"Mary Poppins eat your heart out." Imagine those words were uttered by Michael Douglas. It shouldn't be too hard to do.

Now imagine that while he speaks that sentence he's wearing a white-and-red, ostrich feather-and-rhinestone cape. Sure, Michael could pull that off.

Now imagine he's suddenly floating ... Wait, no! He's flying through the air above a Vegas stage, while the audience applauds. I suppose that's possible. With a sturdy wire and Steven Soderbergh's help.

It's been decades since Liberace, the "Candelabra Casanova of the Keyboard" wooed middle-aged maidens in pink turkey-feather capes and royal mink robes that any of the following celebrities might covet: Cher, middle-aged Elvis, Henry the VIII at a disco, or a Miami drag queen. So it would seem it's about time for a Hollywood retrospective, a.k.a. a big-screen biopic of the flamboyant piano player's rhinestone-studded life on stage and behind the music.

The Hollywood word is Steven Soderbergh is the man who plans to do it. And reportedly he's cast Michael Douglas to play Liberace and is aiming to cast Matt Damon as Scott Thorson, who sued Liberace for $118 in palimony claiming he was the entertainer's companion for five years. Richard LaGravenese is writing the script, and Jerry Weintraub is producing. It may be awhile before the film hits the theaters however, as sources say Soderbergh's prior contractual obligations will delay shooting.

And this isn't exactly the first time anyone's attempted to make a movie (for the theaters or television) about the schmaltzy star.

In the late '80s two dueling biopics took the prime-time stage: an "authorized" version starring Andrew Robinson ("authorized" as in "left out the good parts") and an unauthorized production with Alias's Victor Garber as Liberace.

So what of Soderbergh's choice of star? Do movie lovers agree that Mr. Douglas can fill Mr. Showmanship's sparkly shoes? He has a well-rounded thespian resume that includes both comedy and drama. His acting chops are arguably solid. But can he play (or pretend to play) Chopin while channeling Chico Marx after hatching out of a giant Faberge egg? Is there any other actor out there who is willing and able to become (as Liberace once dubbed himself) "a one-man Disneyland"? Off the top of my movie-obsessed head, I'd like to nominate a few alternatives.

Ricky Gervais: Much more than a comic genius, he can make us snort with laughter and sniffle with sadness, as he can deftly plays profound pathos as well as the fool.

Christian Bale: Christian's a character chameleon, from his Huey Lewis-lovin' Psycho to Batman to a dueling magician to Jesus ... and the list goes on. He should be able to handle Liberace.

Philip Seymour Hoffman: Capote proved his biopic brilliance.

Kevin Kline: It's been a while since we've seen Kline in award-winning roles. But he's had many parts that have demonstrated his ability to charm an audience (and his flamboyance), much like Liberace.

Joaquin Phoenix: He skillfully slipped into the Man in Black's midnight duds, why not a starry Liberace suit?

Nicholas Cage: I came across a rumor that he was planning on producing his own Liberace biopic in 2006. I'm not sure about Cage as stage butterfly. But I'm curious.

Elton John: One of many artists said to have been inspired by the furred-and-feathered sovereign of spectacle, Elton has been the "Liberace of Rock n' Roll" for quite some time. Even if he's not prepared to act the part he's certainly qualified to dress it -- and he already has the wardrobe.

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