Product Description

Two-Time Oscar® Winner Elizabeth Taylor and Emmy® Nominee Mark Harmon star in this powerful production based on Tennessee Williams' play. Once a beautiful screen idol, Alexandra Del Lago (Taylor) has fled Hollywood for fear that her beauty and fame has faded. Alexandra falls into the arms of Chance (Harmon), a shiftless would-be actor, who sees her wealth and position as his last shot at making it in Hollywood. Incorporating intense drama and steamy lust, this gripping story reveals the dark forces of human ambition and desire, as two people stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31047 in DVD
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 96 minutes

Customer Reviews

"A Kind Of Magnificence."
This 1989 film version of SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH based on the play by Tennessee Williams stars Elizabeth Taylor and Mark Harmon. She is a fading movie actress (Alexandra Del Lago) while he (Chance Wayne) is her driver/escort/confidante/gigolo/actor-want-to-be. The plot is classic Williams: the vulnerable, beautiful woman cast opposite the sexy stud but with a twist since Alexandra has a steeliness reminiscent of Maggie in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Both characters use each other for a quid pro quo: sex for furthering one's acting career. Thrown in for good measure are old-style demagoguery of the 1950's politician, racism, segregation, abortion and adultery. Add to that The theme of the perils of growing old, particularly if one has accomplished little (Chance); and you have quite a lot going on and a plot that does not always work.

Ms. Taylor remains tremendously beautiful here even with big hair and the essential lavender costumes. She plays again the role that she has done many times before, the exotic (often Southern but not always) woman (CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE, RAINTREE COUNTY, et cetera). At times she seems to be playing Elizabeth Taylor; on the other hand, it's great to watch her do only that. A character in the film describes Alexandra as having a "kind of magnificence." I have no words better to describe this screen legend.

Although by no means a perfect film, SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH is certainly worth watching.

Love That Movie!!!!!!
Elizabeth Taylor rules as a classic legendary actress who befriends a younger washed up actor using her to revamp his career.It's a must see!!!

yawn
This had to have been Liz's last 'glamour' role. To be honest, I expected full-blown schlock and that's what I got. All I could focus on throughout the movie was how the camera was trying to camouflage this once great beauty's girth and double chin! Hellen Mirren's Karen Stone (in Willaims' "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone") is a much more authentic, and moving, portrayal of the consequences of the ravages of time - for a former stage&screen beauty and, indeed, for any of us. Best part of the movie for me was the flash of Mark Harmon's pretty butt - but my, what bushy eyebrows! ps - Fuggettabout Princess del Lago: Whatever happened to "Sexiest Man of the Year" Mark Harmon?! Therein, I suppose, lies Williams' not-so-surprising message...