She wouldnt die for another year and a half, but Misfits would be her last completed film. Production resumed on Raintree County, which the studio feared would fail following Clifts accident. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Carlo Fiore and Marlon Brando were in . Sensitive. I thought he was dead. He immediately returned to Taylors house to notify the party of the bloody disaster. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. Making Montgomery Clift, which was co-directed by Clift's nephew Robert Clift (and Robert's wife Hillary. The film-makers interviewed Bosworth extensively for the movie, but they contrast her words with old taped conversations she had with the actors brother. However, his worry began to mount when the actor didnt respond to his insistent knocking. Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor during the filming of A Place in the Sun. But after an initial flurry of coverage, he retreated from public view entirely. While he never excelled at school, his extraordinary abilities as an actor showed early. Instead, Clift enjoyed reading, filling his spare moments with Chekov and Aristotlediving into history, or learning about economics. 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. With his screenwriting suggestions, the film took home an Academy Award. Taylor, caught up in filming with Richard Burton in Paris, sent flowers to the funeral. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. Marlon Brando girlfriend, wife list. Today, its impossible to know the specifics of Clifts sexuality: his brother, Brooks, would later claim that his brother was bisexual, while various writings from within Hollywood indicate that Clifts sexuality wasnt entirely a secret. Horrified, James immediately called for help, but of course, it was already too late. His decline was never explicitly evoked, but with his visage in Raintree County, it was there for all to see. Their. These are just among the many words which have been used to describe Montgomery Clift, the enigmatic heartthrob of the 1950s. Montgomery Clift was in 8 on-screen matchups, including Anne Baxter in I Confess (1953), Elizabeth Taylor in A Place in the Sun (1951), Dolores Hart in Lonelyhearts (1958), Donna Reed in From Here to Eternity (1953) and Jennifer Jones in Indiscretion of an American Wife (1953). He wanted to be a free agent, and he did it successfully. Years before, Clift had battled dysentery, which introduced him to the sinister side effects of pain management. Indiscrecin de una esposa: Dirigido por Vittorio De Sica. For us, it seemed there was this big difference between what people thought about Monty in the public sphere and what people that knew him would say, said Clift. The script wasnt necessarily that special, but it would give him a chance to re-unite with Elizabeth Taylor, and that, it seemed, was enough to pull him out of semi-retirement. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. His first two films were smashing successesand for veryimpressive reasons. But even as Clift consistently took the road less traveled, he still had some biting things to say about the media, especially its desire to pin down his image. Moreover? 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. 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. Lorenzo was one of the reasons.. (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. Clift's reputation in the 1960s was coloured by the brutal comment of Robert Lewis, Clift's teacher at the Actors Studio, who called his late . Luckily, although the public was out for blood, there was one woman on his side. He died in 1966 at the age of 45. Some of the greatest celebrities of the day came out to mourn Clift at his funeral, including Lauren Bacall and Frank Sinatra. You see, the entire healing process put Clift through the paces. But the drama didn't end there. MONTY YOU WERE THE BEST!!! Universal Studios actuallysued him for the losses they incurred because of his troublesome behavior. In Montgomery Clift: A Biography, author Patricia Bosworth describes Monty's father Bill as passive, good-natured, and very dependent on his charismatic wife, Sunny. All rights reserved. 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. Determined to make it better, he made some key changesand they made allthe difference. July 24, 1966 12 AM PT. So the fan magazines got creative: the August 1949 cover of Movieland, for example, featured a grinning, suited, respectable-looking Clift paired with the tantalizing headline Making Love the Clift Way. But when readers looked inside the magazine, all they found was a two-page spread of stills from The Heiress, featuring Clift in various stages of flirtation with Olivia de Havilland, extrapolating that Clifts kissing style was soft yet possessively brutal; pleading, but demanding all. This year the young man . Contact sheet from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpoles shoot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. The director, John Huston, supposedly brought in Clift because he thought hed have a soothing effect on Monroe, who was deeply embroiled in her own addictions, with her own personal demons. He could watch the real grit of humanity play out before himthe court a stage for some of the most sensational high-profile cases. made. or over 30 years, scripts have floated around Hollywood promising to tell the story of Montgomery Clift, one of the most innovative and handsome actors in history. There was a nonchalance to Clifts attitude in regards to women. According to two A-list biographers, the late star was gay. 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. On the set of 1958sLonelyhearts,Clift had a message for those that tried to fit him into a box. American actor Montgomery Clift was spectacular on the big screen for his portrayal of sensitive male characters. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. They were even called the most beautiful couple in Hollywood. As hard as the press tried, they couldnt seem to breathe life into this nonexistent romance. Fearful for her friends image, she threatened the press: If they even dared to take one photo of her friend, she would personally ensure the end of their careers. Clift had a fraternal twin sister, Roberta, and a brother, William Brooks Clift Jr, who had an illegitimate son with actress Kim Stanley. 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. But the press will always be the press, and no amount of Montgomery Clifts ire could change that. Over the next decade, the burgeoning actor dug his heels in and made a name for himself on the stage. She would wield considerable influence over the early part of his film career, advising him in decisions to decline lead roles in Sunset Blvd. Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando. His parents were Quakers and met as students at Cornell University, marrying in 1914. Indiscretion Of An American Wife -- (Movie Clip) Open, Rome High-wattage credits in unusual combination, from David O. Selznick's short feature Indiscretion Of An American Wife, 1954, starring Jennifer Jones and Montgomery Clift, directed by Vittorio De Sica, dialogue by Truman Capote. For over 30 years, scripts have floated around Hollywood promising to tell the story of Montgomery Clift, one of the most innovative and handsome actors in history. In The Young Lions (1958), released just two years after the accident, the pain and resentment seem almost visible. After filming wrapped, she tracked him down and spat directly in his face. He was not worried [about being gay], Larson asserts in the film. Picture Information. When the duo finally met in Stevens' office, it was pretty magical for Taylor. Nobody wanted to deal with him anymore, and for four years, he couldnt land a single role. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the latest celebrity news, but don't worry we have you covered. .. But when his nephew dives into the family archives, a much more complicated picture emerges. Liz Ronk edited this gallery for LIFE.com. And then there was the physical toll. Some believe that Clifts romantic leanings were much less of a secret than originally thought. But when hedid get a hankering for a fun excursion, Clift knew exactly where he wanted to be. They seem to have their stories all written out beforehand.. But for 12 years, he set Hollywood aflame. "Indiscretion of an American Wife" romance and drama movie produced in Italy and USA and released in 1953. Montgomery Clift 39 30. To help build their case, the film-makers had rare access to the actors archives. The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, The 25 Best Shows on Netflix to Watch Right Now, Titled Refueling at Albuquerque, New Mexico, in Clifts handwriting. To Clift, however, he considered his humble home terrific.. Have I said something wrong? When James offered to join him, the belligerent shot him down immediately, crying, Absolutely not.Sadly, this was Montgomery Clifts final interaction. 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. On the morning of July 23, 1966, Montgomery Clift's housemate couldn't wake the actor. Beautiful man. Taylor opened his mouth, put her hand down his throat, and pulled out the teeth. The next morning, James returned to Clifts room to rouse him but found the door locked. He was the son of Francis Preston Blair, elder brother of Francis Preston Blair Jr. and cousin of B. Gratz Brown . However, he became more comfortable with her and eventually found it easy to open up about his sexuality. [view couple] # 8 Carlo Fiore 12 28. Allegedly, Rock Hudson was there to pull Clift from the wreckage and it was Taylor who held the stricken actor in her arms. said: Oh. Courtesy Everett Collection Elizabeth was more visible than the publicity-shy Monty. Sadly, his greatest friend Elizabeth Taylor could only send flowers from Rome. Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando were in a . Of course, Clifts words had always been futile in the face of Hollywood. Elizabeth Taylor at Paramount Studios, 1950. 2023 Cond Nast. 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. He surely wasnt a suave Prince Charming, and yet, on-screen, he was a downright masterpiece. . . . Marlon Brando: Portraits of a Charismatic Young Star, 1952, Marilyn, Arthur Miller and More: A Star Producers Spectacular Orbit. He gained excellent theatrical notices and soon piqued the interests of numerous lovelorn actresses; their advances met with awkward conflict. Connect any celebrity with Montgomery Clift to see how closely they are linked romantically! Clift couldnt get through longer scenes, having to split them up into two or three chunks. Clift asserts that the actors use of alcohol and prescription drugs stemmed, primarily, from a near-fatal car accident in 1956. In remembering Clift, McCarthy said, his face was torn awaya bloody pulp. . ), Elizabeth Taylor, Roddy McDowell, Dean Martin, Kevin McCarthy, Marilyn Monroe, Jennifer Jones, Libby Holman, Thornton Wilder, Salka Viertel, Stewart Granger, Jack Larson, Oscar Levant, Pilar Levi, Giuseppe Perrone, Fred Zinnemann, Frank Sinatra, Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Abigail Tommye Adams. Tellingly, theyre always pitched under working titles like Beautiful Loser and' Tragic Beauty. And thus began what Robert Lewis, Clifts teacher at the Actors Studio, called the longest suicide in Hollywood history. Even before Raintree, the decline had been visible. Before long, photographers began to descend on the gory scene. I wanted to figure out why there was such a difference., A deep trove of never-before-revealed evidence makes that disparity bracingly clear. Nope. A seeming exception was one in his final years with a man named Lorenzo who had been hired to help him. Clift's last 10 years prior to his death from his 1956 car accident were called the "longest suicide in history" by famed acting teacher Robert Lewis. Ad Choices. But just as Clift dove into this exciting new chapter, an unforeseen tragedy changedeverything. But, in general, his relationships with men had more to do with sex than with a deep emotional connection. So finely But even the troubled blonde bombshell recognized that her co-star was in dire straits. 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. 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. 5 talking about this. This would not only show off his range but allow him to sidestep any dangers of typecasting. Edward Montgomery Clift was born on October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. A young naive woman falls for a handsome young man who her emotionally abusive father suspects is a fortune hunter. . 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. Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando. . He wasnt solely an actor, she said. cocksucker. Then, sweetly, wide-eyed with little girl navet, she Here was someone who was vulnerable and sensitive - and who actually listened to women.. During the peak period of his career, the actor and some Hollywood friends were returning from a party held at Taylor's home. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hitchcock's I CONFESS (DVD, 1953); M CLIFT, A BAXTER. Many of the myths surrounding Clift sprang from two biographies: a salacious one by Robert Laguardia and another flawed work by Patricia Bosworth, titled A Life. That was really frightening to see., Penn Badgley Loves His Wife Too Much to Do Sex Scenes in, I askedSera Gamble, the creator, Can I just do no more intimacy scenes? the former, Oscar-winning producer Dede Gardner looks back at her many groundbreaking awards darlings, from the triumph of. This showed in his consciousness of being seen as feminine in any way. Show details He spent a great deal of time and money on psychiatry.In 1956, during filming of Raintree County (1957), he ran his Chevrolet into a tree after leaving a party at Elizabeth Taylor's; it was she who saved him from choking by pulling out two teeth lodged in his throat. About She is completing her PhD in Toronto, Canada. His father made a lot of money in banking but was quite poor during the depression. 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. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? [6] His mother was Ethel Fogg "Sunny" Clift ( ne Anderson; 1888-1988). 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. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. In the rife, overstuffed annals of Hollywood, few real-life love stories can match that of Liz Taylor and Montgomery Clift. A bulls horn scarred his nose and his attempt to tame a horse gave him intense rope burnnot to mention all the other scrapes he earned along the way. . Unlike many other actors, he didnt jump straight into a contract. Will she ride the term to Oscar gold? Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. Determined to keep his gayness under wraps, Clift made sure that his masculine facade shone onscreen. But the troubled star. He is most remembered for A Place In The Sun (1951) & From Here To Eternity (1953).. His zodiac sign is Libra. Instead, he bided his time, and thankfully, luck was on his side. Teach, I loved the way how he played in A Place in the Sun. Hes never sucked my cock.. "Indiscretion of an American Wife" is currently available to stream on Fubo TV. Clift's brother would later come out to say that the actor was bisexual. It wasnt until years after his tragic passing that Clifts darkest secret finally came out. 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. Montgomery Clift girlfriend, wife list. Observers also point out that Clift had sexual relationships with women. He has a ghastly, shattered expression. And it wasnt just in private record: in October 1956, Louella Parsons reported on Clifts very bad health and Holmans attempts to clean him up. About a month afterThe Misfitswrapped, Gable suffered a heart attack and passed. is the hero of a long, oppressively powerful movie called A Place in the Sun. Directed by George Stevens for Paramount, it gives three young actors [Shelley Winters brilliantly played the poor girl] the chance to give the most natural performances of their careers. Contact sheet from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpoles shoot on a Paramount lot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. During the filming of Raintree County, Clift and Taylor seemed to have rekindled their is-it-or-isnt-it relationship; according to one of Clifts biographers, Some days he would threaten to stop seeing Elizabeth Taylorthen, the thought would make him burst into tears. Other apocryphal legend has Taylor sending Clift piles of love letters, which he then read aloud to his male companion at the time. He was one of Hollywoods most desirable leading men, but mystery shrouded his entire private life. She once lovingly described how she was in awe of the star actor's perfect facial features. When it came to the lengthier scenes, the actor just couldnt deliver; they had to be divided into smaller cuts just so he could see them through. Clift simply wasnt cut out for school, and unlike his siblings, turned his back on higher education. Born on October 17, 1920, Edward Montgomery Clift was born into a family with lofty ideals. According to Clifts doctors, it was amazing that he was even alive. Realizing that Clift was in mortal danger, McCarthy raced to the scene of the accident. Elizabeth Taylor (all of 17 years old) and Montgomery Clift posed together at Paramount Studios during a break in filming A Place in the Sun. Montgomery Clift may have been one of the most self-aware actors of his day, and he certainly knew the name of the game. And the cherry on top? He worked on a summer production where his talents blossomed and it opened an auspicious doorone that would seal his fate forever. Clift appeared in The Misfits, a revisionist western best known as the final film of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. Randy Chrisley Is Todd Chrisley's Brother Who Was Diagnosed with Cancer in 2014, Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, 'Whos the Boss? And so he remains frozen in the popular imagination, circa From Here to Eternitythose high cheekbones, that set jaw, the firm stare: a magnificent, proud, tragically broken thing to behold. Months of surgeries, rebuilding, and physical therapy followed. That, combined with his spiraling alcohol addiction, wrung the youth right out of the handsome actor. (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.). Thats why his work doesnt feel dated, Demmon said. In fact, Hepburn was so offended by Mankiewicz that she did something outrageous. Even if Clift himself was already spiraling out of control, playing a character that did the same only amplified the psychological toll. At the time of the premiere, Monroe had been admitted to a psychiatric ward and required a day pass just to attend. He read books about Montgomery Clift and James Dean, and credited seeing "Taxi Driver" at age 13 with fueling his desire to be in movies. Which gives that narrative a lot of traction. Something was seriously wrong. He may have been lonely but the distance he put between his public life and his work life helped keep his mysterious bachelorhood in check. 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. Throughout filming, members of the crew came up with code words to alert everyone about the lead actors level of intoxication. But this was only the beginning. at the best online prices at eBay! However, even with all the negative hubbub surrounding this shoot, it was nothing compared to the darkness of one of Clifts next projects. Not only did he rarely go out in public, but he also didnt date. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. Sumner Redstone in Love: The Cringey Sexcapades of a Horny Billionaire, The elderly media titan flexed his MTV ownership, rang his grandson at 3 a.m. for hookups with new women, and rewarded companions with stock options and TV shows. And when it came to riotous parties, well, he avoided nightlife like the plague. The most beautiful young man Ive ever seen. As his eyes drifted closed, Clift suddenly veered off the road and drove straight into a telephone pole.
