September 1947: - Elizabeth, 15, just back from six weeks in London, England and about to start production on her next film, “A Date with Judy.” MGM realized that she was no longer a child or even a believable adolescent and that these teen-age angst films would soon be a thing of the past. Their carefully groomed Elizabeth Taylor was growing up. She was exhilarated to be called a ‘fourteen carat, 100 proof woman’ in print. In early summer, she had ended her six month romance with first boyfriend, 21 year old MGM contractual actor, Marshall Thompson. She came to realize that there was no real magic between them and they would be better off as friends. He had been chosen by the MGM publicity department and, although she enjoyed their time together, she preferred to choose her own mates. After the romance ended, The Taylor’s traveled to Wisconsin for go camping for two weeks on the estate of their wealthy uncle, Howard Young. Once back in Hollywood, Elizabeth appeared on a local radio program, on July 15, 1947, hosted by famous gossip columnist, Louella Parsons. Parson’s wanted to know if ex-boyfriend, Marshall Thompson, was (indeed) the boy who gave Elizabeth her first kiss and Elizabeth playfully replied, “If a young man tried to kiss me, I would probably slap him. But really…I like doing crazy things, silly things, wild things… with men of 19 or 20. Boys my own age bore me.” Louella did not quite know how to react to that statement. Later in July, Elizabeth and her mother, Sara, traveled to London, England for an extended vacation. It had been a turbulent year in the Taylor household… dating back to the previous November (1946) when her parents, Francis and Sara Taylor, suddenly separated after twenty years of marriage. Apparently, Sarah had started an affair with Elizabeth’s “Life with Father” director, Michael Curtiz. On a more clandestine level, Francis had started a love affair with famous film fashion designer (and husband of actress Janet Gaynor), “Adrian” Adolph Greenberg. MGM president, Louis B. Mayer had a lot invested in Elizabeth and knew that if these affairs were leaked to the press, it would damage Elizabeth’s career. He demanded that the Taylor’s reconcile….despite their extraneous romantic adventures. Elizabeth felt very guilty regarding her parents marital discord. They each seemed to be at odds when he came to advising her. Sarah was willing to adhere to MGM at any cost and Francis was more defiant when it came to the tyranny of the studio. There was constant bickering and all she could do is go to her room and try to drown out the noise. She was more in agreement with her father in terms of the rules of the studio but he always seemed acquiesce to Sara’s wishes. As Elizabeth grew older, she wanted to break away from the hold that MGM had on her but Sara was determined to keep those restraints tied even stronger. Sara was at the studio everyday while Elizabeth was on the set. The cast and crew politely tolerated Sara but called her a typical stage mother. She refused to allow Elizabeth out of her sight. Elizabeth once said, “My mother had gone to Mayer, himself, and insisted that I be accompanied by ‘someone’ wherever I was for fear that I would be raped. I could not even go to the ladies room without a chaperone!” Even on her first date with Marshall Thompson, Sara was with Elizabeth….though Elizabeth made it known that was to end right then and there. Elizabeth gave Sarah a lot of leeway but refused to allow her to be a part of her romantic life. She was adamant about that right from the start. During the summer of 1947, the Taylor’s reconciled but the arguments didn’t end. Elizabeth approached them one day with the news that she was unhappy and that things had to change. More as a threat than to be understanding, Sara told Elizabeth that if she was unhappy then she could quit making films right then and there…and that they could all move back to England and resume their lives, as if her stardom had never existed. Elizabeth could not see that happening and promptly apologized to her mother for being difficult. From time to time, arguments revolving the studio popped up and Elizabeth begged for her father to support her but he always, eventually, sided with Sara. Elizabeth stated, “I knew then that my father had lost all control in his marriage. He would never be a support for me so I simply did not include him in any of my life decisions. After all, what would be the point?” As Elizabeth grew older, she started to idolize 27 year old Academy Award winning actress, Jennifer Jones…especially in the 1946 film, “Duel in the Sun.” She became obsessed with Jennifer’s wardrobe style of off -the-shoulder blouses and peasant skirts. She read about Jennifer Jones’s famous extra-marital affair with her director, David O. Selznick, and thought that nothing could be more romantic. Both were married to others yet risked their profession careers to be together. In fifteen years, Elizabeth (herself) would be involved in the same situation. Elizabeth saw herself as a younger version of Jones. Soon, production on “A Date with Judy” began and Elizabeth became enamored with 28 year old actor, Robert Stack. Though he was hesitant about dating a fifteen year old girl, Elizabeth was quite persuasive and he soon became her next romantic adventure. Actually, The Taylor’s approved of the much older Stack as a suitor for their daughter. Stack’s parents were influential in the art world and were frequent visitors of Francis’s art gallery. Robert Stack was much more worldly and sophisticated than Marshall Thompson. Of course, the romance was short lived. Though she was dating Robert Stack, Elizabeth discretely told her co-star (and new best friend) 18 year old Jane Powell that she was actually ‘crazy’ about Peter Lawford and Vic Damone. Both men would soon cross her romantic path. Robert Stack left Elizabeth in early January 1948 and started a romance with 27 year old actress, Nancy Davis…who would later marry Ronald Reagan, becoming the First Lady of The United States. Though devastated, Elizabeth quickly recoiled with her new male co-star, 24 year old actor Peter Lawford.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 21:57:49 +0000
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