Elizabeth Taylor's Oscar Journey: The Making of Butterfield 8

The production of *Butterfield 8* was fraught with challenges, ultimately leading to Elizabeth Taylor receiving her first Academy Award. After a successful career as a child actress, Taylor transitioned to adult roles, earning multiple Oscar nominations for films such as *Raintree County* (1957), *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (1958), and *Suddenly, Last Summer* (1959). During this period, she was offered a groundbreaking $1 million salary by 20th Century Fox to star in *Cleopatra*, but first, she needed to fulfill her contract with MGM. Her final project with MGM was the adaptation of John O’Hara’s 1935 novel, *Butterfield 8*, which premiered on November 2, 1960.

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Directed by Daniel Mann, the film featured Taylor as Gloria Wandrous, a model entangled in romantic flings, ultimately falling for a married man. The cast included Laurence Harvey and Taylor’s then-husband, Eddie Fisher. Reports from late 1959 indicated that Taylor was dissatisfied with her character, prompting MGM to agree to rewrites. Despite these changes, Taylor remained critical of her role, famously stating, “I did it with a pistol at my head,” reflecting her frustration with the script.

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Taylor's discontent with *Butterfield 8* extended beyond the script. During an early screening, she expressed her feelings by writing “Piece of shit” on the wall with lipstick, viewing the film as a personal affront due to its portrayal of her character as a “glorified prostitute.” This moment has since been highlighted in discussions about the film's feminist undertones, as it features a female lead who actively pursues her sexual relationships.

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Despite Taylor's reservations, *Butterfield 8* became a commercial success, grossing $9 million domestically (equivalent to approximately $99 million today) and earning critical acclaim for Taylor's performance. The Hollywood Reporter praised her “bravura” acting, which ultimately led to her winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film has since been revisited for its themes and its influence on later portrayals of women in cinema, notably foreshadowing Mikey Madison’s Oscar-winning role as a sex worker in the upcoming film *Anora*.

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Taylor's candid reflections on her experience during the making of *Butterfield 8* reveal her complex relationship with the film and her character. Her comments underscore the tension between her artistic integrity and the commercial demands of Hollywood at the time.

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• “I did it with a pistol at my head,” — Elizabeth Taylor

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• “When Elizabeth saw the movie, she took out a tube of lipstick and wrote on the screening room’s wall, ‘Piece of shit.’ She really did see it as a personal affront that they were making her play a glorified prostitute.” — Kate Andersen Brower, Author

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The legacy of *Butterfield 8* continues to resonate, illustrating the evolving portrayal of women in film and the personal struggles of its leading actress, Elizabeth Taylor.

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