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DocumentaryMusic

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story

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Rich with archival gems and Liza Minnelli’s own point of view, Bruce David Klein's luminous documentary celebrates a young entertainer full of boundless raw talent and the deep, creative relationships with her mentors and influences.

Release Date : 2025-01-24

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Atlas Media Corp.

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Liza Minnelli

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Liza Minnelli

Gender : Female

Mia Farrow

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Mia Farrow

Gender : Female

Ben Vereen

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Ben Vereen

Gender : Male

Chita Rivera

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Chita Rivera

Gender : Female

John Kander

Character Name : Self

Original Name : John Kander

Gender : Male

Lorna Luft

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Lorna Luft

Gender : Female

Joel Grey

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Joel Grey

Gender : Male

Darren Criss

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Darren Criss

Gender : Male

George Hamilton

Character Name : Self

Original Name : George Hamilton

Gender : Male

Michael Feinstein

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Michael Feinstein

Gender : Male

Jim Caruso

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Jim Caruso

Gender : Male

Kevin Winkler

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Kevin Winkler

Gender : Male

Christina Smith

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Christina Smith

Gender : Female

Ben Rimalower

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Ben Rimalower

Gender : Male

Judy Garland

Character Name : Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Original Name : Judy Garland

Gender : Female

Vincente Minnelli

Character Name : Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Original Name : Vincente Minnelli

Gender : Male

Charles Aznavour

Character Name : Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Aznavour

Gender : Male

Kay Thompson

Character Name : Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Original Name : Kay Thompson

Gender : Female

Bob Fosse

Character Name : Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Original Name : Bob Fosse

Gender : Male

Ed Sullivan

Character Name : Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Original Name : Ed Sullivan

Gender : Male

Peter Sellers

Character Name : Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Original Name : Peter Sellers

Gender : Male

Rosie O'Donnell

Character Name : Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Original Name : Rosie O'Donnell

Gender : Female

Sammy Davis Jr.

Character Name : Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Original Name : Sammy Davis Jr.

Gender : Male

Reviews

B

Brent Marchant

@Brent_Marchant

2025-05-17

It’s fascinating to see how something truly wondrous comes together from the ground up, witnessing the various components that go into the assembling if its finished form. It’s particularly intriguing when that “something” is an individual who’s tremendously gifted in some way and uses his or her talents to produce astounding works of creativity. That’s especially true for those in artistic and entertainment pursuits, as is the case with iconic actress/singer/dancer Liza Minnelli, the famous daughter of actress/singer/dancer Judy Garland and filmmaker Vincente Minnelli. Writer-director Bruce David Klein’s new biographical documentary of the legendary entertainer is a revealing look at the professional and personal life of its subject, told in nine chapters, most of which focus on the influences who helped shape the life and career of the storied stage, screen and concert performer. Under the tutelage of her famous parents, as well as mentoring collaborations with multi-talented entertainer Kay Thompson, singer Charles Aznavour, director Bob Fosse, composers Fred Ebb and John Kander, and fashion designer Halston, Liza emerged as one of the most distinguished and readily identifiable figures in show business, rocketing her to stardom on multiple fronts. Her singular look, polished persona and stellar performances placed Minnelli in constant demand, thanks largely to her determination to follow through on every venture she took on, a quality that helped earn her an Oscar, an Emmy, three Tonys and a lifetime achievement Grammy Award. At the same time, Liza’s personal life was as ambitious and colorful as her professional pursuits, one filled with more than its share of highs, lows and challenges, all of which are candidly examined, including the stresses brought on by relentless press coverage of these developments. These explorations into her life are backed up with a wealth of archive footage, film clips from Minnelli’s Academy Award-winning performance in “Cabaret” (1972), and recent interviews with friends, collaborators and entertainment industry observers, including Michael Feinstein, Ben Vereen, Mia Farrow, Joel Grey, George Hamilton, Chita Rivera and actress/half-sister Lorna Luft, among others. This combination of elements makes for an insightful profile of the entertainer, even if it sags a bit in the middle and has an occasional tendency to gush in the presentation of its content. Nevertheless, for the most part, “Liza” is a truly terrific true story that shows how success arises when it’s carefully conceived, deliberately constructed and meticulously packaged, yielding a result we can all genuinely admire.