Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersSundance Film FestivalIndependent Spirit AwardsBlack History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Behind the Candelabra

  • 20132013
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
44K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,872
342
Behind the Candelabra (2013)
Based on the autobiographical novel, the tempestuous 6-year relationship between Liberace and his (much younger) lover, Scott Thorson, is recounted.
Play trailer1:58
4 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaMusic
A chronicle of the tempestuous six-year romance between megastar singer Liberace and his young lover Scott Thorson.A chronicle of the tempestuous six-year romance between megastar singer Liberace and his young lover Scott Thorson.A chronicle of the tempestuous six-year romance between megastar singer Liberace and his young lover Scott Thorson.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
44K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,872
342
    • Steven Soderbergh
    • Richard LaGravenese(screenplay)
    • Scott Thorson(book)
    • Alex Thorleifson(book)
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Matt Damon
    • Scott Bakula
    • Steven Soderbergh
    • Richard LaGravenese(screenplay)
    • Scott Thorson(book)
    • Alex Thorleifson(book)
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Matt Damon
    • Scott Bakula
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 188User reviews
    • 261Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 11 Primetime Emmys

    Videos4

    UK Trailer
    Trailer 1:58
    Watch UK Trailer
    First Trailer
    Trailer 1:40
    Watch First Trailer
    Uggie, Toto, & Award-Winning Movie Dogs
    Clip 3:31
    Watch Uggie, Toto, & Award-Winning Movie Dogs
    What Roles Has Matt Damon Turned Down?
    Video 3:27
    Watch What Roles Has Matt Damon Turned Down?

    Photos204

    Michael Douglas in Behind the Candelabra (2013)
    Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in Behind the Candelabra (2013)
    Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in Behind the Candelabra (2013)
    Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in Behind the Candelabra (2013)
    Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in Behind the Candelabra (2013)
    Michael Douglas and Steven Soderbergh in Behind the Candelabra (2013)
    Steven Soderbergh and Jerry Weintraub in Behind the Candelabra (2013)
    Michael Douglas at an event for Behind the Candelabra (2013)
    Jerry Weintraub at an event for Behind the Candelabra (2013)
    Michael Douglas at an event for Behind the Candelabra (2013)
    Michael Douglas at an event for Behind the Candelabra (2013)
    Michael Douglas and Matt Damon at an event for Behind the Candelabra (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Douglas
    Michael Douglas
    • Liberace
    Matt Damon
    Matt Damon
    • Scott Thorson
    Scott Bakula
    Scott Bakula
    • Bob Black
    Eric Zuckerman
    Eric Zuckerman
    • Lou
    Eddie Jemison
    Eddie Jemison
    • Assistant Director
    Randy Lowell
    Randy Lowell
    • Director
    Tom Roach
    Tom Roach
    • Stunt Actor
    Shamus Cooley
    • Camera Assistant
    John Smutny
    • Sound Mixer
    Jane Morris
    Jane Morris
    • Rose Carracappa
    Garrett M. Brown
    Garrett M. Brown
    • Joe Carracappa
    Pat Asanti
    Pat Asanti
    • George Liberace
    Debbie Reynolds
    Debbie Reynolds
    • Frances Liberace
    Casey Kramer
    Casey Kramer
    • Dora Liberace
    Cheyenne Jackson
    Cheyenne Jackson
    • Billy Leatherwood
    Tom Papa
    Tom Papa
    • Ray Arnett
    Dan Aykroyd
    Dan Aykroyd
    • Seymour Heller
    James Kulick
    James Kulick
    • Assistant Stage Manager
      • Steven Soderbergh
      • Richard LaGravenese(screenplay)
      • Scott Thorson(book)
      • Alex Thorleifson(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Double Take: Showstopping Biopic Transformations

    Double Take: Showstopping Biopic Transformations

    We've rounded up some of the best biopic transformations, including Naomi Ackie in I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
    See the full gallery
    [object Object]
    Photos

    More like this

    The Informant!
    6.5
    The Informant!
    Sex, Lies, and Videotape
    7.2
    Sex, Lies, and Videotape
    Che: Part Two
    6.8
    Che: Part Two
    Traffic
    7.6
    Traffic
    Contagion
    6.8
    Contagion
    And Everything Is Going Fine
    7.1
    And Everything Is Going Fine
    Fatal Attraction
    6.9
    Fatal Attraction
    The Normal Heart
    7.9
    The Normal Heart
    Che: Part One
    7.2
    Che: Part One
    Haywire
    5.8
    Haywire
    Let Them All Talk
    6.1
    Let Them All Talk
    Unsane
    6.4
    Unsane

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Michael Douglas turned 68 during filming, making him a few months older than Liberace was when he died. Although played by 42-year-old Matt Damon, Scott Thorson was only 18 when he met Liberace, and 23 when their relationship ended in April 1982. He was still only in his twenties when Liberace died. Played by 30-year-old Boyd Holbrook, Cary-James was also only 18 when he met Liberace.
    • Goofs
      At the funeral mass at the film's end, the congregation's response to the priest's opening liturgical greeting "The Lord be with You" is .."and with your spirit". This is a well-known change made about 20 years after the funeral - which took place in 1987, when the liturgical response would still have been "And also with you."
    • Quotes

      Liberace: I have an eye for new and refreshing talent.

      Scott Thorson: You have an eye for new and refreshing dick.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Cannes Film Festival 2013 (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Tico Tico
      Written by Zequinha de Abreu (as Zequinha Abreu) and Ervin Drake

      Piano Performed by Liberace

      Courtesy of Columbia Records

      By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

    User reviews188

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    A triumph
    This is a first-rate piece of work by Mr Soderbergh and his team (kudos to Ellen Mirojnick's flamboyant costumes and Howard Cummings' outrageous interiors). The otherwise excellent screenplay by Richard LaGravanese loses a little steam around two-thirds of the way through, but recovers to give a genuinely touching conclusion.

    Nominally this is a biopic. In fact, it uses the biopic format to examine a particular relationship in depth. The narrative focus is on the dynamic between two people rather than the inner turmoil of one. This, as well as the director's good taste, has kept at bay the sprawling pretentiousness and sentimentality which usually infest the genre, regardless of how good the central performances are: films as diverse as LA VIE EN ROSE and MILK have been scuppered in this way. Not so BEHIND THE CANDELABRA, which is an altogether more sophisticated affair.

    The acting is dazzling. Michael Douglas, in a beautifully-written role, communicates the complexity of a real human being, not just a two-dimensional celebrity. At the same time, he gives full value to Liberace's famous showmanship. A star performance, sure - the subject demands it - but also much, much more.

    Matt Damon is a revelation. For me, up till now, he has represented the worst kind of dead-behind-the-eyes, don't-dare-express-anything movie acting. The nearest I came to thinking any different was his turn as the scout in the Coen Brothers' remake of TRUE GRIT. In BEHIND THE CANDELABRA he displays a range I never thought he had in him. The character moves from naivety through rage to despair and on to quiet understanding. Really, really terrific.

    The two leads create a totally believable relationship between their characters, in all its aspects. A triumph.

    The icing on the cake is the supporting cast, led by Dan Aykroyd and Scott Bakula, and spangled with cameos from Rob Lowe, Debbie Reynolds, Bruce Ramsay, Cheyenne Jackson and Paul Reiser.

    Here in England we're fortunate to see this film on big screens. As is well known, it was financed by a TV company (HBO) and will not be released theatrically in the USA. That tells a sad story about the American movie industry, from which an independent-minded artist like Mr Soderbergh is wise to walk away.
    helpful•35
    6
    • gsygsy
    • Jun 11, 2013

    FAQ1

    • What substance is being inhaled by Liberace during his love scene with Scott at the 39-minute mark?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 26, 2013 (Canada)
      • United States
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Clarita, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • HBO Films
      • Jerry Weintraub Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 58 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Behind the Candelabra (2013)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Behind the Candelabra (2013) officially released in India in Hindi?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.