Behind the Candellabra

Extravagant fur coats, bejewelled costumes and a plethora of expensive jewellery were the trademark of Las Vegas virtuoso pianist and grandiose entertainer Liberace. His private life was just as lavish and glamorous as his stage life. Director Steven Soderbergh’s biopic begins in the summer of 1977, when Scott Thorson, an attractive, simple young man enters Liberace’s dressing room after one of the entertainer’s performances. Soon thereafter a love affair begins that must remain a secret in the homophobic climate of the 1970s. Initially flattered by the star’s advances, Thorson is increasingly suffocated by Liberace’s possessive manner and soon turns to drugs and alcohol. Michael Douglas and Matt Damon reign supreme as this over-the-top couple.