Burton & Taylor

Burton amp Taylor is a BBC Four TV film directed by Richard Laxton, and based on the legendary acting duo and former husband and wife, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, during their preparation for a 1983 theatrical production of the play, Private Lives. The film stars Helena Bonham Carter and Dominic West in the titular roles.

The film was mainly shot in the Chiswick and Tower Hamlets, with filming lasting onlydays. Bonham Carter visited an astrologer whilst preparing for her role as Elizabeth Taylor as she wanted a different take on Taylors character and persona. Bonham Carter and West both have mentioned in interviews that they listened to numerous recordings of the stars, as well as reading books such as Furious Love by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger. West even visited the birthplace of Burton in attempt to discover more about the actor.Costume designer Susannah Buxton only recreated two of Taylors outfits, the gown worn during Private Lives and Taylors birthday dress. The rest of the clothes Buxton created for Bonham Carter to wear were made from freelance tailors based on Bonham Carters interpretation of the character, and designed to tone her look down subtly so it did not distract. Though Taylor was known for her jewelry, Buxton did not design much jewelry for Bonham Carter as she was afraid it would distract the audience if she wore as much as Taylor did. Therefore, she only copied two pieces of jewelry Taylor was known for, a Cartier bracelet and a pair of diamond earrings. For Dominic West as Richard Burton, Buxton sourced vintage suits and made one that would lend Burtons silhouette to West. As West was much younger during the filming than Burton was during the events portrayed, Wests clothing ensembles had to be chosen in order to give him the same strong, masculine and distinguished air as Burton, such as doublebreasted suits to broaden Wests shoulders and accentuate his height. ........

Source: Wikipedia