Couple of vintage TV specials, scored by John Barry, hitting Blu-Ray for the first time this summer:
wo movie legends, two unforgettable cities.
Unseen anywhere for decades and highly sought after, these early '60s TV specials showcase two Hollywood icons travelling through and reflecting upon the cities they love. Newly-remastered in High Definition from original film elements, both shows feature sweeping, evocative scores from world-famous composer John Barry.
Elizabeth Taylor, who was born in London and lived there as a child, returns to the city that will forever be in her blood and gives her impressions of and reactions to the mosaic of London and Londoners she encounters during her visit.
In a show never seen in the UK, Sophia Loren follows Taylor's lead, but this time in Rome. She meets Marcello Mastroianni and Vittorio de Sica as she visits the sights, affectionately commenting on the grandeur of the Eternal City and the irrepressible nature of its people.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
[] Limited edition booklet by John Barry experts Geoff Leonard & Pete Walker
[] Elizabeth Taylor in London: original US broadcast presentation
[] Image gallery, featuring many behind-the-scenes stills
Are these things supposed to be any good? I was never a fan of either actress to be honest.
I love Barry's score for Loren in Rome though, which is one of his most lyrical and colorfully-orchestrated. Not so much of a fan of his Liz Taylor score, as he just did the themes and handed it off to Johnny Spence to arrange and conduct.
I've seen the La Liz special once and it was okay for what it was as it's meant to be a descriptive travelogue (I think she at one point goes to the place where the Mayflower captain is buried). I'd be willing to upgrade to a remastered version.
La Liz always had an incredible presence when she was at her best and she came through with a number of great performances in the 50s and early 60s. Once she married Burton though, it was really downhill for her as an actress (notwithstanding her "Virginia Woolf" Oscar. I really have no desire to sit through that one again since I prefer to see her as she was at her peak of allure).
