Posterized: Liza Minnelli
Friday, May 24, 2019 at 11:16AM by Nathaniel R
Some people's talents are so supersized that they're destined for fame. Others are born right into it. In the delicious nutty case of Liza Minnelli it was both. She was famous at birth, being the first child of a superstar couple (Movie star Judy Garland and celebrated director Vincente Minnelli) but later her talents proved that she would have become LIZA even if she'd been born to a phone operator and a brick-layer.
Liza is currently back in select movie theaters as herself in the documentary Halston (2019). But we're here to look back today. You can actually catch baby Liza (uncredited) at the end of the Judy Garland musical In the Good Old Summertime (1949) but her film debut proper came in 1968 in the Albert Finney comedy Charlie Bubbles.
How many of her movies have you seen? Every poster is after the jump but since she's an all platform star we included notes about other major work where it applied...
Introducing... Look, it's Judy's daughter Liza!
Liza!Liza! (1964) - debut album
It Amazes Me (1965) - album
Flora The Red Menace (1965) on Broadway *Tony Winner Best Actress*
There is a Time (1966) - album
CHARLIE BUBBLES (1968)
Liza Minnelli (1968) - album
THE STERILE CUCKOO (1969) *Oscar Nomination Best Actress*
Come Saturday Morning (1969) -album
TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME JUNIE MOON (1970)
New Feeling (1970) -album
Act 1 - The Legend-Making Years
CABARET (1972) *Oscar, BAFTA, Globe Winner Best Actress*
The Singer (1973) - album
Liza with a Z (1973) -TV Special *Emmy Winner Outstanding Single Program*
Liza (1974) on Broadway *Special Tony Win*
Love from A to Z (1974) - TV Special
That's Entertainment! (1974) - Host of a very popular doc on musicals
LUCKY LADY (1975) *Globe nomination Best Actress*
Chicago (1975) on Broadway - Gwen Verdon replacement
SILENT MOVIE (1976)
A MATTER OF TIME (1976)
NEW YORK NEW YORK (1977) *Globe nomination Best Actress*
The Act (1977) on Broadway *Tony Winner Best Actress*
Tropical Nights (1977) album
Goldie & Liza Together (1980) - TV Special *Emmy nominee Outstanding Variety or Music Program*
An Evening with Liza Minnelli (1980) - TV Special
ARTHUR (1981) *Globe nomination Best Actress*
Act 2 - Loss of interest in movie stardom (especially after such a huge hit with Arthur)? or the focus was just elsewhere
THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN (1984)
The Rink (1984) on Broadway *Tony Nomination Best Actress*
That's Dancing! (1985) - Host of this documentary on film musicals
Liza in London (1986) - TV Special
RENT-A-COP (1987)
ARTHUR 2: ON THE ROCKS (1988)
Results (1989) -album
Frank, Liza, and Sammy: The Ultimate Event (1989) - TV Special
Act 3 - One last leading lady movie before the cameos begin -- plus that hilarious recurring role on Arrested Development.
STEPPING OUT (1991)
Liza Live from Radio City Music Hall (1992) - TV Special
Liza and Friends: A Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr (1993) - TV Special
Gently (1996) - album *Grammy nomination Traditional Pop Vocal Performance*
Victor/Victoria (1997) on Broadway - Julie Andrews Replacement
Minnelli on Minnelli (1999) on Broadway
Arrested Development (2003) - four seasons
THE OH IN OHIO (2006)
Liza's at the Palace (2008) on Broadway *Tony Award Winner Theatrical Special and Grammy Nomination Traditional Pop Vocal Album *
SEX & THE CITY 2 (2010)
Confessions (2010) - album
Though we never like to see film careers end when it comes to stars we love, it's somewhat perfect that her final role on the big screen was playing herself, all razzle-dazzly, in a big glitzy and gay spectacle.
Reader Comments (23)
Aww, I have a soft spot for Stepping Out. And, God, I sure hope Sex and the City 2 isn't her cinematic swan song (because that would be a real bummer).
Regardless, she's a bonafide legend. Isn't it crazy that she has never won a Grammy, and only has gotten two nominations? The soundtrack for Cabaret alone should've won one.
She probably got close for Arthur. Two other acting nominations and a Screenplay nod? Yeah, probably would have been better than a fourth nod to that period's Oscar bridesmaid. I mean, the Oscar bridesmaid of "now" is at SIX. Madness.
I know everyone says Cabaret about her best performance but I think she should've won in 69 for The Sterile Cuckoo.
Really? Over Fonda in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Because Minnelli is great in The Sterile Cuckoo, but Fonda is next-level compared to her (and Smith, for that matter).
I think New York New York is her best performance, though she's incredible in Cabaret. It's insane she hasn't done more movies.
Mareko I don't think Fonda gives her best performance in TSHDT I prefer Bergman and Bujold over her,I think it's a lot to do with Pookie and the way Minnelli gets your sympathy even hough you understand why someone would think twice about dating or marrying her.
The phone call is for me the best thing she has ever done.
I don't see one of my favorite albums listed, it is something like Liza Live From The Winter Garden. Does it have a different name?
And is there any way to see all those TV specials? I've only seen Liza With A Z (duh, of course).
It's hardly forgotten (heck, it was remade in the last decade) but I still think people don't talk about Arthur enough. It's such a delight, with all involved doing excellent work.
This post (thanks for it!) has mostly made me think of 2 things - it's reminded me that 1) she's by miles (to me) the best thing about New York New York (a film I don't think about often, but she's so good in it) and 2) it seems weird that she didn't do more comedy films in the 1970s and 1980s. For some reason, because of her persona and doing a lot of other work, it feels like that happened, but no, those movies starred Barbra Streisand, Marsha Mason, etc.
Will she get a Cecil B Demille award or be a Kennedy Center honoree? I want more celebrations of her
I've only six of her films plus Liza with a Z. Her cameo in Sex & the City 2 was the only thing in that film worth watching and then.... it goes into shit.
Results is one of my fave albums, such (melo)drama!
Genius performer.
I prefer her acting in the So Sorry, I Said music video than her entire post-Arthur movie career.
I've seen eight and it's shocking to realized that at her peak- she made so few movies- but of course she was busy recording, on Broadway and surviving- Liza with a Z for ever
I have seen 10 films, and I agree that New York, New York is my favourite performance. I also agree that Stepping Out is a lot of fun.
Just a protean talent who had trouble really fitting in to the confines of many parts.
Not a single bad shot in Liza with a Z.
P.S. I miss Hit Me
I only have seen her in Cabaret, she was very good but ... i dont love the performance. She is in my personal list with Diane Keaton, Natalie Portman, Emma Stone, Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon for win an Oscar in a good-but not great performance.
I've seen all but The Oh in Ohio.
I like her but I think she fell into the trap of being LIZA after Cabaret, with the possible exception of NY, NY.
She's a much more specific performer than her mother who especially in her youth was able to exude a girl next door vibe and play to that but Liza never had that sort of accessibility. I'm not saying that's bad but it must have made it much more difficult to find suitable movie vehicles, though in her youth she did well with Sterile Cuckoo and Tell Me You Love Me, Junie Moon. It's a pity the proposed version of Chicago with Goldie Hawn never came together, she would have been perfect for it. She excels when she's just being herself which is why Liza with a Z is such a phenomenal experience.
about 17
[i counted the at least ten times i've seen cabaret]
Dave -- i left out the concert recordings, just the studio albums are listed.
Sad to say of her movies I've only seen 'Cabaret', and her cameos in 'Silent Movie' and 'Muppets Take Manhattan'. She had such great comic timing on 'Arrested Development'. I've seen countless clips of her other musical performances, and she is so deeply talented.
I wish STEPPING OUT was available for streaming. It's very hard to come across otherwise.
I just love Liza so, so much. What a gift her entire life and career has been.
I've always found her incredibly repellent. But a Fosse helmed Chicago starring Goldie Hawn as Roxie and Liza as Velma should be in existence somewhere. (With Hawn winning best actress)
8 of them. The chemistry she and Dudley and Gielgud had was electric. Very funny film, from a different time.
The Oh in Ohio? I have friends and family from there. WTF is that???