Elizabeth Taylor hated this movie. No, really—she famously called it a "piece of ship" (swapping out one letter for the sake of 1960s decorum) and only did it to finish out her contract with MGM. But despite her personal disdain, the cast of Butterfield 8 turned a somewhat tawdry melodrama into a cinematic landmark that finally landed Taylor her first Oscar. It’s a weird, glossy, high-fashion mess of a film that somehow works because the people on screen are just that good.
When we talk about this movie, we’re talking about the end of an era. It was 1960. The studio system was crumbling, but the stars were still larger than life. You had Taylor at the absolute peak of her violet-eyed powers, Laurence Harvey bringing a chilly British sophistication to a very American role, and a young Shirley MacLaine... wait, no, MacLaine wasn't in this one, though she was originally considered. Instead, we got Dina Merrill, the "Grace Kelly of the middle class," providing the perfect icy foil to Taylor’s fire.
The Electric Reality of the Cast of Butterfield 8
The chemistry on set wasn't just acting; it was a collision of egos and styles. Elizabeth Taylor played Gloria Wandrous, a "model" (the 1960s code word for a high-class call girl) who wakes up in a luxurious apartment after a night with a married man. That man was Weston Liggett, played by Laurence Harvey. Harvey was a fascinating choice. He had this sharp, almost brittle quality that made him seem simultaneously upper-class and deeply insecure.
Honestly, the cast of Butterfield 8 is anchored by Taylor’s sheer refusal to be ignored. She spent most of the movie in a slip, looking incredible and acting with a raw, desperate vulnerability that she supposedly hated. It’s the ultimate irony of Hollywood history. She gave a career-defining performance in a role she despised.
Elizabeth Taylor: The Reluctant Legend
Taylor didn’t want to be there. She wanted to be in Cleopatra. MGM basically told her, "Finish this, or no Egypt for you."
She fought the production at every turn. She insisted on her then-husband Eddie Fisher being given a role just to keep him nearby. Fisher played Steve Carpenter, the "nice guy" friend who tries to save Gloria from herself. It’s a bit of a thankless role, mostly because the audience is way more interested in the toxic explosion happening between Taylor and Harvey. Seeing Taylor and Fisher together on screen is actually kind of awkward now, knowing that their marriage was already hitting the skids because of the impending Mark Antony/Richard Burton whirlwind.
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Laurence Harvey’s Cold Brilliance
Harvey is often overlooked when people discuss the cast of Butterfield 8. He’s not "likable" in the traditional sense. His character, Liggett, is a man who married for money and hates himself for it. Harvey plays that self-loathing with a jagged edge.
He and Taylor reportedly didn't get along great. There was a lack of warmth behind the scenes that actually translates perfectly to the screen. Their characters aren't supposed to have a healthy relationship; they have a destructive, obsessive connection. Harvey’s stiff, almost clinical approach to the dialogue provides a necessary contrast to Taylor’s high-octane emotionality.
The Supporting Players Who Held the Seams Together
While the leads were sucking all the air out of the room, the supporting members of the cast of Butterfield 8 were doing some heavy lifting.
Mildred Dunnock played Gloria’s mother, Annie Wandrous. If you know 1950s and 60s cinema, you know Dunnock was the queen of the worried, repressed mother figure (think Death of a Salesman). In this film, she’s the personification of the "see no evil" mentality of the era. She knows her daughter is in trouble, but she doesn't have the tools to talk about it.
- Dina Merrill: She played Emily Liggett, the betrayed wife. Merrill was actual high society in real life—the daughter of Marjorie Merriweather Post—and she brought an authentic, quiet dignity to the role. She didn't play Emily as a victim; she played her as a woman who knew exactly what she was losing and chose to maintain her poise anyway.
- Betty Field: As Fanny Thurber, she added a layer of gritty reality to the New York setting.
- Susan Oliver: A minor but impactful role as Kay.
The casting of Dina Merrill was particularly inspired. You needed someone who could stand next to Elizabeth Taylor and not look like a complete pushover. Merrill’s blonde, refined, "old money" aesthetic was the perfect visual antithesis to Taylor’s dark, smoldering, "wrong side of the tracks" energy. It made the central conflict of the movie—a man torn between security and passion—visually obvious from the first frame.
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Why the Critics and the Public Disagreed
When the film came out, the high-brow critics weren't exactly thrilled. They thought it was soap opera trash. John O'Hara, who wrote the original novel, wasn't exactly over the moon with the adaptation either. The book was a bleak, Depression-era tragedy. The movie was a Technicolor fashion show.
But the public? They loved it. They loved the scandal. They loved seeing Taylor in that slip.
The cast of Butterfield 8 became a massive box office hit because it tapped into the shifting morals of the time. People were starting to want more "adult" themes. They wanted to see the cracks in the American Dream. Even though the movie has a bit of a "moralistic" ending (the Hays Code was still lurking in the shadows), the journey there was deliciously scandalous for 1960 audiences.
The Oscar Controversy
We have to talk about the Academy Award. Taylor won Best Actress for this. Many people at the time—and even Taylor herself—felt it was a "sympathy Oscar." She had recently survived a near-fatal bout of pneumonia and a tracheotomy (you can actually see the scar in some scenes).
Whether she won for the performance or because she survived a health crisis is a debate that still rages among film buffs. But watch the movie again. Really watch it. Her performance is jagged. It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s actually much better than the "sympathy" narrative suggests. She took a character that could have been a caricature and gave her a soul.
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Technical Nuance: The Look of the Film
It wasn't just the cast of Butterfield 8 that made it a hit. The cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg was lush. He used the CinemaScope format to make New York look both expansive and claustrophobic.
The costumes by Helen Rose were essentially a character in themselves. The white mink coat that Gloria "borrows" is the catalyst for the entire plot. It’s a symbol of her desire for a life she can't quite grasp. The way the cast moves in these clothes—the stiff suits of the men, the flowing silks of the women—tells the story of 1960 as a transition point between the formal 50s and the radical 60s.
The Legacy of a "Bad" Masterpiece
Is BUtterfield 8 a great movie? It depends on who you ask. If you're looking for a faithful adaptation of O'Hara's grim realism, it’s a failure. If you're looking for a masterclass in Hollywood stardom and the power of a charismatic lead, it’s a triumph.
The cast of Butterfield 8 represents a specific moment in time when star power could override a shaky script. It’s a movie that lives in the shadows of Taylor’s later work like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, but it shouldn't be dismissed. It’s the bridge between the child star Taylor and the legendary dramatic actress Taylor.
Actionable Insights for Classic Film Fans
If you're planning to revisit this film or watch it for the first time, keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch for the Scars: Look for the tracheotomy scar on Elizabeth Taylor’s neck. It’s a reminder of the real-life drama that was happening during the production and how it influenced the public’s perception of her.
- Contrast the Acting Styles: Notice the difference between the "Method" leaning intensity of Taylor and the more traditional, theatrical delivery of Laurence Harvey and Mildred Dunnock. It’s a clash of generations.
- Ignore the Moralizing: The ending feels forced because of the censorship rules of the time. Focus instead on the character development in the first two acts.
- Check the Fashion: If you’re into mid-century design, this movie is a goldmine. Pay attention to how the costumes reflect the emotional state of the characters—Gloria starts the movie in a stolen coat and ends it trying to find her own identity.
To truly understand the cast of Butterfield 8, you have to see them as more than just actors playing parts. They were icons navigating a changing industry. The film is a snapshot of a Hollywood that was about to disappear forever, replaced by the grit and grime of the 1970s. It’s the last gasp of the glamorous melodrama, and it went out with a bang.
Next time you’re scrolling through a classic movie channel, don't skip this one. It’s better than Taylor said it was. It’s a raw, vibrant, and deeply human look at loneliness and the desperate need to be loved, disguised as a glossy New York soap opera.