Stars: Marti Pellow, Martine McCutcheon, Andrea Bocelli, Lesley Garrett, Tony Bennett, John Barry, Sir David Frost, Stephen Fry

Summary: A celebration of the life and work of Dame Elizabeth Taylor interspersed with clips from some of her finest films. Highlights from the musical gala held in the Royal Albert Hall in May 2000.

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Like all the best celebrity tributes, Dame Elizabeth Taylor: A Musical Celebration(2001) combines the essence of its subject--in this case, charity work for HIV and AIDS research and a legendary career in movies, both meriting every ounce of recognition--with the fascination of a spectacular car smash. The highlights are the screenings of trailers for some of her best films, including Giantand Butterfield 8(she won an Oscar but derided the picture) and an archive interview in which she memorably describes a tiresome gossip columnist as "a frustrated old biddy".

The live entertainment is far shakier than the event's inspiration, though. Presented by David Frost and Stephen Fry--an uneasy, fawning partnership-- there is some real quality: Andrea Bocelli (sending the guest of honour into transports of delight), John Barry conducting a couple of his most symphonic Bond themes and Reba McEntire, the powerhouse country and western diva-turned-Broadway actress. On the down side, Marti Pellow's self-congratulatory posing would make Robbie Williams seem a model of modesty, Jay Kay's attempts to jazz up a standard are woeful and Ute Lemper is at her most pretentious for a cacophonic "Mack the Knife". Michael Jackson's mute presence at Taylor's side emphasises the hypnotic strangeness of the whole affair, though the Dame herself takes the entire marvellously lurid spectacle in her stride.

On the DVD:Dame Elizabeth Taylor: A Musical Celebrationcomes to DVD with no extra features. A Taylor filmography would have been useful. Otherwise, the 4:3 video aspect ratio reproduces the television gala feel and for sound quality, you can choose between LPCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.2 and DTS surround sound (best for that authentic, muddy Royal Albert Hall acoustic).--Piers Ford

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 0
Subtitles:	English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Year:	2000
Release Date:	March 4, 2002
Runtime:	90 minutes
Certification:	Exempt.
Catalogue Number:	D V E L T A Y
Keywords:	Music, Easy, Taylor, Dame, Elizabeth, Musical, Performance, Plays, Celebration, Performing, Mor, Listening, Arts, Popular
Genre:	Music/Performing Arts