Sweet Bird of Youth *** (1989, Elizabeth Taylor, Mark Harmon, Rip Torn, Valerie Perrine, Ruta Lee, Kevin Geer) – Classic Movie Review 5237

Director Nicolas Roeg’s interesting 1989 TV movie version of the Tennessee Williams play is reworked by teleplay writer Gavin Lambert, apparently using the playwright’s own revisions, though these are not always an improvement on the original play.

Director Nicolas Roeg encourages intense acting and delivers strong handling, but the film has not got the burning spark of the 1962 big-screen movie version Sweet Bird of Youth. However, Elizabeth Taylor’s appearance makes this a must-see for her eerie, self-referential performance as Alexandra Del Lago, the fading, hard-drinking screen legend.

Mark Harmon plays Chance Wayne, the handsome young drifter-gigolo she picks up, and he is good. But it is Rip Torn (one of the stars of the 1962 film) who has the best time as vengeful small town boss Tom Finlay.

Roeg’s film is definitely an intriguing curio, perhaps even more.

Also in the cast are Valerie Perrine, Ruta Lee, Kevin Geer and Michael Wilding Jnr.

RIP screen legend Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, who died on 23 March 2011, aged 79.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5237

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