1 YR Ago Today - MOVIE COMMENTARY - 'BUtterfield 8' - Elizabeth Taylor, Laurence Harvey, Eddie Fisher, Susan Oliver - MEMORABLE FILMS

This is a re-post of my original article which I posted here at RMN one year ago, today. This article first appeared on the internet here at Rumormillnews.com. on Friday October 4, 2013.
Infoeditor

Saturday October 4, 2014

In some ways the film version of John O'Hara's novel story, 'BUtterfield 8', uses the most ordinary things in life to illustrate some most extraordinary events, situations, and points of view. Of Elizabeth Taylor's films, 'BUtterfield 8' has been said to be one she may have liked the least of her films, but she won the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama and it is among her best films. Afton-Linebrook Corporation comes through with the mention and theme subject of love in the home in 'BUtterfield 8'.

The capitalized letters 'B' and 'U' in the title of 'BUtterfield 8' come from the early use of abbreviations of names as telephone exchanges.

While it is very possible in everyday life to forget some most important thing, it does not always create a mistaken impression about someone, but such mistaken impressions can make or break relationships. [When this story was written many years ago there were not so many of the powerful celltowers we have today which may destroy the memory functions of persons within the population. If today's celltowers really do affect the memory function in human beings, the numbers of conflicts such as Taylor character, 'Gloria', experiences in this film must be astronomical in real life nowadays.]

When spontaneous, mad love elates a person into a state of dangerous forgetfulness it can, ironically, generate an opposite effect from the positive side of love. Can sudden love be destructive? Yes, but it doesn't have to be and can generate inspiration instead. It's amazing how two people in love share a magical world of their own until some harsh reality or cold, hard fact shatters the spell, traumatizing the players.

Taylor character, Gloria's comment during Weston's rage is much like a shock reaction statement of someone in such an argument - which also evokes the retort, "a pornographic philosopher!". from Laurence Harvey character, 'Weston'. It resembles an emotional discussion where idealistic interjections unsuspectingly interrupt the reality of a situation, but that's what happens when people become highly emotional - they may say or do anything.

What is it that finally causes a person to sincerely change for the better? After a tumultuous upset the dialogue between Weston and Gloria is so sobering and honest one would hope that people would come to such terms early on in relationships. Did Weston only want whom he could not have in life?

Towards the end one can sense the dragging at Gloria's spirit as Weston's pleas are compelling. Haven't so many persons been there before?! Maybe better to appreciate a loved one today.....for tomorrow never comes.

Without love in it a home somehow resembles Happy's out on the highway, doesn't it? The motel out on a highway seems to serve as a public sort of contrast to the warmth of a private home which has love in it.

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Although there is no nudity in this film and no heavy profanity, this film contains adult themes.

A NOTED CAST

In addition to the very noted actress, Elizabeth Taylor, there are other distinguished cast members, and, with capable supporting cast members you get more 'bang for your buck'.

Elizabeth Taylor - Gloria Wandrous, main character
Married to singer, Eddie Fisher, when 'BU-8' was filmed.

Laurence Harvey - Weston Liggett
Noted fine Lithuanian-born actor who portrayed the brainwashed Raymond Shaw in 'The Manchurian Candidate', and excelled in 'Of Human Bondage', 'Room at the Top', and other dramatic films.

Eddie Fisher - Steve Carpenter, music writer- and/or songwriter, a longtime friend of Gloria's since childhood.
Famous, outstanding singer, one of the best pop singers ever, looks right at home at the piano here.

Dina Merrill - Emily, the strong, patient wife who faithfully tries to believe in her husband, Weston Liggett.
Distinguished actress with a regal bearing - daughter of Post Cereals heiress. Marjorie Merriweather Post.

Susan Oliver - Norma, Steve's girlfriend who must contend with his unusual relationship with Gloria.
They don't come any prettier than this very lovely actress [ 1932-1990 ] with more than one hundred television credits, also, to include; 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.', 'Route 66', 'The Fugitive', 'The Invaders', 'Star Trek' and dozens more.

Mildred Dunnock - Mrs. Wandrous, Gloria's mother.
Does a fine job as the troubled, perplexed mother.

Jeffrey Lynn - Bingham Smith, aka 'Bing' in the script.

Betty Field - Fanny Thurber
Friend and/or housekeeping assistant of Mrs. Wandrous

Kay Medford - 'Happy', the motel owner

George Voskovec - Dr. Tredman, Gloria's analyst.

Nominations
Best Cinematography, Color: Joseph Ruttenberg, Charles Harten
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METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER, INC. presents an Afton-Linebrook Productions picture, 'BUtterfield 8'. 1960

The Linebrook Corp. released the excellent Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward film, 'From the Terrace'.

Former comment on The Linebrook Corp. pictures is in answer to response to post on Four Aces Singer, Al Alberts & 'Stella By Starlight' -
"Can Be Positive - Linebrook Corp Included Family Values in F.T. Terrace". This is a comment on movie content and coverage of love in the home. Afton-Linebrook Corporation comes through with the mention and theme subject of love in the home in 'BUtterfield 8'.

Response to response in former thread.

Can Be Positive - Linebrook Corp Included Family Values in F.T. Terrace

"Note: I think many of the corporations which held sway back in the thirties, forties and fifties still had members on their boards who had families and cared about family values. In fact, even the Linebrook Corporation, which released 'From The Terrace', with all its sultry behavior implied in the theme, had a bottom line lesson about how far to go for the big 'rolltop desk' at the big job while turning one's back on the family, etc.. Who would have thought they could take John O'Hara's coarse content and style and create something so resourceful to remind folks of what it feels like to be in a home where love is?

Glad you enjoyed Stella."

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Quotes and Sayings

"You don't fight communism with socialism. They are doomed to lose."

Ayn Rand

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Infoeditor