Shining Through Scandal: The Incredible Life Of Elizabeth Taylor

Hollywood Capitalized On Her Scandalous Private Life To Sell Movies

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Taylor and Burton were now out in the open with their affair and film producers were quick to think of ways to capitalize on it. The couple was cast as co-stars in 1963’s The V.I.P.s, in which Burton played a millionaire estranged from his model wife, who was attempting to leave him for her lover. The movie was a hit, grossing $15 million with the scandal surrounding their real life to help it gain popularity. This would be the first of many times that projects in which Taylor and Burton starred in together would mirror their actual lives. Together they starred in 11 films, off which they made a combined $88 million over the next decade.