Elisabeth Taylor died this morning of congestive heart failure at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.  She was 79 years old.  She left behind a remarkable body of work, including two films for which she won Oscars for Best Actress.  Here are links to some of her top film trailers including Butterfield 8, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Cleopatra, Giant, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.   We’ll miss you Ms. Taylor.

Elisabeth Taylor, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Lassie Come Home 1943 Elisabeth Taylor, Roddie McDowell

When the faithful collie is sold by her struggling family, she travels hundreds of miles to find her way home.   Ms. Taylor’s first film.  You’ll get just a glimpse of her on a bike at the end of this trailer.

National Velvet 1944  Elisabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney, Angela Lansbury, Arthur Treacher

An English girl wins a horse and trains him to compete in the Grand National race.  Taylor was just 12 years old when she landed this debut starring role with a very young Mickey Rooney as her co-star.

Conspirator 1949  Elisabeth Taylor  Robert Taylor

This was Ms Taylor’s first adult role, even though she was only 16 at the time of the filming.  She plays a debutante who marries a Communist spy (Robert Taylor) unwittingly.

Father of The Bride 1950  Elisabeth Taylor, Spencer Tracy, Billy Burke, Russ Tamblyn

Vicente Minelli directed Taylor in this charming comedy in which she played Spencer Tracy’s daughter.

A Place in The Sun 1951  Elisabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift, Shelley Winters, Fred Clark

Taylor plays Angela Vickers, a spoiled rich girl who falls for George Eastman (Montgomery Clift) and ruins his relationship with his poor girlfriend,  Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters) who is pregnant.

Giant 1956 Elisabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Dennis Hopper, Carole Baker

Ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture for this story of Texas, oil wealth, and jealousy.

Raintree County 1957  Elisabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift, Eva Marie Saint

This romantic drama garnered Taylor one of her many Academy Award nominations  as the southern belle competing for Montgomery Clift’s affection against Eva Marie Saint, the hometown sweetheart.

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof 1958  Elisabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives

Taylor was also nominated for Best Actress in this famous version of Tennessee William’s classic story of greed in a Southern family whose patriarch is on his deathbed. Nominated for Best Picture Academy Award!

Suddenly Last Summer 1959  Elisabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift, Katharine Hepburn

Another Tennessee William’s play, another role oppposite Montgomery Clift, and another Academy Award nomination.

Butterfield 8 1960  Elisabeth Taylor, Laurence Harvey, Betty Field, Eddie Fisher

Liz plays Manhattan call girl who falls in love with a married man (played by her husband Eddie Fisher) and decides to get out of the business. Taylor won her first Oscar for this performance.

Cleopatra 1963  Elisabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, George Cole

The film which first paired Taylor with future husband Richard Burton, and the first film to earn her a million dollar fee in possibly the most expensive film ever made.  The story of the Queen of the Nile and her romantic involvement with two Roman generals, Marc Antony and Caesar.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf 1966   Elisabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal, Sandy Dennis

Edward Albee’s controversial account of a casual evening between two middle-class couples that explodes into a night of marital turmoil. Oscar nominations for all four players, with Taylor earning her second Oscar!

Sandpiper 1965  Elisabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Charles Bronson, Eva Marie Saint

Another pairing with husband Richard Burton and another romantic competition with Eva Marie Saint, the wife of the man she loves.

Taming of the Shrew 1967  Elisabeth Taylor, Richard Burton

The classic comedy from Shakespeare with lively performance by Taylor an Burton.

The Mirror Cracked 1973  Elisabeth Taylor, Edward Fox, Kim Novak, Angela Lansbury

This film is based on Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple  mystery classic.

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