'it's a wonderful life'

“Elizabeth is extremely intelligent though she lacks in formal education- how can you possible be educated at MGM? I tried her out with I.Q. tests and she is well above the average. The thing I can credit myself with is increasing her awareness of the world. She has an extraordinary interest in poetry and I thought she just read to make me happy. Now I know that she enjoys it for herself. She grew up with art, has a great knowledge of painting and is herself a considerable painter. We have contributed to each other: I dismissed paintings as bad photography before I met Elizabeth.” -Richard Burton

The story goes that when Leigh Holman produced a sizable diamond ring to celebrate their engagement Vivien gave him her sweetest smile and said: “But, darling, where did you buy it?” When he announced rather difficultly from Mappin and Webb she replied: “But, Leigh, how extraordinary you are. Fancy going to a cutlery shop.”

Elizabeth Taylor and Leslie Caron are photographed on the MGM lot taking their dogs for a walk.  Elizabeth’s French Poodle is named Gee Gee and Leslie’s Afghan is named Lana.

“One of the things I always admired about Clark Gable was between scenes, he didn’t go lock himself up in his trailer. He would hang out with the guys, the electricians, they all loved him. He was not full of himself. It was nothing to come to set and find him straddling a bench, playing gim rummy with the crew.” -Ann Rutherford

Lana Turner in Ziegfeld Girl (1941)

Elizabeth Taylor with her Oscar for Best Actress in ‘Butterfield 8’, at the 33rd Academy Awards, Santa Monica, California, 17th April 1961.

Susan Hayward, 1940s.

Lana Turner, c.1939.

Vikki Dougan modeling a nightgown, photographed by Nina Leen, 1952. (x)

Judy by Durward Graybill, 1938.