AMERICA'S ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO ELIZABETH TAYLOR (TV)
Summary
This televised special, recorded in Palm Desert, California, honors actress and activist Elizabeth Taylor with the second annual Hope Award for her many humanitarian efforts. Host Charles Bronson, Taylor's co-star in "The Sandpiper" (1965), offers opening remarks and introduces a clip from her first-ever film appearance in 1942's "There's One Born Every Minute." Next, Carol Burnett and Dudley Moore take the stage and joke about Taylor's many enviable qualities, singing an original song about her universally beloved nature, and though Burnett eventually loses patience with Taylor's apparent perfection, they agree that everyone, Hollywood royalty included, has "warts." Mickey Rooney, Taylor's "National Velvet" (1944) co-star, discusses her various roles as a young star, including "Lassie Come Home" (1943), "Little Women" (1949), "Father of the Bride" (1950). Stevie Wonder then performs a slightly reworded version of his hit "I Just Called to Say I Love You," inviting the audience to sing along in celebration of their affection for Taylor.
Beau Bridges, who appeared with Taylor in "Hammersmith is Out" (1972), highlights Taylor's work in "A Place in the Sun" (1951), "Giant" (1956), "BUtterfield 8" (1960) and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1958). Taylor son Michael Wilding Jr. takes the stage and acknowledges his various family members present in the audience, and three-time co-star Roddy McDowall discusses Taylor's famous partnership with two-time husband Richard Burton, with whom she made eleven films, including "Cleopatra" (1963), "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966), "The V.I.P.s" (1963) and "The Taming of the Shrew" (1967). Kenny Rogers discusses Taylor's much-photographed beauty and sings "Lady," and Bronson surprises Taylor with a "Lassie"-like new friend: a puppy.
Robert Stack, Taylor's love interest in "A Date With Judy" (1948), comments on young Taylor's great love of Hollywood, and several of Taylor's famed friends and co-stars take the stage to sign her autograph book, including June Allyson, Cyd Charisse, Margaret O'Brien and Ann Miller. Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager take the stage and, noting that the hardworking Taylor did not have a typical high-school experience teenager, invite her onto the stage for a belated "prom," for which they perform "That's What Friends Are For," joined by Wonder. Bob Hope takes the stage and discusses Taylor's many charitable donations and activism, particularly for amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research), and he presents Taylor with the Hope Award. Taylor expresses her gratitude to her friends and colleagues and clears up the "significant speculation" regarding her health, explaining that she is slowly recovering from a compression fracture in her back. She explains that she wishes to use her fame to "speak loudly" about important issues affecting marginalized communities, particularly due to the social stigmas surrounding HIV/AIDS. Bronson then closes the program. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:48:27
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:16894
- GENRE: Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Specials; Music/Variety; Actors; Tributes
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1989
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Gregory H. Willenborg … Executive Producer
- Marty Pasetta … Producer, Director
- Mick McCullough … Associate Producer
- Stephen Pouliot … Writer
- Ken Welch … Writer
- Mitzie Welch … Writer
- Lenny Stack … Music by
- Dee Dee Wood … Choreographer
- Charles Bronson … Host
- Elizabeth Taylor … Honoree
- Stevie Wonder … Guest, Performer
- Carol Burnett … Guest, Performer
- Dudley Moore … Guest, Performer
- Kenny Rogers … Guest, Performer
- Burt Bacharach … Guest, Performer
- Carole Bayer Sager … Guest, Performer
- Mickey Rooney … Guest
- Beau Bridges … Guest
- Michael Wilding Jr. … Guest
- Roddy McDowall … Guest
- Robert Stack … Guest
- June Allyson … Guest
- Cyd Charisse … Guest
- Margaret O'Brien … Guest
- Ann Miller … Guest
- Bob Hope … Guest
- Richard Burton