MovieChat Forums > BUtterfield 8 (1960) Discussion > Taylor earned that Oscar

Taylor earned that Oscar

posted 8 years ago by PrometheusTree64
8 replies | jump to latest

...even if she didn't think so.

Sure, the movie is a tawdry-yet-sanitized sudser, and she was forced into doing the film by MGM, but she lifts it to a level of art with her performance. And it's essentially the beginning of her regal vulgarian '60s era.

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LBJ's mistress on JFK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcXeutDmuRA

[–] AliciaHuberman59 8 years ago

Thank you for posting this. I couldn't agree more. Maybe because she was annoyed about having to do it, her insouciance mirrored her character's "live for today/what difference does it make" ethos. Either or any way, she's fabulous and it's one of my favorite films of hers. Love the "regal vulgarian '60 era" observation, too!

"No, I don't like to cook, but I have a chicken in the icebox, and you're eating it."

[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

If she did NOT win the Oscar, would people be saying she deserved it? Are we, in other words, rationalizing why the dark horse deserved it because Liz is admired?

And even if she disliked doing the role, their feelings in real life don't necessarily play into their performance, especially if it's not supposed to. Actors are not that psychologically affected in that way. (a la' Method)

[–] mrmathexpert4 8 years ago

No she didn't. She sucked, and she knew that. She pretty much admitted to it.

[–] PrometheusTree64 8 years ago

No she didn't. She sucked, and she knew that. She pretty much admitted to it

Oh, how ridiculous. She never said "I sucked" nor did she suck. She thought the film was lousy and felt that she wasn't particularly impressive in it compared to her Oscar competition that year, and that they gave her the statue from sympathy over her recent near death experience.

And while the movie is a flawed, melodramatic sudser, she's great in it. Great in it!

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[–] BobbyDupea 8 years ago

I believe she earned it for Virginia Woolf, but not so much for this movie.

My real name is Jeff

[–] sonomagirl2120 8 years ago

I guess I am in the minority but I find Ms. Taylor quite wooden in all her roles, except maybe her younger days when she played children...National Velvet, Little Women,Jane Eyre and whatnot
Except for maybe Father of the Bride, most of her adult role movies have me napping by the second act and B8 was no exception, YAWN

[–] sandrakoivs 8 years ago

I fought that she was extremely touching and beautiful in this movie.She deserved an Oscar.
P.S I know I'm in the minority,but I never thought that Shirley MacLaine was really so deserving an Oscar in "the apartment".

[–] SilverSpring86 7 years ago

The movie itself is crap, but Taylor is completely riveting in it. She should have won the year before for 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' but she more than deserved it for this one too.

P.S I know I'm in the minority,but I never thought that Shirley MacLaine was really so deserving an Oscar in "the apartment".

Always felt that way, too.