Screen

“Love Cecil:” The Untold Story of Cecil Beaton Comes to the Cinema

Even if you’ve never heard his famous name, you know Cecil Beaton’s type: gay, fabulous, opinionated, artistic, witty, dripping with style, knows everyone, goes to the cool parties, reminds one of Oscar Wilde and leads a life entirely of his own invention. That’s the man in nutshell, except this kind of man can’t fit into a nutshell; he barely fits into 98 minutes. Born into the British middle class in 1904 but preternaturally possessing an upper-crust air, Beaton fell in with the a fabulous crowd at a young age. He became one of the Bright Young Things, those Bohemian socialites who threw boozy, elaborate, drug-fueled fancy dress parties that titillated the tabloids of 1920s London. He became the premier photographer in fashionable society, worked for American Vogue, was the favored photographer to the British royal family, and became the country’s main war photographer for the duration of WW II. He did art and costume design for My Fair Lady and Gigi, among many other films. He was in love with his good friend Greta Garbo, though they were both gay. As the accomplishments and details of his astounding life continue to pile up, the film takes on an air of excitement. Beaton seems to have done everything, and photographed everyone: Brando, Bacon, Monroe, Huxley, Burton, Taylor, Hepburn, Jagger, Warhol, Dietrich, Picasso, Capote, Chanel; Streisand. Many were good friends, others became bitter enemies. His photos are complemented by extensive diaries showing him also to be a first-rate writer and similarly savage wit. THE WORD: Charged with the energy of this extraordinary individual and sublimely narrated by Rupert Everett, this is simply one of the most exciting biopics I have ever seen. COMING TO: Theaters

Leave a Comment
Share
Published by
Jonathan Roche

Recent Posts

Queer Fall Flair: How to Slay Your Queer Entertaining Season

As the leaves start doing their brilliant drag show across the trees, and that first…

2 days ago

Thirty-Five: A Look Back at Metrosource Magazine’s Enduring Legacy

Thirty-five years. It’s a milestone that speaks volumes – of resilience, evolution, and an unwavering…

2 days ago

Gluttony Is No Sin in Tuscany

In Tuscany, time is measured in meals. That was the lesson I took from our…

2 days ago

DOC NYC

America’s largest documentary film festival, DOC NYC, has a reputation for breaking molds and elevating…

2 days ago

JAPAN Fes

The roving, option-packed JAPAN Fes is one street food-centered extravaganza where tastebuds never grow bored,…

2 days ago

NYC Autumn Crush: Wine & Artisanal Food Festival

If a grand tasting featuring more than 100 award-winning wines, craft cocktails, artisanal bites and…

2 days ago