The Essential Elizabeth Montgomery: A Guide to Her Magical Performances

I've never seen a more versatile "TV actress" than Elizabeth Montgomery. Yet, at her untimely death in 1995, I was dismayed that Elizabeth did not receive the credit she deserved for the extraordinary range and depth of her career. All I saw was a sidebar in "Entertainment Weekly," an even smaller mention in "Time" magazine and, shockingly, virtually nothing in "TV Guide." Fortunately, author Herbie J. Pilato came along and changed all that. "Essential Elizabeth", his third book concerning Montgomery (following " the delightful "Bewitched Forever" and the biography "Twitch Upon A Star") is easily the best of the trio because it concerns and encompasses her ENTIRE career and celebrates the range and depth of her remarkable talents. "I just want to act," the enigmatic, shy and mysterious Montgomery once said, "and do the best job I can. Hopefully, people will appreciate that."Readers who were distracted or disoriented by the non-linear approach Pilato employed for "Twitch Upon A Star" need not worry.. Everything in "Essential Elizabeth" is presented in chronological order; in seven distinct and clear career categories. Thus, "Essential Elizabeth" is informative, easy and fun to use. Readers seeking details of her personal life (her complex relationship with father Robert Montgomery, her four marriages, social and political activism, and her appeal to and work within the disabled and LGBTQ communities) should read Pilato's "Star" biography. However, an extensive biographical section (called "Prologue: A Life Preview") and a life and career Timeline are also included here. Professionally, Elizabeth did it all. She dabbled in films (debuting in "The Court-Martial Of Billy Mitchell", meeting third husband William Asher on the set of "Johnny Cool", and co-starring with Dean Martin and Carol Burnett in the frothy sex comedy "Whose Been Sleeping In My Bed?") and worked infrequently on stage. But it was on TV that her incandescent qualities were most dazzling. Pilato details the beginnings of her extraordinary TV career in "The Untouchable Years" section. Elizabeth received her first Emmy nomination for her performance as prostitute Rusty Heller in a 1960 episode of "The Untouchables." This was followed by a memorable episode of "The Twilight Zone" titled "Two", in which Elizabeth and Charles Bronson are the only survivors of an apocalyptic war. Fans should also seek out her sultry turn as femme-fatale Fay Linn on a 1959 episode of "Johnny Staccato." This episode, appropriately titled "Tempted", features an erotic- sexy encounter between Elizabeth and John Cassavetes. Regularly appearing on several TV anthology series proved to be excellent dramatic training years before Elizabeth enchanted the entire world as Samantha Stephens on the romantic 1964-1972 situation comedy "Bewitched." Pilato offers his most thoughtful and critical assessment of "Bewitched" to date here. "Bewitched" weathered many storms (cast changes caused by illness or death, production difficulties, etc.) and still managed to maintain an unusually high level of artistic quality for at least seven of its eight magical seasons on air. The initial appeal of "Bewitched" may have sprung for a desperate need for escapism during the turbulent 1960's, but the messages run much deeper, as Pilato writes: "the mid-60's Civil Rights subtext is usually subtle, but nearly always there; the difficulties endured by those who are not in the majority, those who are different, and those who are discriminated against ." The messages in "Bewitched" are, of course, presented in an endearing, comfortable, and safe "fantasy" context. Elizabeth modestly attributed the success of "Bewitched" to the spirit of professioniism and collaboration on set, stating, "you have writers, directors, producers (and) there is a sound (in the dialogue and stories) you get used to. Also, don't forget, we got the scripts before we shot them. We didn't just walk on the set. We always had a reading...and we'd say, "wait a minute, does this work?" or "could we do this or that?" And everybody was available to listen to suggestions." Fearing typecasting, Elizabeth appeared in the TV chiller "The Victim" immediately after completing "Bewitched" and separating from William Asher in 1972. This spooky "TV Movie Of The Week" signaled the dark turn her career would soon take. Elizabeth quickly earned well-deserved Emmy nominations for the disturbing TV movies "A Case Of Rape" (which, I feel, is Elizabeth's best dramatic performance) and "The Legend Of Lizzie Borden." After "Lizzie Borden", she went even darker. Her frightening performances in "Amos" and "Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story", in particular, may have left some fans wondering if she hadn't gone too far into the dark side. But, whether you love her as effervescent, sunny Samantha on "Bewitched", in murderous "Lizzie Borden" mode, or somewhere in between (she also portrayed a pioneer woman, wild west outlaws, a blind woman, and a coma survivor), it's thankfully all here in "Essential Elizabeth." Her passion for the game show "Password" is also discussed. In an especially humorous story, Elizabeth grew frustrated not guessing the correct Password. She used some strong profanities, and had to be "bleeped" several times by network censors! "Essential Elizabeth" also includes two sections with photos, in black and white and full color, from her personal and professional life. The photo sections, presented in big, full-page glossy stock, are superb.. I think Elizabeth would be deeply touched by, and appreciate, this detailed and loving career retrospective. It certaily is the complete tribute she deserves-- and the book her fans have always wished for.

I'll admit I have been in love with Elizabeth Montgomery for years, and reading the synopsis of this book gave me hope that I'd finally found a really fantastic book that truly showcased her life & talents. Unfortunately, that only partially happens in this volume.It tries to follow her life, and career, chronologically...but jumps back & forth in its timeline with repeated info, quotes, and, ideas. The author's caring for his subject shows, of course, but this book needed a good editor to tighten-up the wording, repetition, and, pretty much everything else.Some good, never before seen photos, and some insight into Liz's kind heart, incredible talent, and her troubled relationship with her father is covered here. And, what I did glean from the book, and what I knew from previous sources, was that Elizabeth Montgomery was not only one of the Industry's best, and most versitile performers, but a true friend to those she loved, and a formidable foe to those who deserved it.What isn't covered in the book, is that fact that Liz had her Astrological roots in being an Aries (April 15, 1933), and having had many, many relationships with that wonderful sign, I can tell you that she was a smart, strong, beautiful, loving, fun-loving, daring woman...all true to her Aries heritage. A wonderful woman who anyone would be proud to have for a friend.This volume may cover her various early performances (I loved her in "Johnny Cool"...saw it in its 1st run in 1963 when I was living in Hollywood), and post-"Bewitched" career, BUT she was the only one who could have ever done justice to "Samantha Stevens". From the first episode to the last she was spot-on perfect! She WAS "Sam"...Period! She breathed warmth, fun, life & charm into that character every second she was on-screen.Accordingly, someone really needs to do a complete book that truly does justice to this remarkable, sexy, beautiful, charismatic, sometimes-complicated, amazing woman, Elizabeth Montgomery, in ALL phases of her life & career. Sadly, this isn't the one.

In The Essential Elizabeth Montgomery, noted pop culture author Herbie J Pilato shines a spotlight on the actress most known to we mere mortals as Samantha Stephens, the nose-twitching enchantress of Bewitched. This is not Pilato's freshman outing relating to the supernatural sitcom: The Bewitched Book (later Bewitched Forever) was the first tome available about the show, and Essential is, by his own admission, a companion piece of sorts to Twitch Upon A Star, his bio of Montgomery. What makes Essential essential, however, is its reduced focus on Bewitched. The reader is treated to a comprehensive overview of Montgomery's eclectic career – every prime-time appearance, every film, every TV movie, from her beginnings in the early 1950s to her all-too-soon death in 1995. Pilato garnishes his entries with information gleaned from his extensive interviews with the men and women in Montgomery's orbit, and from Montgomery herself. One of the more unique features presented is the author's frequent correlations between Montgomery's work and elements of her life – fascinating by times and almost presumptive at others, there's often a psychological feel to these reflections, which is either engrossing or distracting depending on the wavelength you're on. Still, no other book chronicles Montgomery's entire body of work this thoroughly, and it's replete with rare photos that three-dimensionalize her life on-camera and off, making “essential” an apt word to describe Pilato's publication.

A great book on the career of a muched loved TV and film icon. Loads of information about all of Elizabeth's earlier roles as an actress and of course "Bewitched". For 50 years I've loved this dear lady And at least this book gives me a little insight into hr life.

Complete companion to everything that Elizabeth Montgomery has ever done, special section on Bewitched. All fans of Elizabeth Montgomery. RECCOMENDED

Wonderful book ,gorgeous pictures and much info on this much missed actress,if your a Liz fan you NEED this book ,its a goldmine of info on Elizabeth and her work.

This book focuses on the career and series and movies that she starred in. Does not really delve very much into her personal life if I had a choice to buy it again I would not I'm more interested in the person than what they appeared in.

A lovely book on the late Elizabeth Montgomery, anything with her in is excellent for either reading or viewing.Love her!!