Liberace: Behind the Music (1988)
Movie Info
This was the "unofficial" Liberace biopic, as opposed to the error-ridden "official" Liberace (telecast one week earlier in October of 1988). The star of Liberace: Behind the Music is Broadway actor Victor Garber, who later scored a personal triumph as the devilish Mr. Applegate in the revival of Damn Yankees. Behind the Music is an unauthorized TV movie based on the recollections of the pianist's business manager, giving scriptwriter Gavin Lambert far more leeway in delineating the title character, warts and all. The closing sequences delve much deeper into the AIDS question than was possible in the family-approved Liberace starring Andrew Robinson (who, to be fair, looks more like the real entertainer than does Victor Garber). Liberace: Behind the Music could have descended into tabloidism ("Behind the rumors and the secrets" read the advertising copy), but emerges as a work of conspicuous dignity and (reasonably) good taste.
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Cast
Victor Garber
as Liberace
as Liberace
Maureen Stapleton
as Frances Liberace
as Frances Liberace
Saul Rubinek
as Seymour Heller
as Seymour Heller
Michael Dolan
as Scott Thorsen
as Scott Thorsen
Michael Wikes
as George Liberace
as George Liberace
Macha Grenon
as Joanne
as Joanne
Joan Heney
as Serious Lady
as Serious Lady
Andrew Nichols
as Teenager
as Teenager
Shirley Merovitz
as Lola
as Lola
Gayle Garfinkle
as Woman #1
as Woman #1
Daniel Nalbach
as Client #1
as Client #1
Richard Zeman
as Cop
as Cop
Philip Pretten
as T.V. Director
as T.V. Director
Linda Smith
as Jane
as Jane
Pat Crawford Brown
as Nancy
as Nancy
Philip Spensley
as Dr. Taylor
as Dr. Taylor
Susan Almgren
as White Nursing Sister
as White Nursing Sister
Michelle Sweeney
as Nurse #1
as Nurse #1
Shawn Levy
as Glenn
as Glenn
Critic Reviews for Liberace: Behind the Music
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Audience Reviews for Liberace: Behind the Music
Slap-dash garbage. Mediocre acting (albeit with a better than expected Liberace impression of the titular subject). Disjointed, incoherent and just plain bad script. Shockingly few impressive costumes. And the house is one big, anachronistic mish-mash of the Hollywood Hills, Vegas, and Palm Springs houses. Poor makeup and video quality. Unless you knew the Liberace bio before, you won't have any better idea after this mess of a film.
Christian C
Super Reviewer
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