else. Love does not turn out to be the big problem. Instead, it is the cholera epidemic, drought and thirst driven elephants that cause the big issues. Elephant Walk is now available on DVD or as a video rental from Amazon.

Order Elephant Walk from Amazon.

Rhapsody

In Rhapsody, Elizabeth Taylor is a young woman who is in love with two men. She goes abroad with a violinist but meets a pianist and must pick between the two. This is a romantic movie filmed partly in Paris, Zurich, St. Moritz and Rome. My kind of movie, well at least the travel part sounds like my kind of movie. I am perfectly content with the one man in my life, LOL.

Order Rhapsody from Amazon.

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

Suddenly, Last Summer has an impressive lineup which includes Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn, Montgomery Clift, Albert Dekker, Mercedes McCambridge and Gary Raymond. The story is that of psychiatric doctor in the 1930s and a female patient who is a lobotomy candidate because she witnessed her male cousin die in Spain the previous summer.

Order Suddenly, Last Summer from Amazon.

BUtterfield 8 (1960)

Elizabeth Taylor won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in BUtterfield 8. It featured Taylor and Laurence Harvey and was based on a 1935 John O'Hara novel but the story is said to only slightly resemble the novel.

Taylor plays a model with loose morals who has a chance to change her ways when she meets and spends time with a man who married for money and is unhappy about having done so. They fall for each other but have to defeat some of their own problems.

Amazon calls it a "big boozy melodrama, full of gorgeous clothes, catty comments and emotional showdowns." Taylor is said to do a great job of being overblown and sincere at the same time and her portrayal of the emotions of grief and anger are considered immediate and genuine.

If you are wondering about the title of BUtterfield 8, that is a capital B and a capital U and then the number 8, it apparently comes from the old telephone exchange names in the United States and Canada. Until the 1960s, telephone numbers were often referred to by a name. Wikipedia says that BUtterfield 8 "provided service to ritzy precincts of Manhattan's Upper East Side." Dialing a B and a U are equal to a 2 and an 8 and when you add the 8 already mentioned in the name, you get the number 288.

Order Butterfield 8 from Amazon.

Cleopatra

Considered one of the most lavish films ever made, Cleopatra tells the story of the Queen of the Nile and her lovers, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Richard Burton and Rex Harrison are considered to have given excellent performances but Elizabeth Taylor was definitely the star and this is one of the most glamorous roles she took on during her lengthy acting career.Cleopatra won Oscars for cinematography, sets and special effects. Amazon says, "Bolstered by a talented supporting cast and utterly stunning backdrops, here is a truly epic portrayal of the woman who conquered two of Rome's greatest soldiers, affected the course of history, and became synonymous with beguiling beauty."

Order Cleopatra from Amazon.

The Sandpiper (1965)

1965's The Sandpiper is an Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton movie which also stars Eva Marie Saint and Charles Bronson and is directed by Vincent Minnelli. It's a small town story of illicit love between a single mother and a married minister. The mother shocks a private school system and its Episcopalian priest with her bohemian ways but eventually the woman and the priest are attracted to each other.

Order The Sandpiper from Amazon.

Reflections In A Golden Eye (1967)

Reflections in a Golden Eye starred Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Brian Keith and Julie Harris. It tells the story of these and two other characters including their dark secrets, failures and obsessions. It takes place in a military camp and shares the story of Captain Weldon Penderton and his wife.

Reflections In A Golden Eye was supposed to have featured Montgomery Clift. However, he passed away before the film started and Marlon Brando eventually took the spot.

Wikipedia says that this movie was originally put out with all the scenes tinted golden and with one object colored normally. It was confusing to audiences so it was withdrawn. I think it would be interesting to see that effect today.

Order Reflections in a Golden Eye from Amazon.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966) 

Elizabeth Taylor won her second Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf is a 1966 movie adapted from a play of the same name featuring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal and Sandy Dennis. It was extremely well received and was nominated for an Academy Award in every category possible (thirteen) and won five of them including the Academy Award for Best Actress for Elizabeth Taylor (her second) and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Sandy Dennis as well as for Best Art Direction, Cinematography and Costume Design.

Elizabeth Taylor was brash, drunk and frustrated as the wife of a university academic. Richard Burton was the history professor who happened to be married to the college president's daughter. George Segal and Sandy Dennis played the younger couple who had no understanding of the psychological games that they were being drawn into.

Amazon Customer K. Harris calls this movie "one of film's greatest performances" and says that it is one you should not miss. She calls Elizabeth Taylor a wonder especially in this role when she is not a beauty but rather a "desperate, vicious, sexual, middle-aged hag." With Richard Burton as a hen-pecked husband, George Segal as the rival and Sandy Dennis as the naïve wife, this is a movie you should NOT miss. Harris closes by saying that this movie is also funny "a wicked, nasty, bitterly hilarious story" and that every adult who loves "awesome entertainment, great writing and magical performances" should see.

Order your copy of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf from Amazon.

Elizabeth Taylor Signature Collection

A BOXED SET CONTAINING FOUR OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S BEST MOVIES: NATIONAL VELVET, FATHER OF THE BRIDE, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF AND BUTTERFIELD 8.

If I were looking to buy a number of her BEST movies, I would consider buying this set, which covers almost thirty years of Elizabeth Taylor's career starting as it does in 1944 with National Velvet and ending in 1960 with Butterfield 8.

Order your Elizabeth Taylor Signature Collection from Amazon.

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton Film Collection

THIS BOXED SET INCLUDES WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF SPECIAL EDITION, THE COMEDIANS, THE SANDPIPER AND THE V.I.P.S.

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were an amazing pair of British actors. Amazon calls them, "a perfect storm of talent, glamour and offscreen scandal" which describes them and their lives together on and off screen perfectly. (Taylor was married to Burton, twice.)

This four movie set features films from the 1960s, their heyday and includes Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (for which Taylor received an Academy Award), The V.I.P.s, The Sandpiper (which received an oscar for the song The Shadow of Your Smile) and The Comedians.

Order this Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton Film Collection from Amazon.

IN CLOSING

What do YOU think are the BEST Elizabeth Taylor movies?

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

More Elizabeth Taylor Reading

Meet Elizabeth (Liz) Taylor: A Brief Biography

How would YOU summarize the life of someone as amazing as Elizabeth Taylor? Would you use words like beautiful and talented? If so, you would just be scratching the surface of what made Liz Taylor special. I just stumbled across a lovely video...


You Can Own Andy Warhol's Elizabeth Taylor

With the passing of Elizabeth Taylor on March 23, 2011, there is a heightened interest in everything and anything to do with this beautiful and legendary woman. I have been listening with keen interest to the news about Liz #5, one of Andy Warhol's..

Author's Note: This page first written elsewhere in 2011.

Don't Look Now (1973) Movie Review

Don’t Look Now is a 1973 psychological or psychic thriller, a horror movie that is full of suspense rather than a lot of gore. This film stars Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. The Guardian considers this to be amongst the top five performances given by Sutherland and Christie, like Sutherland, has a long list of credits to her name that include Doctor Zhivago, Finding Neverland and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Don’t Look Now is set in Venice, Italy an “elegantly decaying city," words that certainly depict the Venice you see in this movie. Shot in the wintertime, Venice is abandoned, gray and miserable. Watching this film gives you a good idea of what the layout of Venice is like in terms of canals, walkways and bridges but it will do little to make you want to visit the city.

Venice is the third star in this movie, lending exactly the right atmosphere with plenty of dead ends and wrong turns to create the perfect atmosphere and set. Roger Ebert  said that could not picture this film set anywhere else and I agree and The Guardian calls the Venice of this movie mysterious and exotic and untouristy. Once again, I agree.

Don't Look Now tells the story of a couple struggling to get past the death of a child who relocate to Venice and chance to meet two weird sisters, one of whom is psychic. These women appear throughout the movie in a haunting fashion but beware for as the movie tagline says, “Things are not what they seem.”

Here’s the original movie trailer, which has no spoilers in it.

What is there to object to?

This movie is rated R for Restricted so there is a lot to be aware of. There is an accidental death, an extended sex scene and a nasty murder with blood but the movie is really more suspenseful than gory. There is drinking and smoking.

As I expected when we were watching the movie, the sex scene was very controversial in its time. It might be important to note that, although lengthy, the scene is meant to be the beautiful coming together of two married adults who had drifted apart. The Guardian  considers the sex scene to be one of the ten best because of the “emotional freight” that comes with it.

Recommended?

The case for this movie says that Don’t Look Now is as renowned “for its innovative editing and haunting cinematography as it is for its naturalistic eroticism and unforgettable climax and denouement” and that it is considered one of the great endings in horror movie history.

In 2002, Roger Ebert said this movie “remains one of the great horror masterpieces” elaborating by saying, that it “works not with fright, which is easy, but with dread, grief and apprehension.” Exactly.

I chose this movie because it was set in Venice and it definitely turned out to be an interesting choice though not perhaps in the way I thought it might. With the warnings mentioned in the preceding paragraph, I would recommend this movie for those who want something different and who are interested in the history of cinema. It does give a peek into the workings of Venice but is definitely not a great travelogue for the city.

Blu-ray.com  praises Criterion for the quality of the digital restoration so if you buy this movie, you probably should buy the Criterion Collection version, which will also allow you to watch the special features and learn more about how this movie was made and why it is important to the history of cinematography.

Here’s the trailer for the Criterion reissue in which you will definitely be able to see the improvement of quality from that of the original trailer, which was shown above.

Don’t Look Now is based on a short story by Daphne du Maurier. If you are a reader, it might be a movie to check out in print form prior to or even after watching the movie. Because it was a short story, the movie provides more story than the author's version. You can learn more about or buy your copy of the Criterion Collection's version on Amazon by clicking right here.

By the way, The Guardian and other sources online say that  Don’t Look Now is being remade. Given the nature of the story and it’s position as one of Britain’s finest horror stories, there is considerable scepticism about whether this is the appropriate type of movie for a remake. If you watch the film or have seen it, I am sure you will understand why it might be hard to successfully remake this movie.

Will you be watching or reading Don't Look Now? If you have seen it, what did you think? Finally, what do you think of the idea of a remake this movie?

See you
At the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Read more about Don't Look Now from Amazon.
Not-too-scary Movies for Tweens.

Walt Disney Short Films Collection

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes a new collection of short films including the much anticipated Frozen Fever with Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, which is available for the first time on Blu-ray disc or DVD

It includes the Oscar-nominated Lorenzo.

It includes classic cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse in Get A Horse.

It has ten additional shorts: Paperman, Feast, John Henry, The Little Matchgirl, How To Hook Up Your Home Theater, Tick Tock Tale, Prep and Landing: Operation Secret Santa, The Ballad Of Nessie and Tangled Ever for a total of twelve animated shorts.

Special features include introductions to and interviews with Disney animators and film makers.

Blu-ray.com praises the virtue of some of the shorts, most notably Paperman and Feast, and calls some of them hit or miss. The reviewer warns that many of the shorts have been seen before as extras on other Blu-ray releases so if you own or have seen many Disney shorts before, you may not see them for the first time in this collection. They do go on to praise the audio visual quality of the Blu-ray release.

Jim Hill of the Huffington Post says, “It’s a clever collection of modern era Disney animated shorts that is a must-have for any serious film fan." Will you be adding it to your collection?

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy your Walt Disney Short Films Collection from Amazon.
More Disney gift ideas.

Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection on Blu-ray

What Bond fan would not love to upgrade their James Bond movie collection with this blu-ray boxed set?

Issued in 2012, it features all of the Bond movies. That means a whopping 50 years worth of movies.

Travel with Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig on their adventures as 007.

Amazon customer reviews are mostly positive with the review voted most helpful saying that Never Say Never Again is excluded supposedly because it was not a part of the original series.  Take a peek at the advertisement for the set:

I know that the boxed set would make a spectacular gift for the dad who lives in our house and for any dad or man who loves James Bond and wants to own the movies on blu-ray disc.

See you

at the movies!

Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy your Bond 50 set from Amazon.

Iron Man Ultimate 2-Disc Edition Blu-ray Review

Iron Man Was One Of The Best Blu-ray Movies of 2008

Iron Man is a fun, action packed movie starring Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly because of Downey and his character, Tony Stark.

DVD Talk Review says, that "while most superhero movies these days are duking it out over who's grittier, bleaker, and the most hellbent on slaughtering their supporting casts, Iron Man captures everything I love about Marvel comics." About the blu-ray release, they say that "Iron Man looks and sounds incredible on Blu-ray, and the movie is backed by somewhere in the neighborhood of four and a half hours of high definition extras."

High Def Digest writes "This Blu-ray is unequivocally terrific...with great video and even better audio, plus hours of HD-quality supplements. 'Iron Man' on blu-ray is a no-brainer."

The Movie Mom writes an excellent movie review, not of the blu-ray release but with a solid look at the appropriateness of the movie for children and the PG13 rating.

Finally, I highly recommend the Amazon Customer Reviews for this movie. I think they are great, there are many of them and they come from a wide variety of individuals. Most importantly, Iron Man scores 1,432 5-star reviews and they include wording like, "great use of special effects is good to dazzle your friends," "Iron Man could well replace Superman in the Big Three of comic book superheroes in the movies along with Spider-Man and Batman" and "the 2-Disc ultimate edition delivers!"

If you are interested, you can buy Iron Man on Blu-ray from Amazon by clicking here. The Blu-ray reviews on this page are about the Ultimate 2-Disc Edition, as shown at the top of the page.  The ultimate edition comes with a second disc full of extra features and BD live.  Unfortunately, this edition seems to be selling at a premium on Amazon. However, you can find it on eBay new and used at a much lower price point by clicking right here.

You might also choose the Iron Man three movie collection boxed set as shown here on Amazon. If you are adding one Iron Man movie to your Blu-ray collection, you are going to want to add them all though if you want all of the special features, the 2-disc edition is your best bet.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

See all of Amazon's Iron Man movie choices by clicking here.

The Noble Collection Harry Potter Artefact Box

It's been awhile since I have written about our boy hero, Harry Potter though I still think of him and his world regularly.

Yesterday I stumbled across this boxed set, the Harry Potter Artefact box, which is an officially authorized Warner Brothers product that was manufactured by The Noble Collection.

If you are looking for a new gift idea for a Harry Potter fan, this looks like a fun set. Packed within it are:

☛ A Hogwarts' Acceptance Letter

☛ A Sirius Black Wanted Poster

☛ A Quidditch World Cup Ticket

☛ A Lily Potter Letter to Sirius

☛ A Hogwarts Express Luggage Tag

☛ An Order of the Phoenix Lenticular Photo

☛ Dumbledore's Army Signature List


The Amazon customer reviews are stellar with comments like better than expected, that it is Potterhead approved and that Harry Potter fans really enjoy it.

I would be remiss if I did not tell you that there are also Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley Artefact boxes available. You can find them all three of these boxed sets on Amazon by clicking right here.

My children grew up with the boy wizard so Harry Potter will forever hold a special place in my heart. How about you? Are you a Harry Potter fan? Or maybe you have a fan in your life?

Brenda
See you at
the movies!

Quick Links:

Buy your Harry Potter Artefact box on Amazon.
Discover my new, used and vintage Harry Potter eBay listings.

Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection Limited Edition Blu-ray Boxed Set

Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection Limited Edition Blu-ray Boxed Set contains 15 of Hitchcock's films all digitally restored so that they are looking the best that they can.  

Included are Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt, Rope, Rear Window, The Trouble with Harry, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho, The Birds, Marnie, Torn Curtain, Topaz, Frenzy and Family Plot.

Also included are 15 hours of bonus features.  If you have watched a lot of Hitchcock films, you may find that you have seen most of them. However, this boxed set does include a new 15 minute The Birds retrospective.

On these discs you will find guest appearances by James Stewart, Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Paul Newman, Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Tippi Hedren, Sean Connery and Kim Novak. In case you are curious, Paul Newman appeared in Torn Curtain and Sean Connery appeared in Marnie.

Blu-ray.com says that it is not a perfect set but that it is definitely one that a fan will enjoy.  They rank it 7.7 out of 10 and say that it will most appeal to mystery and psychological thriller fans. 

I would love to own this set. How about you?  Are you a fan of psychological thrillers?

See you

At the movies!

Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy the AlfredHitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection on Amazon.
More great blu-ray movie boxed sets. 

Scooby-Doo Where Are You The Complete Series DVD Collection

Scooby-Doo fans beware there's a new collection in town and it comes attractively packaged in a case that looks like the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine!

There was a time when my sons watched Scooby-Doo faithfully.  They were big enough fans of the series that when we accidentally stumbled across Velma, Daphne, Freddie and Shaggy last Christmas at Universal Studios in Florida there were smiles all around!

The Scooby-Doo Where Are You The Complete series DVD Collection is a limited edition set that contains all of the 41 episodes of the television series that aired over three seasons. It is very attractively priced today at 34 percent of the manufacturer's suggested retail price or just $59.52 for a trip down memory lane for a Scooby-Doo fan.  This boxed set would also be a great opportunity to introduce a young person to Scooby-Doo and his adventures. You can find it here on Amazon.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order your Scooby-Doo Where Are You The Complete Series DVD Collection from Amazon.

Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series

I'll confess. I have not seen Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series but I was totally amazed this morning when I saw the Amazon customer reviews for this boxed set. A whopping 90 percent of the reviewers gave this vintage daytime 1960s television program five stars.  That really is amazing and definitely is enough to make me want to watch it.

It is impossible for me to share the depth of the reviews those customers left on Amazon and I encourage you to check them out for yourself by clicking right here.

With comments like, "There is just something about this series that makes me want to see it again and again. Maybe because it mentally transports me back to a time when I was a kid at home after school, before my parents were deceased, when all seemed right in the world and the scariest thing about life was Barnabas and Angelique in Dark Shadows."

They are thrilled with the programming.

They are also thrilled with the packaging.

Those who have a history with Dark Shadows love it. Those who don't? Well, they seem to love it, too.

The set is massive, containing 1225 30-minute episodes that aired on ABC between 1966 and 1971. Because of the incredible size of this series, it does not come cheaply but Amazon customers don't bemoan the cost. Especially those who purchased the programs individually on DVD and know how much that cost!

What a truly magnificent gift item this would be!

See you 
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Read more about Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series on Amazon.
Uncover a page full of blu-ray movie boxed sets.

Upstairs Downstairs (2011) Period Drama

As a fan of period drama movies, I’m always on the lookout for more good programs. This past week, I discovered Upstairs Downstairs (2011) and just now discovered that it is a continuation of the 1970s TV series, which I have not watched.

I enjoyed this newer version of Upstairs Downstairs, even without having seen the original programs. It was an entertaining look into the life of the aristocrats and the servants of 1936 England and consists of three one-hour episodes.

 I’m sure that if you enjoy period dramas like Downton Abbey and you are looking for more similar programs, that you will enjoy this one. Take a peek at the trailer:



Personally, I’ll be looking for the original series, which ran from 1971 to 1975 and which I see is available in a boxed set called Upstairs, Downstairs: The Complete Series.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order the 2011 version of Upstairs Downstairs.
Order Upstairs, Downstairs: The Complete Original Series.

Hallmark Hall of Fame Timeless Treasures DVD Collection (2011)

The second of two collections, Hallmark Hall of Fame Timeless Treasures delivers three more of the best Hallmark movies.  This triple feature set is being offered on a 'limited time' basis and includes The Magic of Ordinary Days, Sarah Plain and Tall and What the Deaf Man Heard.  I have seen and enjoyed all of these movies.

It is worth noting that What The Deaf Man Heard earned a place on my page about The Best Hallmark Movies Ever.

The Magic of Ordinary Days and Sarah Plain and Tall are both also well loved Hallmark movies.

I aplaud Hallmark's choice of movies in this triple feature. Anyone who loves Hallmark films will appreciate this collection.

See you
at the movies!

Brenda

Quick Link:

Order your copy of Hallmark Hall of Fame Timeless Treasures from Amazon.

Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas Collection DVD (2011)

Hallmark Hall of Fame movies are, in my opinion, the best of the Hallmark movies so it is very interesting and definitely very well timed that Hallmark is offering for a limited time two Triple Feature Collections.

This set is the Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas Collection.  It includes thee fantastic Christmas-themed movies: A Dog Named Christmas, November Christmas and A Season For Miracles. The first two I have seen and loved. The last I have yet to see but A Season For Miracles has  only perfect five-star reviews from the customers on Amazon.

You can order your copy of the Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas Collection from Amazon by clicking here. It would definitely be a gift any Hallmark movie lover would like to find under the Christmas tree.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

A Dog Named Christmas Movie Review.
November Christmas Movie Review.

The Lion King Trilogy 2011

This fall, Disney is bringing The Lion King out of The Vault. However, they are first bringing a new and different version, a 3D version, to movie theatres for two weeks before they re-releases the movie on blu-ray disc, blu-ray 3D and DVD.

The blu-ray version will be available for purchase on October 4, 2011; the DVD version on November 14, 2011.

All of the versions, of course, are available for purchase already from Amazon by clicking right here.

The Lion King Trilogy, as shown here, is the package that caught my eye.

It includes four movies: the original 2D versions of The Lion King, The Lion King 1 1/2 and The Lion King 2, a digital copy of The Lion King PLUS the brand-new version, The Lion King in 3D.

The trilogy set is packed with special features including those that come with The Lion King blu-ray release:  new deleted scenes, an extended version of The Morning Report, never seen bloopers, Disney Second Screen, Pride of The Lion King, The Lion King: A Memoir - Don Hahn, Disney Sing-Along, an interactive gallery, an audio commentary and Disney's Virtual Vault: Classic DVD Features Powered by BD-Live.

It also includes special features with the two other movies.

The Lion King 1-1/2 features Timon and Pumbaa's Vacation Safari, deleted scenes, Timon: Behind the Legend, Before the Beginning: The Making of The Lion King 1 ½ and a music video.

The Lion King 2 features include Timon and Pumbaa's Insectapedia, an animated short called One by One, Proud of Simba's Pride, Timon and Pumbaa: Find Out Why and a music video.

Amazon already has the trilogy boxed set discounted. I will not quote the price here because it is subject to change but I will say that the sale price is pretty good when you consider what is included with this attractively packaged, eight-disc gift set. When you look at the prices of the three individual Lion King movies on DVD right now, this boxed set becomes a very good deal indeed. (And do not forget that Amazon will ship it for FREE.)

If you want to upgrade your copy of The Lion King or perhaps buy it for the first time on blu-ray, I think The Lion King Trilogy is the way to go.  It is way too soon to be thinking of next Christmas but I would be willing to bet that this will be a top-rated movie gift choice next Christmas.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy The Lion King Trilogy from Amazon.

 

Elizabeth Taylor The Signature Movie Collection

If you are looking for some of Elizabeth Taylor's best movies, you may want to consider buying a boxed set like the Elizabeth Taylor Signature Collection.  It contains four interesting and noteworthy films, including National Velvet, Father of the Bride, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Butterfield 8. 

National Velvet is the movie that launched the 12 year old Elizabeth Taylor to stardom, although it was not her first movie. This movie was so well received that it planted Taylor firmly in the hearts of movie goers everywhere.

Father of the Bride features Elizabeth Taylor with another legendary actor, Spencer Tracy. This movie had such a good story that it launched almost as many remakes as Taylor had marriages.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof features Elizabeth Taylor with Paul Newman, a pairing I am anxious to see. Nominated for six Academy Awards, this movie was one of the films that saw Taylor moving on to adult roles.

Finally, Butterfield 8 saw Taylor nominated for and WIN her first of two Academy Awards.  It is a story taken from a 1935 book written by John O'Hara, which was in turn based on a true story -- that of a 1920's New York City call girl.  Amazon customer reviewer Michael C. Smith sums Taylor's performance up, calling it a PERFECT Oscar scene and adding that Taylor "gave it to us with both barrels blazing."

Individually some of these DVDs are very inexpensive. However, the presence of Butterfield 8 makes this set worth buying because Butterfield 8 alone is selling for about $50 used and even more if you find a new copy.  If you are interested in purchasing BUtterfield 8, buying the entire Elizabeth Taylor Signature Movie Collection from Amazon by clicking here may be the best way to do it because it adds four movies to your collection for not much more than the price of one. 

And by the way, I have been unable to find any Elizabeth Taylor movies on blu-ray. If you find one that I've missed, I would be thrilled to hear about it.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

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Read more about The Best Elizabeth Taylor Movies.

Lost The Complete Collection or Series Blu-ray Edition

Lost: The Complete Collection is an amazing set that contains the entire series of the immensely popular Lost series on Blu-ray. A total of six seasons or ALL of the episodes ever made are included.

Some consider Lost to be the best series ever made on television. What more could a true fan want other than the Blu-ray package, which is considered to be excellent featuring the best picture and sound quality and extras unique to the Blu-ray format.

 

Lost appears in the fourth spot on Top 10 Best Blu-ray Movies 2010 For Sound and Picture Quality. To order your set of Lost: The Complete Collection, click right here.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Clint Eastwood Blu-ray Movie Collection For Father's Day

Is your dad a Clint Eastwood fan? Has he invested in an HDTV and a Blu-ray player? If so, then I have just discovered the perfect gift for him for Father's Day. Check out this Blu-ray boxed set:

The Clint Eastwood Blu-ray movie collection is an affordable way to quickly build your Blu-ray collection.  Amazon has the boxed set nicely discounted and the result is that each Blu-ray disc is quite affordable at just over $10 each. As always on movies worth $25 or more, Amazon will pay the shipping.

This boxed set includes not two or three of Eastwood's movies but rather ten!

• Absolute Power
• Dirty Harry
• Gran Torino
• Kelly's Heroes
• Letters from Iwo Jima
• Million Dollar Baby
• Mystic River
• The Rookie
• Unforgiven
• Where Eagles Dare 

(Note that Eastwood directed some of these films and did not appear in all of them.)

About Eastwood's movies, Elisa S. Bobrow said, "Clint Eastwood's movies are not just normal movies. His movies are consistently amazing. He makes movies that he knows people will like/relate to and enjoy always. From the always classic Dirty Harry to the emotional Letters from Iwo Jima or Mystic River to the Best Picture Western Unforgiven. (I hate Westerns and this is the only western I can watch). His films are always great and always worth seeing." Of course if you already a fan or know someone who is, then you (or they) already know that!

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order this Clint Eastwood Collection from Amazon.

Build Your Blu-ray Collection Quickly & Easily With A Blu-ray Boxed Set

If you're looking for a way to build your Blu-ray collection quickly, you might want to consider a boxed set. I've made some interesting discoveries as I worked on my newest Blu-ray movies page.

The biggest discovery is that some boxed sets are a great deal...and others are not so if you are in the market for new Blu-ray movies and you are considering a boxed set, make sure you do your research.

Just make sure, if you are careful with your money, to consider the cost of the set versus the cost of the individual movies. Of course, some movies offer collectibles that you cannot buy separately and, for those, you simply have to pay more!

Find the Mad Men: The Complete Collection on Blu-ray here on Amazon.

See you
at the Movies,
Brenda

The Bourne Trilogy Blu-ray Collection

The Bourne Trilogy Blu-ray collection features all three of the movies: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum.

The Bourne movies are iconic because of Matt Damon’s looks, intensity and acting. They look wonderful, have great sound and the films are action packed making them perfect for Blu-ray. 

Find your copy of The Bourne Trilogy here on Amazon where it is available on Blu-ray and DVD.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

The Essential Holiday Collection of Christmas Blu-ray Movies

The Essential Holiday Collection is a great Christmas Blu-ray movie set, perfect for holiday gift giving. I like the assortment of movies that it includes...The Polar Express, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Elf and A Christmas Story. I think it represents an interesting selection of holiday movies for a family with older children. It doesn't contain any of what many people consider 'classic' Christmas movies, but it does contain a couple that may go on to become classics PLUS it contains fun movies that my teenagers would be happy to watch anytime.

Consensus seems to be that these versions are better than the DVD versions although some people might have liked them to be better still. However, at Amazon's discounted price, which includes FREE shipping, I don't think you can go wrong if you are looking to build your Blu-ray movie collection with a few fun movies.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda