Melcher always made sure he had a prominent credit on the films he chose for Doris...... and he also signed her for a TV show and because she had a contract and needed the money, she was forced to do it.
Doris eventually sued the lawyer's insurance company and got some $10 million of the $20 million they stole. This was in 1950 dollars.
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The story gets even stranger. Mega-star Kirk Douglas called Doris years before Melcher died and told Doris to get out from under Melcher----b/c Melcher was in cahoots with a crooked lawyer who had stolen money from Douglas.
Melcher got angry when she related the call...and told Doris, Kirk was just jealous of her success.
Backing up---when Kirk married his second wife, he was a major star--but no bank statements or investment documents ever came to the house.
When Anne Douglas asked Kirk where all his assets were---he told her not to worry, he had an accountant taking care of it.
W/out Kirk's knowledge, Anne Douglas hired Price Waterhouse to find his assets........they came back and said nothing was in his name.
The accountant was in cahoots w/ the crooked lawyer and stole millions from Kirk. He got some back--but was still out a bundle.
Several other stars got rooked by these characters.
Debbie Reynolds got rooked out of her money by at least 2 husbands.
Terry Melcher was also an intimate of Charles Manson as I remember. The murders occurred because Charlie thought Sharon’s home was Melcher’s. And therein hangs a tale...