Shining Through Scandal: The Incredible Life Of Elizabeth Taylor

Taylor Was Financially Dependent On The Studio Despite A Desire To Leave

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Taylor’s initial contract with MGM ended in 1953 and despite wanting more interesting roles than the one the studio gave her, she decided to resign a seven-year contract with them in 1952 due to financial need. At the time, Taylor was pregnant with her first son with then-husband Michael Wilding. Under her new contract, Taylor was paid $4,700 a week, while MGM funded a loan for a house and offered Wilding a three-year contract. Despite these benefits from resigning, the new contract only obligated MGM to more control over Taylor’s life. Taylor’s subsequent films included Rhapsody, Elephant Walk, The Last Time I Saw Paris, and The Barefoot Contessa. She was in the middle of filming another movie when she had to deal with a shocking loss…