In 1964, at the height of her career, megastar Elizabeth Taylor sat down with journalist Richard Meryman for a combined 40 hours of audio interviews discussing the highs and lows of her work and life. Now, 60 years later, award-winning “Hillary” filmmaker Nanette Burstein offers “the most intimate portrait of the actress to date” with a new feature-length documentary with Taylor in her own words, in addition to personal photos, home movies, news footage, film clips, and more. “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes” premieres on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. ET on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. You can watch with Subscription to Max.
How to Watch “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes”
- When: Saturday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. ET
- Where: HBO, Max
- Stream: Watch with a Subscription to Max.
About “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes”
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Nanette Burstein (“Hillary,” “The Kid Stays in the Picture”), “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes” provides viewers with “the most intimate portrait of the actress to date,” from the professional triumphs, personal frustrations, and public scrutinies that made the Golden Age actor a mega-star.
Drawing from 40 hours of recently unearthed audio interviews between Taylor and journalist Richard Meryman at the height of her fame in 1964, the feature-length documentary combines the recordings with unprecedented access to personal photos, home movies, archival interviews, and news footage from Taylor’s personal and professional lives, punctuated with clips from the iconic roles throughout her career, from her debut in 1943’s “Lassie Come Home” and her following struggle to separate herself from her “ingénue” status, to her benchmark roles in “Giant” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” her Oscar-winning turn in “Butterfield 8,” and the problem-ladden but career-defining “Cleopatra.”
The documentary will also show Taylor speaking unguardedly about her relationships and her children, including her marriage to Richard Burton and her friendships with Rock Hudson, Montgomery Clift, and Roddy McDowall, offering a clear look “into the life of a woman who defied the era’s expectations, ultimately found peace within herself, and who cemented her legacy by turning the tables on her own fame by becoming a fierce activist and advocate for the LGBTQ community.”
Along with Taylor, the documentary features the voices of several of her friends, colleagues, and team, including actors McDowall, Debbie Reynolds, Richard Burton, George Hamilton, producer Sam Marx, agents Marion Rosenberg and John Heyman, longtime assistant and co-trustee Tim Mendelson, and friends Liz Smith and Doris Brynner.
“Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes” had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and was an official selection of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.
What Else Can You Watch on Max After “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes”?
“Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes” will be available to stream through multiple sources after its premiere, but The Streamable recommends signing up for a Max subscription to best tailor your Taylor viewing experience. With a Max plan, you can make your screening a full marathon and stream several of her most famous films, including “Cleopatra,” “Butterfield 8,” and more.
The streamer currently offers plans on three monthly tiers: an ad-supported plan for $9.99, an ad-free plan for $16.99, and the ultimate ad-free tier with 4K video playback and other additional features for $20.99.
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Max
Max is a subscription video streaming service that gives access to the full HBO library, along with exclusive Max Originals. There are hubs for content from TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TCM, Cartoon Network, Travel Channel, ID, and more. Watch hit series like “The Last of Us,” “House of the Dragon,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and more. Thanks to the B/R Sports add-on, users can watch NBA, MLB, NHL, March Madness, and NASCAR events.
