Sado-Masochism In Spades
prisrob | New England USA | 01/20/2008
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Divorce His, Divorce Hers was a made for TV movie for Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Why, Money I would assume. The plot is the twenty married years of Martin and Jane Reynolds that is coming undone. BTW, Elizabeth Taylor with the name, Jane, didn't suit me as even reasonable. The story of these years are told from both perspectives. His- a sado-masochistic union that he was tired of and Hers- the dearth of attention and family life. Martin was buried in his work half way around the globe leaving the rest of his life to be dealt with by his not so long suffering wife. The story never fully reveals the reasons for the death of the marriage, but we surmise that Martin needed to be independent and aloof and Jane needed someone to prop her up all the time.
Richard Burton walked through his role, but he looked mighty fine. Slim and handsome and alcohol had not caught up with him yet. Elizabeth Taylor with as lovely a face as I remember but age has started to creep up on her. Elizabeth could never really act IMO, but she made a good try.
Rome is the city that is the attraction here. The old haunts and the Rome of our first trips that we remember from yore. Magnificent scenery. The old large apartments where the wealthy collide. Edith Head dressed Elizabeth and most of her outfits were lovely if a little absurd. Elizabeth Taylor is shown with her large diamond and the beautiful pearl necklace. Certainly not something that Jane Reynolds would have owned but then this movie is really about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Carrie Nye is a nice addition as the alcoholic floozy ex-lover of Martin and good friend of Jane. I forgot how very thin she was.
Not a memorable film, nor memorable acting. A nice look at the couple that mesmerized the world for a few years. The year after this film would find the Taylor-Burton's divorced. Was this film a forecast of their future?
Not recommended for the acting or the plot. Not much really to recommend.
prisrob 01-20-08
20th Century Fox Presents Elizabeth Taylor in Joseph L. Mankiewicz' CLEOPATRA Starring Richard Burton & Rex Harrison"
Actual Viewpoint...........
Michelle Gilpin | Salado,TX | 05/06/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I would just like anyone who is looking into buying this movie to know that this movie isn't 180 minutes as the box says and it comes from Elizabeth Taylor's viewpoint. Non the less tho' it is still a great movie and Elizabeth Taylor shines as always!!!!! Love you Liz :)"
Only Part 2 is Often Recived
Kenneth Benjamin | Spring Creek, NC United States | 02/27/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I have bought two of these DVD's only to have recived Part 2...Part one was no where to be found.I find this very strange and wanted to know if anyone else has found this to be true?? It reads 180 min but only about 2 hours is there.Good Luck....Other than that this was quite well done and Liz looks beautifull alot like Ash Wensday film."
Not for everyone, but I love it!
Candice Hawkinson | Memphis, TN United States | 09/25/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of the odder films of the 70's. Odd, in that it seems a pre-curser to the execrable eighties. For some reason, Carrie Nye's brief appearance is memorable, perhaps because she wasn't acting. Burton and Taylor have far greater performances on film yet this one reduces them to what they may have been like when the cameras were off. Drama queens, a tad tired, but none the less, fascinating to watch."