“Didn’t bring out the best in one another”: Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor’s Rocky Relationship While Filming Their $17.6 Million Movie Almost Ruined the Cult-classic
- Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor clashed intensely while filming 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.'
- Their on-screen troubled marriage mirrored real-life conflicts and production issues.
- Taylor's grief over her husband's death strained her relationship with the studio that distributed the film.
Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor were like two feisty cats when they teamed up for the classic film, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The 1958 movie based on Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play had as much drama behind the scenes as it did in the story. Behind the scenes, a heated off-screen feud was brewing and nearly ruined the entire production.
The film is about Brick Pollitt and his wife Maggie. Their marriage starts to break down after Maggie is accused of having an affair with Brick’s late friend, Skipper. Even though they decide to stay together, Brick refuses to be close with Maggie—no matter what. Their unhappy relationship becomes a major problem during a family gathering, affecting the future of Brick’s family.
A Marriage of Misery Both On and Off Screen
Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor took on the role of the troubled Brick Pollitt, and Taylor played the desperate Maggie “Maggie the Cat” Pollitt in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The intense, rocky marriage of their characters reflected the real-life conflicts between them.
From the get-go, the atmosphere on set was electric—but not in a good way. Newman and co-star Judith Anderson (who played Ida ‘Big Mama’ Pollitt) voiced their complaints, saying Taylor’s early rehearsals were disappointing.
Newman, known for being straightforward, shared his worries with director Richard Brooks (according to Liz: An Intimate Biography of Elizabeth Taylor). But Brooks, ever the optimist, believed Taylor would come through once the cameras started rolling. Later, the director admitted that the reality was far from rosy. He said (as per the same book):
As actors, they simply didn’t bring out the best in one another — they didn’t click. I perceived her as a charming creature, others found her to be an out-and-out spoiled brat.
Tragedy struck when the actress’ husband, Mike Todd, died. Devastated by his loss, Taylor pulled away from everything, including the filming of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. This made her already difficult relationship with MGM even worse.
MGM Forced Elizabeth Taylor Back to Work While She Was Still Grieving
Fans of Elizabeth Taylor can now see a new side of her in the HBO documentary Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes. It shows never-before-seen interviews where Taylor talks about her life and the pain of losing her third husband, Mike Todd.
Todd, a film producer, sadly died in a plane crash in 1958 while Taylor was working on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. This wasn’t an easy time for Liz. Biographies show she was deeply hurt by the loss and stayed at home for weeks, mourning.
MGM executives reportedly came to her home and pushed her to get back to filming, which upset her a lot. At that time, Taylor said (according to Heymann’s book), “Mike’s barely cold in his grave, and all they’re worried about is their god**** movie.”
Even though she was still grieving, Taylor went back to work with the help of her friends. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof became a big hit, earning $17.5 million at the box office (via The Numbers) and receiving six Oscar nominations.
Watch Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Amazon Prime Video!
