The start of Ash Wednesday might put some people off, but do what I did and just fast-forward about ten minutes. There's an actual filmed procedure of massive plastic surgery, to show what Elizabeth Taylor's character goes through. We first see her with gray hair, jowls, bags, sags, and extra fat. Next, she's bandaged up and recovering in a European hospital, until finally she's revealed to be the beautiful star we all know her to be.
Why does she have such extensive surgery? Because, as we see through a series of photographs in the opening credits, she has grown old with her husband, Henry Fonda. In order to please him and rekindle their love, she thinks turning back time will help. While recuperating and waiting for him to see her anew, she spends time in a beautiful Swiss ski lodge and meets new people - including the much younger, handsome Helmut Berger (who thinks they're the same age). One of my favorite scenes in when she rebuffs his initial advances. He encroaches on her solitary dinner at their hotel, and at the end of the meal he doesn't object when she is brought the bill. She leans in close and seductively asks for his room number. Then, she triumphantly writes the number down on the bill to force him to act like a gentleman!
You might not have heard of this 1970s drama, but if you're a Liz fan, try and find a copy. You'll find a very endearing performance from Ms. Taylor. This isn't her usual role, for even though she looks exquisitely gorgeous, she doesn't feel that way on the inside. She feels old, frumpy, and afraid of not being good enough. When she's confronted by her deepest fears and Henry Fonda is as cold as he usually is on the screen, she crumbles to pieces. It's a very strong piece of acting, and Liz, her costumes, and her snowy surroundings are lovely to look at.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to due to a graphic plastic surgery sequence, I wouldn't let my kids watch the beginning portion.
