Butterfield 8
| BUtterfield 8 | |
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Theatrical release poster by Reynold Brown
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| Directed by | Daniel Mann |
| Produced by | Pandro S. Berman |
| Written by |
John Michael Hayes Charles Schnee |
| Based on |
Butterfield 8 by John O'Hara |
| Starring |
Elizabeth Taylor Laurence Harvey |
| Music by | Bronislau Kaper |
| Cinematography | Charles Harten Joseph Ruttenberg |
| Edited by | Ralph E. Winters |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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109 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2.8 million |
| Box office | $10 million |
BUtterfield 8 is a 1960 drama film directed by Daniel Mann, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Laurence Harvey. Taylor won her first Academy Award for her performance in a leading role. The film was based on a 1934 novel written by John O'Hara in the wake of the success of his critically acclaimed Appointment in Samarra.
Gloria Wandrous (Elizabeth Taylor) wakes up in the apartment of wealthy executive Weston Liggett (Laurence Harvey) and finds that he has left her $250. Insulted, Gloria, whose dress is torn, takes Liggett's wife Emily's (Dina Merrill) mink coat to cover herself and scrawls "No Sale" in lipstick on the mirror. But she orders her telephone answering service, BUtterfield 8, to put Liggett through if he calls.
Gloria visits a childhood friend, pianist Steve Carpenter (Eddie Fisher), who chastises her for wasting her life on one-night stands but agrees to ask his girlfriend Norma (Susan Oliver) to lend her a dress. Gloria leaves, whereupon Norma tells Steve to choose between her and Gloria.
Liggett takes a train to the countryside where his wife Emily is caring for her mother. A friend, Bingham Smith (Jeffrey Lynn), advises him to end his adulterous relationships and return to Bing's law firm instead of working for the chemical business of Emily's father. Meanwhile, Gloria lies to her mother Annie (Mildred Dunnock), claiming to have spent the night at Norma's.
Liggett returns home. Finding the lipstick and money, he phones Gloria to explain the money was meant for her to buy a new dress, to replace the one that he had torn. While drinking later that night, Liggett advises her to ask a high price for her lovemaking talents. She insists she does not take payment from her dates and claims she has been hired as a model to advertise the dress she is wearing at three bistros that night. Liggett follows her and watches Gloria flirt with dozens of men at several clubs. He then drives her to a run-down motel. After sleeping together, Liggett and Gloria decide to explore their relationship further.
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