Since the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has just nominated the movie for a total of fifteen Emmys it appears Behind the Candelabra has aged quite well. But, don’t forget it is also just now appearing in cinemas overseas. That is why the movie was allowed to appear at the Cannes International Film Festival.
First, here is a quick look at how well it did here in America: On its premiere run the HBO Film was seen by 2.4 million viewers. That is the most viewers for a made-for-HBO movie since HBO Films: SOMETHING THE LORD MADE aired in 2004. It holds the record at 2.6 million viewers. Comparing these works to other offerings puts it in better perspective. HBO Films: GAME CHANGE premiered with an average of 2.1 million viewers and PHIL SPECTOR only took in 754,000 viewers on its premiere date. It even outperformed the opening nights of such HBO miniseries as MILDRED PIERCE (1.3 million), GENERATION KILL (1 million), JOHN ADAMS (1.8 million).
Here is HBOWatch’s review.
It has also been seen across the globe as a theatrical movie and in some locales has not even premiered yet. The U.K premiered it in June. The film opened to $764,910 at 131 sites on 06.07 and by week two it hit 4.6 million US dollars on a total 421 screens. That is a solid performance by British standards, I understand. Remember, the movie aired in the U.S. on HBO because the filmmakers couldn’t secure funding for a domestic theatrical release, being told that the film was “too gay.” It is scheduled to release in Australia soon and appears in cinemas across Central Europe in September and will run in Asia, South America and South Africa as well. So, as you can see, even though it has had its run here in the States it is still a new release elsewhere.
BEHIND THE CANDELABRA is also about to take on two another manifestations in the near future. A press release has announced a street date of 09.17.13 for the following:
“A Visual Feast” – USA Today
BEHIND THE CANDELABRA
Starring Academy Award® winners Michael Douglas and Matt Damon
Directed by Academy Award®-winning Director Steven Soderbergh
Available September 17, 2013 on Blu-ray™ with Digital Copy, DVD & Digital Download
More detail on that release closer to date. Also out there is a soundtrack. Elektra Records released BEHIND THE CANDELABRA: Music from the Original HBO Film. The album has been out since 05.21.13. It features original music composed for the movie plus, naturally, classic Liberace pieces. The collection features work from celebrated and late composer Marvin Hamlisch, and performances from pianist Randy Kerber, concert pianist Idil Biret and Michael Douglas himself. For those of interest here is the Album tracklist and a link of one of the many places in which to purchase it.
[amazon_link id=”B00CO0J7F8″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]BEHIND THE CANDELABRA: Music [/amazon_link]from the Original HBO Film.
COMPLETE TRACKLISTING
- The Liberace Fanfare – The BTC Orchestra
- The Liberace Boogie – The BTC Orchestra Feat. Michael Douglas
- Carioca – The BTC Orchestra
- Chopin Nocturne In E Flat Major – Randy Kerber
- Tico Tico – Liberace
- When Liberace Winks At Me – Liberace Feat. Peggy King
- Why Do I Love You – Michael Douglas
- Kitten On The Keys – Liberace
- NOLA – The BTC Orchestra
- 10. Begin The Beguine – The BTC Orchestra
- 11. I Belong With You – The BTC Singers
- 12. Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28, No. 4 – Idil Biret
- 13. Love Is Blue – Liberace
- 14. The Impossible Dream – Michael Douglas
New York Post reporter Michael Riedel has even uncovered continued life for the project as a possible Broadway-bound musical. Riedel’s sources say that Jerry Weintraub, producer of the movie is interested in getting a musical adaption to the stage but has not been aggressively developing it yet. Weintraub has, however, dropped the name of Hugh Jackman as a potential Liberace.
Also, in a bit of real-time news, I link you to a New York Daily News to find out what year-old Scott Thorson, the author and subject of BEHIND THE CANDELBARA, is up to these days and it isn’t anything good.
So, there you go. Now, we will just have to see how many of those fifteen Emmy nominations the film received turn into wins and that will help decide whether we see that stage musical comes to life. Haven’t seen it yet? Check out HBO Films: BEHIND THE CANDELABRA on HBOGO.
You can also grab it on [amazon_link id=”B00D2CYV9E” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]DVD and Blu-Ray soon[/amazon_link].
