Liberace on "Behind HBO's Candelabra"
by Paulette Reynolds
May 28, 2013
HBO * 2013
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Screenplay be Richard LaGravenese
Starring Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Debbie Reynolds, Dan Aykroyd, Rob Lowe and Scott Bakula
by Paulette Reynolds
May 28, 2013
HBO * 2013
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Screenplay be Richard LaGravenese
Starring Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Debbie Reynolds, Dan Aykroyd, Rob Lowe and Scott Bakula
Ah... a whiff of sequins, the familiar snap of diamond-tipped heels, and a blinding vision of silver and gold embroidery, Swarovfski crystals, feathers, ruffles and lace, greets CineMata at the door of Liberace's manicured home.
"Lee? Is that...you? Where am I?"
"Angel girl! You're at my modest lil hovel, The Cloisters, ya know! Scoot yourself in here and give Lee a big hug, honey! And look me over sweetie, I didn't get dressed this way for nothing!"
As Cine trips forward, narrowly avoiding 20 sets of small furry feet, she's aware that hazy glimpses of glass walls, twinkling chandeliers, and over-the-top nude statuary of male figures appear to be seen as if through a smoky veil.
"What cute doggies, Lee, darling! And of course, your house is simply fabulous!" Our intrepid red carpet maven stops wondering if her surroundings are real as her knee hits the sharp edge of a too-clear glass table. "Ow-what the f-, I mean - oopsie!"
Liberace's wide smile made Cine forget the stabbing pain as they sank down in a sofa that seemed to hold them snugly captive. "That philistine Soderbergh made everyone think that I lived in a mere hovel, ya know - they looked like closets! My homes were all a divine cavalcade of color and class, with frescos on the frickin' ceiling, inlaid mosaic work and just rows and rows of mirrors and chandeliers. Much like my costumes, each home was a work of high art, not something from a Sears catalog!"
Her host's outrage quickly brought Cine back to the stark reality of her purpose. Clearly, the message she had gotten from On High was that she must go where no red carpet reporter had gone before - to the Other Side!
"Dear Lee, so you're aware of the HBO bio on your, um, friendship with Scott Thor-"
Even the fabled star's Shar-pei dog, Wrinkles, growled from his place in Liberace's lap. "Now, now, angel - don't you just love all my angels? I'm just crazy about them! Oh, where was I? Aware?! Of course I know all about this ridiculous attempt to make me out to be some sort of flaming queen - after all, this isn't limbo - we still manage to get cable up here!"
Cine saw that stars in the Hollywood Afterlife weren't much different than those in the here and now. Quickly getting her bearings, she honed in, "So Lee, what I'm hearing is that you think Hollywood missed the mark in Behind the Candelabra?"
"Missed the mark?! C'mon, be honest - I mean, they tried, poor dears, but really, they fell short at capturing the true essence that is - and always will be - Liberace! Those costumes - my very trademark! Really, that conservative hack of a costume designer, Ellen Mirojnick, just didn't get it right. Oh sure, toss in a couple of my more modest fur capes and a few limousines." Liberace grimaced sourly at an overly-endowed statue of Neptune. "Let's face it, was was missing from this tacky production was Liberace!"
"Lee, don't you think that Michael Douglas was fa---"
"Michael Douglas! That old hag?! Playing moi?! And yes, dear - I do mean old - he is older than I was and so dull! Where was the shopping? the parties? the nightlife? the trips? I get so horny when I think of all the glamour and glitz - I mean, what's the point of having it all if you don't show it off? I made almost half a million a week!"
Cine patted his well-groomed hand, "I had no idea you felt so strongly, Lee, darling! Didn't you feel the casting of Matt Damon as Scot-"
Liberace carefully put Wrinkles on the floor and stood up. Cine sensed their time together was winding down - fast. "Cine, you always were such a naive soul! The less said about that hysterical hustler, the better! But I will say that they were gentle with my sainted mother, Frances. It's such a shame that Ms. Debbie Reynolds wasn't even nominated!"
Mr. Showmanship let out a sad sigh as they reached the front door.
"Let's keep in mind that my pubic persona IS Liberace, shall we dear? Well, I think I'll go shopping and stop some traffic!"
Cine shared with me that she had no idea how she found herself standing in front of Liberace's gravesite, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery a short time later.
"The last thing I remember about Emmy awards night was sitting next to Anna Faris - really- that awful yellow dress! those hideous blond bangs! Where was her stylist? - and Michael Douglas was on stage, droning on and on and …"
"Lee? Is that...you? Where am I?"
"Angel girl! You're at my modest lil hovel, The Cloisters, ya know! Scoot yourself in here and give Lee a big hug, honey! And look me over sweetie, I didn't get dressed this way for nothing!"
As Cine trips forward, narrowly avoiding 20 sets of small furry feet, she's aware that hazy glimpses of glass walls, twinkling chandeliers, and over-the-top nude statuary of male figures appear to be seen as if through a smoky veil.
"What cute doggies, Lee, darling! And of course, your house is simply fabulous!" Our intrepid red carpet maven stops wondering if her surroundings are real as her knee hits the sharp edge of a too-clear glass table. "Ow-what the f-, I mean - oopsie!"
Liberace's wide smile made Cine forget the stabbing pain as they sank down in a sofa that seemed to hold them snugly captive. "That philistine Soderbergh made everyone think that I lived in a mere hovel, ya know - they looked like closets! My homes were all a divine cavalcade of color and class, with frescos on the frickin' ceiling, inlaid mosaic work and just rows and rows of mirrors and chandeliers. Much like my costumes, each home was a work of high art, not something from a Sears catalog!"
Her host's outrage quickly brought Cine back to the stark reality of her purpose. Clearly, the message she had gotten from On High was that she must go where no red carpet reporter had gone before - to the Other Side!
"Dear Lee, so you're aware of the HBO bio on your, um, friendship with Scott Thor-"
Even the fabled star's Shar-pei dog, Wrinkles, growled from his place in Liberace's lap. "Now, now, angel - don't you just love all my angels? I'm just crazy about them! Oh, where was I? Aware?! Of course I know all about this ridiculous attempt to make me out to be some sort of flaming queen - after all, this isn't limbo - we still manage to get cable up here!"
Cine saw that stars in the Hollywood Afterlife weren't much different than those in the here and now. Quickly getting her bearings, she honed in, "So Lee, what I'm hearing is that you think Hollywood missed the mark in Behind the Candelabra?"
"Missed the mark?! C'mon, be honest - I mean, they tried, poor dears, but really, they fell short at capturing the true essence that is - and always will be - Liberace! Those costumes - my very trademark! Really, that conservative hack of a costume designer, Ellen Mirojnick, just didn't get it right. Oh sure, toss in a couple of my more modest fur capes and a few limousines." Liberace grimaced sourly at an overly-endowed statue of Neptune. "Let's face it, was was missing from this tacky production was Liberace!"
"Lee, don't you think that Michael Douglas was fa---"
"Michael Douglas! That old hag?! Playing moi?! And yes, dear - I do mean old - he is older than I was and so dull! Where was the shopping? the parties? the nightlife? the trips? I get so horny when I think of all the glamour and glitz - I mean, what's the point of having it all if you don't show it off? I made almost half a million a week!"
Cine patted his well-groomed hand, "I had no idea you felt so strongly, Lee, darling! Didn't you feel the casting of Matt Damon as Scot-"
Liberace carefully put Wrinkles on the floor and stood up. Cine sensed their time together was winding down - fast. "Cine, you always were such a naive soul! The less said about that hysterical hustler, the better! But I will say that they were gentle with my sainted mother, Frances. It's such a shame that Ms. Debbie Reynolds wasn't even nominated!"
Mr. Showmanship let out a sad sigh as they reached the front door.
"Let's keep in mind that my pubic persona IS Liberace, shall we dear? Well, I think I'll go shopping and stop some traffic!"
Cine shared with me that she had no idea how she found herself standing in front of Liberace's gravesite, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery a short time later.
"The last thing I remember about Emmy awards night was sitting next to Anna Faris - really- that awful yellow dress! those hideous blond bangs! Where was her stylist? - and Michael Douglas was on stage, droning on and on and …"
COPYRIGHT 2012/2016. Paulette Reynolds. All CineMata Movie Madness blog articles, reviews, faux interviews, commentary, and the Cine Mata character are under the sole ownership of Paulette Reynolds. All intellectual and creative rights reserved.
