Moments after the accident, actor Kevin McCarthy, driving in front of Clift, ran back to check on him, seeing that his face was torn awaya bloody pulp. Taylor opened his mouth, put her hand down his throat, and pulled out the teeth. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. Author Christopher Isherwood tracked Clifts decline in his journals, and by August 1955, he was drinking himself out of a career; on the set of Raintree, the crew had designated words to communicate how drunk Clift was: bad was Georgia, very bad was Florida, and worst of all was Zanzibar. The film-makers interviewed Bosworth extensively for the movie, but they contrast her words with old taped conversations she had with the actors brother. Close friends, such as actor Kevin McCarthy and his wife, tried to get Clift to slow down and dry out, but their pleas . With unprecedented control over the projects he starred in, Clift agreed to do the romantic drama, The Heiress. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. American Actor Montgomery Clift was born Edward Montgomery Clift on 17th October, 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA and passed away on 23rd Jul 1966 Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA aged 45. Indeed, it was his apparent lack of romantic attachments that confounded the gossip press the most. You couldn't help but come. That Clift was gay made little difference in the intensity and duration of the two stars adoration of one another: here, after all, were two talented, passionate artists who met at a young age (she was in her teens; he was in his late twenties) and immediately discovered that they were, for lack of a better phrase, soul mates. He started out in films in the late 1940's and immediately made a name for himself with his good looks and emotionally raw performances. He also helped bring a more natural acting style to film. But that wasnt all. I am not one of Americas Angry Young Men. Benign to most but, in hindsight, highly suggestive. Biographies of Clift posit that he drank because he couldnt be his true self, because homosexuality was the shame he had to shelter within. The old Hollywood system was breaking apart and he was a major part of that., The first role Clift took, opposite John Wayne in Red River in 1948, offered a stark contrast in masculine presentations. In 1929, the Wall Street Crash hit Clifts father like a ton of bricks, and his mothers dreams disappeared in an instant. Sensitive. But before the film could be released, Clift passed away, wholly without fanfare, at the age of 45, succumbing to years of drug and alcohol abuse. Guided by the key biographies of Clift, they reliably parrot a narrative which paints the actor as a startlingly attractive and prodigiously gifted man who, according to one notably overheated tabloid TV show became a drug-addicted alcoholic living in a self-imposed hell because he had a secret he couldnt live with. Universal Studios actuallysued him for the losses they incurred because of his troublesome behavior. . The next morning, James returned to Clifts room to rouse him but found the door locked. However, the filming of The Misfits had a shadow lurking over it. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. After the success of 1953sFrom Here to Eternity, Montgomery Clift suddenly stopped making films. Show more . Even the press seemed to unintentionally hit upon the one thing he wanted to keep hidden, with titles like Two Loves Has Monty and Monty Clift: Woman Hater or Free Soul?. Unlike Rock Hudson, whose affairs were very nearly exposed to the entire nation by Confidential, Clift never made the pages of the scandal rags. A portrait of Montgomery Clift acting as Matt Garth in the western film "Red River" on 01 January, 1948 | Photo: Getty Images. Free Postage. But her heroism didnt end there. Montgomery Clift is American by birth. Montgomery Clift made a name for himself in Hollywood with several awards and nominations. . Dazzling Facts About Elizabeth Taylor, The Queen Of Hollywood, Stabbed In The Back: These Real-Life Betrayals Are Straight Up Brutal, The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Plot Twist: These Surprise Endings Made Our Jaws Hit The Floor, These Ultra-Spoiled Brats Made Our Eyes Roll Into Our Heads. Prior to leaving by train for Paris, a married American woman tries to break off her affair with a young Italian in Rome's Stazione Termini. Well, in 1955, he had a chance to reunite with his old friend and co-star, Elizabeth Taylor, in Raintree County. Montgomery Clift was in relationships with Sal Mineo, Paul Newman, Henry Willson, Jack Larson, William LeMassena, Libby Holman, Maurice Leonard and Arnold Saint Subber. If Paramount wanted him, theyd have to give him what he wanteda power differential that would go on to structure the star-studio relationship for the next 40 years. Clift was unperturbed by his apparent lack of a love life: he told the press that he would get married when he met a girl he wanted to marry; in the meantime, he was playing the field. When another columnist asked him if he had any hobbies, he replied, Yes, women. But as the years passed, it became more and more clear that Clift wasnt just picky. When The Heiresscame out, Clifts loyal fanatics came with their claws out and wrote vicious letters to Olivia de Havilland for rejecting Clifts character in the film. Thanks for your help! He was the son of Ethel "Sunny" Anderson (Fogg; 1888-1988) and William Brooks Clift (1886-1964). Clift couldnt get through longer scenes, having to split them up into two or three chunks. Connect any celebrity with Montgomery Clift to see how closely they are linked romantically! Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from Life to Compact Cars and Trucks to A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius. Well get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics youre interested in. This showed in his consciousness of being seen as feminine in any way. But this was only the beginning. ", A portrait of Montgomery Clift against a wooden backdrop on 01 January, 1948 | Photo: Getty mages. He was not worried [about being gay], Larson asserts in the film. Regardless of the veracity of this story, one thing remains true: theres not a single picture of Clifts broken face. When he wasnt reading or preparing for his next role, he took pleasure in visiting the local night court. In The Young Lions (1958), released just two years after the accident, the pain and resentment seem almost visible. (He never won an Academy Award, although most movie aficionados feel he deserved at least one, for his unforgettable turn as the tortured Robert E. Lee Prewitt in From Here to Eternity.). Born on October 17, 1920, Edward Montgomery Clift was born into a family with lofty ideals. Absolutely stunning. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Their unique bond so evident in these pictures made on the Paramount lot during filming of A Place in the Sun, and never published in LIFE, was occasionally deepened even further by disasters visited upon them both through the years. Above all, Clift was perpetually curious. In this exclusive excerpt from her forthcoming book, Anne Helen Petersen recounts the actors lonely life, ferocious talent, and tragic decline. As his eyes drifted closed, Clift suddenly veered off the road and drove straight into a telephone pole. Perkins, who once fended off the advances of Brigitte Bardot, later went to a shrink who maintained that homosexuality could be "cured," and in 1973 he married photographer Berry Berenson. Realizing that Clift was in mortal danger, McCarthy raced to the scene of the accident. What does he inspire anyone to do drink, die young? He died. After filming wrapped, she tracked him down and spat directly in his face. The true story of Montgomery Clift, as told by his youngest nephew Making Montgomery Clift explodes the myths surrounding the Hollywood star and queer icon. He had a close friendship with a woman named Myra Letts, whom the gossip columnists tried arduously to frame as a love interest. TAYLOR ON CLIFT'S SEXUALITY AFTER HIS DEATH. . But the producer, Sam Spiegel, decided to go forward, no matter the risk. From the start, Clift was framed as a rebel and an individual. He didnt want the studios to dictate the kinds of roles he would play, his nephew said. He was the son of Ethel "Sunny" Anderson (Fogg; 1888-1988) and William Brooks Clift (1886-1964). His other side was mostly hidden and only became widely known after he passed on, thanks to his friend and colleague Elizabeth Taylor. He also didnt want to sign a contract with a studio, then the only viable way into the business. His parents were Quakers and met as students at Cornell University, marrying in 1914. In remembering Clift, McCarthy said, his face was torn awaya bloody pulp. A still of Montgomery Clift. Teach, I loved the way how he played in A Place in the Sun. In Truman Capotes unpublished novel Answered Prayers, for example, the author imagines a dinner party between Clift, Dorothy Parker, and flamboyant stage actress Tallulah Bankhead: . . Monroe and Taylor are shadowed by Montgomery. Yet, according to a new documentary, titled Making Montgomery Clift, the stars substance abuse had nothing at all to do with his sexuality. at the best online prices at eBay! But right as filming began, he realized that hed made a terrible mistake. Travel back in time with treasured photos and stories, sent right to your inbox. Montgomery Clifts sexuality finally emerged with the help of two biographers, and before long, the public turned him into a gay icon. Picture Information. But Clift knew the film would be a smash, if only because audiences would want to compare his long unseen face from before and after the accident. In the rife, overstuffed annals of Hollywood, few real-life love stories can match that of Liz Taylor and Montgomery Clift. Oddly enough, when he died, the homocons on Gay Patriot praised him on . The unhinged character he played in the film hit too close to home and psychologically drained him. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on 1920-10-17. . Clift's childhood was unconventional. Another confidant said his personal life didnt bother him. It turned into John Cassavetes' "Too Late Blues," with Bobby Darrin. However, Clift soon realized that you cant always have your cake and eat it too. Horrified, James immediately called for help, but of course, it was already too late. However, even with all the negative hubbub surrounding this shoot, it was nothing compared to the darkness of one of Clifts next projects. She noted that they needed to live a life of equality while being able to get married and adopt kids. Grasping at straws, the media decided to do what little they could to sensationalize the actors non-existent, One of Clifts closest friends was a woman named Myra Letts, and for the ruthless gossip columns, it wasnt a huge leap from friend to girlfriend. Clift didnt entertain this for a second and shot the sordid speculations down immediately, saying that there was zero intimacy between them: those romantic rumors are embarrassing to both of us.. The decline continued. (The Clash famously referenced that awful scene, which changed the course of Clifts career and set him on a winding path of booze-and-painkiller-fueled decay, in the song The Right Profile from London Calling: I see a car smashed at night. He was such a mess on the set of Freud (1962) that Universal sued him. Hepburn was reportedly so incensed by Mankiewiczs treatment of Clift that when the film officially wrapped, she found the director and spat in his face. The Life and Sad Ending of Montgomery Clift The Life and Sad Ending 182K subscribers Subscribe 2.2K Share 106K views 2 years ago Mini bio of the life of actor Montgomery Clift who is. The Big Lift (1950) Approved | 120 min | Drama, War 6.4 Rate Clift was so protective of Holman that when offered the plum role of the male lead in Sunset Boulevard, he turned it downreportedly to avoid any suggestion that Libby Holman was his own delusional Norma Desmond, using a handsome young man to pursue her lost stardom. His father, William Brooks "Bill" Clift (1886-1964), was the vice-president of Omaha National Trust Company. In 1925 Theodore Dreiser [told such a tale in his] long, oppressively powerful novel, An American Tragedy, which in turn made only a fair movie in 1931. Peter Stackpole The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock. There were no wild outings for this reserved homebody. Whether platonic or not, these two actors shared an undeniable bond that was undeniably strengthened by this one unfortunate event. Taped interviews with his brother reveal that the actor felt those roles werent quite right for him and he didnt want to make the wrong first impression. Montgomery Clift, Nando Bruno. He knew that people would flock to the cinema just to see his damaged face. A Place In The Sun (1951) & From Here To Eternity (1953). He could watch the real grit of humanity play out before himthe court a stage for some of the most sensational high-profile cases. His mother was born out of wedlock and spent much of her life and the family fortune finding her illustrious southern lineage and raising her children as aristocrats.At age 13, Monty appeared on Broadway ("Fly Away Home"), and chose to remain in the New York theater for over ten years before finally succumbing to Hollywood. His perpetual question to himself, as he once scribbled in his journal, was, How to remain thin-skinned, vulnerable, and still alive? For Clift, the task proved impossible. He was one of Hollywoods most desirable leading men, but mystery shrouded his entire private life. Tellingly, theyre always pitched under working titles like Beautiful Loser and' Tragic Beauty. A car crash in the prime of his career left him in constant pain, and he drank himself to an early death, creating an aesthetic of suffering that has guided the way we think about him today. He worked on a summer production where his talents blossomed and it opened an auspicious doorone that would seal his fate forever. / Cut the applause and dim the light. Liz Ronk edited this gallery for LIFE.com. He surely wasnt a suave Prince Charming, and yet, on-screen, he was a downright masterpiece. Of course, Clifts words had always been futile in the face of Hollywood. ufff q hombre tan guapo y atractivo, y grn actor ademas, como me hubiese gustado conocerlo con unos ojos maravillosos. Jennifer Jones (Actor), Montgomery Clift (Actor), Vittorio De Sica (Director) Format: DVD 127 ratings IMDb 6.2/10.0 $797 Prime Video $0.99 $2.99 Blu-ray $14.99 DVD $7.97 VHS Tape $4.73 See More Frequently bought together + + Total price: $27.95 Add all three to Cart Some of these items ship sooner than the others. He also sunk into alcoholism, of which Taylor and some other friends tried to help him. Sealed, new. She developed an intense decade-plus obsession over the young actor, even financing an experimental play, "Mexican Mural" for him. Part of honoring someone is being open to that person not being just one, reductive thing., Making Montgomery Clift is showing at NewFest with a release date yet to be announced, Tab Hunter: how Hollywood's boy next door became a gay icon, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. When he read the story that criticized his bare-bones wardrobe, the scandalized actor lashed out with a biting response. But when he climbed into the room, he discovered something absolutely gut-wrenching. While filmingThe Search,he asked the director to reshoot a scene for one baffling reason: He called a boy dear. But that wasnt all. Firstly, he didnt even like Hollywood, preferring to stay in New York as much as he could. Clift was nominated for awards . But even the troubled blonde bombshell recognized that her co-star was in dire straits. Lancaster's first wife, June Ernst, was, like her mother before her, a renowned acrobat. In fact, his doctors considered it amazing that the actor had even pulled through. And when it came to riotous parties, well, he avoided nightlife like the plague. Taylor had married British actor Michael Wilding in 1952, but by 1956, their marriage was in decline. . ", However, it became more eminent that his single status bordered on his sexuality as time went on. Montgomery Clift's full name is Edward Montgomery Clift and his nickname is Montgomery Clift. When The Heiress came out, Clift's loyal fanatics came with their claws out and wrote vicious letters to Olivia de Havilland for rejecting Clift's character in the film. It shows a different side to Clift, portraying him as a man who enjoyed life and love, and was comfortable enough with him being a gay man. Login In 1961, Montgomery Clift went on to star alongside some of Hollywoods greatest legendsMarilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. In fact, Hepburn was so offended by Mankiewicz that she did something outrageous. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? Taylor, on the other hand, felt intimidated when she was yet to meet him. It was reported that Taylor even tried to help him find a partner. Indiscretion of an American Wife 1953, 1h 3min - Romance , Drama Jennifer Jones is the American housewife on vacation in Italy who must choose between returning home to her husband and family in Philadelphia or her romance with an Italian academic played by Montgomery Clift. Little did he know, he was always destined for something more. However, this was no quick fix. One infamous fact about Montgomery Clift is that he only owned one suit. Indiscrecin de una esposa: Dirigido por Vittorio De Sica. It wasnt until years after his tragic passing that Clifts darkest secret finally came out. He was set to play in Taylor's Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967), when he died in the early morning hours of July 23, 1966, at his home at age 45. Montgomery Edward "Monty" Clift (October 17, 1920 - July 23, 1966) was an American movie, television, radio, and stage actor who is known for his roles in From Here to Eternity, A Place in the Sun, The Misfits, Red River, and in Judgement at Nuremberg.He was nominated four times for an Academy Award.His great-great-grandfather was politician Francis Preston Blair. 3.80. But the troubled star. But that wasnt the wildest part of the story. A documented conversation between two stars, Tallulah Bankhead and Dorothy Parker, during a dinner party also showed that there was knowledge among stars that Clift was gay. [view couple] # 8 Carlo Fiore 12 28. For example, in 1956 Taylor likely saved Clifts life when, after he crashed his car leaving a party at her home, she raced to the wreck and literally pulled from his mouth broken teeth on which he had begun to choke. Months of surgeries, rebuilding, and physical therapy followed. Even his diet was rather spartan: orange juice, steak, and eggs. It is a feature-length film with a runtime of 1h 3min. Contact sheets from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpole's shoot on a Paramount lot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. He believed that the media often, and easily, twisted the truth until it disappeared entirely: I learned that most writers dont need interviews to write about me. After all, his leading lady was none other than the beguiling Elizabeth Taylor, and together, these two stars were pure fire. A four-time Oscar nominee who died at 45, Montgomery Clift was a bright young talent, a tabloid fixture, and a posthumous gay icon. While filmingRaintree County, Clift attended a dinner party at Taylors housebut sadly, he didnt make it home in one piece. For somewhat mysterious reasons, Robert Clifts father Brooks taped endless conversations with his famous brother, as well as with their mother and other figures relevant to the story. said: Oh. Montgomery Clift later resided in . (1950), (originally written specifically for him; the story perhaps hitting a little too close to home) and High Noon (1952).His long apprenticeship on stage made him a thoroughly accomplished actor, notable for the intensity with which he researched and approached his roles. On the morning of July 23, 1966, Montgomery Clift's housemate couldn't wake the actor. Help us build our profile of Montgomery Clift! / Is he alive? According to two A-list biographers, the late star was gay. The documentary was released at the Los Angeles Film Festival and . Lorenzo came into the picture when Monty was at his lowest. Next came "The Nutty Professor" as Lewis' student, Stella Purdy, who he is infatuated with. Allegedly, hed been forewarned that the truth would destroy his career, and as a result, the actor became increasingly wary of appearing feminine in any way. Hailed as one of Hollywood's first true Method actors, Edward Montgomery Clift was born October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. When interviewed, the "From Here to Eternity" actor would wave it off, noting that he would be with a woman when he finds the right person. Then again, nothing about Clifts life was expected. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. American actor Montgomery Clift was spectacular on the big screen for his portrayal of sensitive male characters. But for 12 years, he set Hollywood aflame. Lancaster's . But just as Clift dove into this exciting new chapter, an unforeseen tragedy changedeverything. A fellow actor asserts that Clift was equally confident in his sexuality. However, one salient fact remains: Clifts ruined face never made it to the papersIn fact, not one photograph of that night exists. Their. This made him an A-list actor and a multi-award-winning star. He called it as he saw it, describing himself as an ordinary, second-class wolf.. Who is Montgomery Clift dating? It also stresses Clifts crucial role in changing the power balance between actors and studio chiefs in Hollywood, as well as the advancements he brought to film acting. I thought he was dead. He immediately returned to Taylors house to notify the party of the bloody disaster. But when hedid get a hankering for a fun excursion, Clift knew exactly where he wanted to be. In his first film, Red River, Clift had the chance to play opposite the western superstar John Wayne. But for Clift, there was just no escape, and it was only going to get worse. Born in 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska, Clift was raised like an aristocrat, with a private tutor and frequent trips to Europe. What happened next is somewhat fuzzy: one version has Hudson pulling Clift from the car and Taylor cradling him in her arms, at which point Clift started choking and motioning to his throat, where, it soon became clear, two of his teeth had lodged themselves after coming loose during the accident. He also detested the man. Which gives that narrative a lot of traction. It was, however, much olderby the time Raintree County made its way to theaters, hed been off the screen for four and a half years. There were even speculations that he was warned about being gay. While on his way back, he had an accident. But even Monroe reported that Clift was the only person I know who is in even worse shape than I am. The pictures from the set are as poignant as they are heartbreaking: its as if all three were meditating on their respective declines, and theres a sad, peaceful resignation at the difference between what their bodies could do and how people wanted to remember them. Over the next decade, the burgeoning actor dug his heels in and made a name for himself on the stage. While he never excelled at school, his extraordinary abilities as an actor showed early. The results were not pretty. He was only 15 years old, but this wasnt just a fun pastimeit was serious business. That secret that Clift was gay during an impossible era (the 1930s through the 60s) led many interpreters to conclude that the actor must have led a life riddled with fear and shame. Montgomery Clift was in relationships with Sal Mineo, Paul Newman, Henry Willson, Jack Larson, William LeMassena, Libby Holman, Maurice Leonard and Arnold Saint Subber. It has a good rating on IMDb: 6.2 stars out of 10. 5 talking about this. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Clifts sexuality, like those other 50s idols Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter, was carefully concealed from the public. By the time they shared the screen together for the first time, in the classic murder-romance-melodrama, A Place in the Sun (1951), both were bona fide box-office draws: Taylor had been onscreen since she was 10, and Clift a soulful, introverted Method actor who influenced countless others who came after him had already garnered the first of his four career Oscar nominations. Fed up with the script, Clift desperately wanted to change her lines, saying, She isnt giving me enough to respond [to]. Of course, poor de Havilland soon had more than just her prickly love interest to contend with. You see, when Clift sat down to read through the script for The Search,he was less than enthused with the writing. Born Edward Montgomery Clift on Oct. 17, 1920 in Omaha, NE, he was the son of Ethel Fogg and William Brooks Clift, a successful Wall Street stockbroker. Montgomery Clift, in full Edward Montgomery Clift, (born October 17, 1920, Omaha, Neb., U.S.died July 23, 1966, New York, N.Y.), American motion-picture actor noted for the emotional depth and sense of vulnerability he brought to his roles. Clift wasn't one to hide a feeling, which made him a great actor and also a terrible straight man. There were questions about the woman in his life and why he was single. Clift earned best-actor Oscar nominations for 1951s A Place in the Sun and 1953s From Here to Eternity; both times he lost to older actors (Humphrey Bogart and William Holden, respectively), and established his reputation, alongside Marlon Brando and James Dean, as a young outsider whose talent intimidated Hollywood. A year and a half away from her own tragic end, Marilyn Monroe described Clift as the only person I know who is in even worse shape than I am. Together, this cast truly reflected a band of withering misfits. In its May 28, 1951, issue, meanwhile, LIFE magazine wrote of A Place in the Sun: It is easy for an ambitious young man to get himself involved simultaneously with a simple-hearted girl who lives in a cheap boarding house and an extravagant rich girl who gives gay parties. Clift had a rather negative notion about Taylor even before meeting her. Something was seriously wrong. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in A Place in the Sun. While working in New York in the early 1940s, he met wealthy former Broadway star Libby Holman. Christine Tran is a history buff(ette) and media scholar. Edward Montgomery Clift (nicknamed 'Monty' his entire life) was born on October 17, 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska, just after his twin sister Roberta (1920-2014) and eighteen months after his brother Brooks Clift. Montgomery Clift as the confused, likable, rather stupid social climber; Shelley Winters as the dowdy working girl; Elizabeth Taylor as the dazzling rich girl. In a new documentary, myths and assumptions about the Oscar-nominated heartthrob who struggled with his sexuality are replaced with the little-known truth. In the bathroom, James found Clift in his bathtub, undressed and obviously deceased. . Finally, Clift had a chance to climb out of his slumpbut before he made it over the top, tragedy struck. When the press talked about Clift, they talked about the skill and the beauty, but they also talked about what an offbeat, weird guy he was. They seem to have their stories all written out beforehand., Clifts private life was boringhe didnt date, he didnt flirt, he didnt hang out in public. When Clift became a household name in the movie industry, his romantic life became a widely-discussed subject by the press. In Clifts eyes, de Havilland imparted nothing of herself into the role. Merv was a sexual predator who once tried to sexually assault Danny Terrio, then threatened to ruin his career if he talked. However, he became more comfortable with her and eventually found it easy to open up about his sexuality. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. Taylor and Clift: Photos From the Set of A Place in the Sun.

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