Behind The Candelabra

As glittering and outrageous as Liberace (Douglas) himself, Behind The Candelabra takes a look at the flamboyant pianist and entertainer's private world, focusing on his tempestuous relationship with Scott Thorson (Damon), his young live-in lover for five years. Based on Thorson's tell-all memoir Behind The Candelabra: My Life With Liberace. Before Elvis, before Elton John, Madonna, and Lady Gaga, there was Liberace: virtuoso pianist, outrageous entertainer, and flamboyant star of stage and television. A name synonymous with showmanship, extravagance, and candelabras, he was a world-renowned performer with a flair that endeared him to his audiences and created a loyal fan base spanning his 40-year career. Liberace lived lavishly and embraced a lifestyle of excess both on and off stage. In the summer of 1977, handsome young stranger Scott Thorson walked into his dressing room and, despite their age difference and seemingly different worlds, the two embarked on a secretive five-year love affair. The HBO special captures the essence of Liberace's appeal, while reminding viewers how different attitudes were at the time, as he and his management fiercely protected his public persona. (Gary Reber)