# Behind the Candelabra

Behind the Candelabra is a 2013 American biographical comedy drama television film directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by Richard LaGravenese, based on the 1988 book of the same name by Scott Thorson and Alex Thorleifson. It dramatizes the last ten years in the life of pianist Liberace and the relationship that he had with Thorson.
It premiered at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2013, and competed for the Palme d'Or. It aired on HBO on May 26, 2013, and was given a cinematic release in the United Kingdom on June 7, 2013. The film received critical acclaim from television critics, including praise for the performances of Michael Douglas and Matt Damon. It marked the final onscreen acting role for Debbie Reynolds before her death in 2016.

## Plot

In 1977, 18-year-old Scott Thorson, who works as an animal trainer for films, meets Bob Black, a Hollywood producer, in a gay bar in Los Angeles. At Black's urging, he leaves his adopted home in search of better-paying work. Black introduces Thorson to Liberace, who takes an immediate liking to the handsome younger man. Liberace invites the two backstage and then to his luxurious home in Las Vegas.
Thorson observes that one of Liberace's beloved dogs has a temporary form of blindness, and with his veterinary assistant background, informs the famous pianist that he knows how to cure the condition. After treating the dog, Thorson becomes Liberace's "assistant" at the performer's request. Thorson also becomes employed as Liberace's stage chauffeur, driving a Rolls-Royce limousine onto the stage for Liberace's grand entrances.
Thorson moves in with Liberace and becomes his lover. At this point, Thorson says that he is bisexual because he is also attracted to women. Liberace is sympathetic, informing him that he wanted and tried to love women, but was exclusively attracted to men. A devout Catholic, he relates a story of a "divine healing" in which an angelic "messenger" dressed as a nun informed him that God still loved him.
It gradually becomes clear that Liberace is trying to mold Thorson into a younger version of himself. He asks his plastic surgeon, Dr. Jack Startz, to transform Scott's face to more closely resemble his own, and he even tries unsuccessfully to adopt him. Startz prescribes drugs for Thorson to help him lose weight, and Thorson soon turns to other drugs as he becomes angrier and more frustrated with Liberace's attempts to control him as well as Liberace's obsession with hiding their romance and homosexuality from the public.
By 1982, Thorson's increasing drug abuse and Liberace's interest in younger men, including dancer Cary James, creates a rift that ultimately destroys their relationship. Liberace begins visiting pornographic peep shows and suggests that they each see other people. Later, Thorson starts flying into jealous rages, whereupon Liberace kicks him out and ends their partnership.
Scott Thorson retains an attorney to seek his financial share by suing Liberace for over $100 million in palimony. In 1984, Thorson's palimony lawsuit starts in which he gives details about his romance for five years with the entertainer, while Liberace flatly denies any sexual relationship. Thorson settles for $75,000, three cars, and three pet dogs.
In December 1986, Thorson receives a telephone call from Liberace telling him that he is very ill with what is later revealed to be AIDS and that he would like Thorson to visit him again. Thorson agrees and drives to Liberace's retreat house in Palm Springs, where he and Liberace have one last, emotional conversation. Liberace dies a few months later in February 1987. Thorson attends Liberace's funeral, in which he imagines seeing Liberace performing one last time with his traditional flamboyance, before being lifted to Heaven with a stage harness.

## Cast

* Michael Douglas as Liberace
* Matt Damon as Scott Thorson
* Dan Aykroyd as Seymour Heller
* Rob Lowe as Dr. Jack Startz
* Debbie Reynolds as Frances Liberace
* Scott Bakula as Bob Black
* Boyd Holbrook as Cary James
* Tom Papa as Ray Arnett
* Nicky Katt as Mr. Y
* Cheyenne Jackson as Billy Leatherwood (based on Liberace's protégé Vince Cardell)
* Paul Reiser as Mr. Felder
* David Koechner as Adoption Attorney
* Peggy King as TV Vocalist (When Liberace Winks at Me)

## Production

Director Steven Soderbergh first spoke with Michael Douglas about the idea of doing a Liberace film during the production of Traffic (2000), but had trouble figuring out an angle for it that would differentiate it from a traditional biopic. In the summer of 2008, Soderbergh contacted screenwriter Richard LaGravenese with the idea of adapting Scott Thorson's memoir Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace. In September 2008, the project was officially announced with Matt Damon close to signing on to play Thorson and Douglas in talks to portray Liberace.
The following year, Douglas officially signed on to play Liberace alongside Damon. The film spent several years in development while Soderbergh had difficulty securing funding, with Hollywood studios saying it was "too gay". During this time, Douglas and Damon remained adamant that they would appear in the film despite its lengthy development. Ultimately, the film was picked up by HBO Films and shot on a budget of $23 million over thirty days in 2012.
While promoting the film, Soderbergh went on to explain that this would be his last directorial effort for the time being. It is also the last film to feature a musical score by composer Marvin Hamlisch, who died on August 6, 2012.
Scenes set in Las Vegas were filmed at Zsa Zsa Gabor's mansion in Bel Air (interior and some exterior shots) and Siegfried & Roy's mansion in Las Vegas (driveway); Liberace's West Hollywood penthouse had been converted into an office space after his death, but the building's owner convinced the current occupants to temporarily relocate during filming, and the space was returned to Liberace's original design. Performances were filmed at the Las Vegas Hilton, where Liberace once had a residency. Production designer was Howard Cummings, while set decorator was Barbara Munch Cameron.
The pianos used in the film were also once owned by Liberace; one of the pianos used in the opening scenes had been purchased by Debbie Gibson at the 1988 estate sale. Michael Douglas' head was digitally composited onto the body of Philip Fortenberry for the piano playing performances. Fortenberry, who had entertained audiences at the Liberace Museum, stated the rings needed to be glued to his fingers: "These rings kept flopping around and clicking on the keys."

## Reception
### Critical response

The film received critical acclaim. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 94%, based on reviews from 108 film critics with an average score of 8.1 out of 10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Affectionate without sacrificing honesty, Behind the Candelabra couples award-worthy performances from Michael Douglas and Matt Damon with some typically sharp direction from Steven Soderbergh." Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, gives the film a score of 83 based on 30 reviews.
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film four out of five stars, saying "As a black comedy, and as a portrait of celebrity loneliness, Behind the Candelabra is very stylish and effective, and Damon and Douglas give supremely entertaining performances."

### Ratings

The film, shown for the first time on American television on May 26, 2013, was watched by 2.4 million US viewers. A further 1.1 million tuned in to watch the repeat immediately after, bringing viewership to 3.5 million in total. When the film debuted on HBO, it achieved the highest ratings for a television film since 2004.

### Box office

The film grossed $13.3 million in the territories it was released theatrically.

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| 2013 | Artios Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Television Movie/Mini Series | Carmen Cuba and Wittney Horton | Won | |
| 2013 | California on Location Awards | Independent Feature Film | Caleb Duffy | Won | |
| 2013 | Cannes Film Festival | Palme d'Or | Steven Soderbergh | Nominated | [26] [27] |
| 2013 | Cannes Film Festival | Queer Palm | Steven Soderbergh | Nominated | [26] [27] |
| 2013 | Cannes Film Festival | Palm Dog Award | Baby Boy | Won | [26] [27] |
| 2013 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Movie/Miniseries | Best Movie/Miniseries | Won | |
| 2013 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries | Matt Damon | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries | Michael Douglas | Won | |
| 2013 | Dublin Film Critics' Circle Awards | Best Film | Best Film | 6th Place | |
| 2013 | Dublin Film Critics' Circle Awards | Best Director | Steven Soderbergh | 4th Place | |
| 2013 | Dublin Film Critics' Circle Awards | Best Actor | Michael Douglas | 3rd Place | |
| 2013 | Dublin Film Critics' Circle Awards | Best Screenplay | Richard LaGravenese | 10th Place | |
| 2013 | Hollywood Post Alliance Awards | Outstanding Color Grading – Television | John Daro | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Television Movie | Jerry Weintraub, Gregory Jacobs, Susan Ekins, and Michael Polaire | Won | |
| 2013 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie | Matt Damon | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie | Michael Douglas | Won | |
| 2013 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie | Scott Bakula | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series or Movie | Steven Soderbergh | Won | |
| 2013 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Movie | Richard LaGravenese | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie | Howard Cummings, Patrick M. Sullivan Jr., and Barbara Munch | Won | |
| 2013 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries or Movie | Carmen Cuba | Won | |
| 2013 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie | Steven Soderbergh (as Peter Andrews) | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or Special | Ellen Mirojnick and Robert Q. Matthews | Won | |
| 2013 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or Movie | Marie Larkin, Yvette Stone, Kerrie Smith, and Kay Georgiou | Won | |
| 2013 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) | Kate Biscoe, Deborah Rutherford, Deborah La Mia Denaver, Christine Beveridge, and Todd Kleitsch | Won | |
| 2013 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup | Kate Biscoe, Hiroshi Yada, Jamie Kelman, Stephen Kelley, Chrissie Beveridge, Todd Kleitsch, and Christien Tinsley | Won | |
| 2013 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie | Steven Soderbergh (as Mary Ann Bernard) | Won | |
| 2013 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie | Dennis Towns, Larry Blake, and Thomas Vicari | Won | |
| 2013 | Television Critics Association Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials | Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials | Won | |
| 2014 | American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Television | Steven Soderbergh (as Mary Ann Bernard) | Won | |
| 2014 | Art Directors Guild Awards | Excellence in Production Design Award – Television Movie or Mini-Series | Howard Cummings, Patrick M. Sullivan Jr., Eric R. Johnson, Karen Teneyck, Thomas Machan, John Berger, Eric Sundahl, Greg Berry, and Barbara Munch | Won | |
| 2014 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Matt Damon | Nominated | [35] [36] |
| 2014 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Richard LaGravenese | Nominated | [35] [36] |
| 2014 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Costume Design | Ellen Mirojnick | Nominated | [35] [36] |
| 2014 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Makeup and Hair | Kate Biscoe and Marie Larkin | Nominated | [35] [36] |
| 2014 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Production Design | Howard Cummings and Barbara Munch-Cameron | Nominated | [35] [36] |
| 2014 | Cinema Audio Society Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Movies and Mini-Series | Dennis Towns, Larry Blake, Thomas Vicari, and Scott Curtis | Won | |
| 2014 | Costume Designers Guild Awards | Outstanding Made for Television Movie or Miniseries | Ellen Mirojnick | Won | |
| 2014 | Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Miniseries | Steven Soderbergh | Won | |
| 2014 | Dorian Awards | TV Drama of the Year | TV Drama of the Year | Won | |
| 2014 | Dorian Awards | TV Performance of the Year – Actor | Michael Douglas | Won | |
| 2014 | Dorian Awards | LGBT TV Show of the Year | LGBT TV Show of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Dorian Awards | Campy TV Show of the Year | Campy TV Show of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2014 | GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series | Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series | Won | |
| 2014 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or Television Film | Best Miniseries or Television Film | Won | |
| 2014 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film | Matt Damon | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film | Michael Douglas | Won | |
| 2014 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Rob Lowe | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Guild of Music Supervisors Awards | Best Music Supervision in Television Long Form and Movies | Evyen Klean | Won | |
| 2014 | Irish Film & Television Awards | International Actor | Michael Douglas | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Jupiter Awards | Best International Actor | Michael Douglas | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Location Managers Guild Awards | Outstanding Achievement by a Location Professional – TV Program | Caleb Duffy | Nominated | |
| 2014 | London Film Critics Circle Awards | Actor of the Year | Michael Douglas | Nominated | |
| 2014 | London Film Critics Circle Awards | Technical Achievement | Howard Cummings (production design) | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards | Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling – Television Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television | Marie Larkin and Yvette Stone | Won | |
| 2014 | Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards | Best Period and/or Character Makeup – Television Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television | Kate Biscoe and Deborah Rutherford | Won | |
| 2014 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite TV Movie/Miniseries | Favorite TV Movie/Miniseries | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Producers Guild of America Awards | David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television | Susan Ekins, Gregory Jacobs, Michael Polaire, and Jerry Weintraub | Won | |
| 2014 | Satellite Awards | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Satellite Awards | Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Matt Damon | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Satellite Awards | Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Michael Douglas | Won | |
| 2014 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries | Matt Damon | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries | Michael Douglas | Won | |