Sensitive, mysterious, brooding, and suspiciously single. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the latest celebrity news, but don't worry we have you covered. He was, at least in the press, something approaching asexualthe title of a Motion Picture article, authored by Clift, declared simply, I Like It Lonely!. Contact sheets from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpole's shoot on a Paramount lot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. In 1966, Clifts stalwart friend, Elizabeth Taylor, came to his aid once again and managed to get him a part in Reflections in a Golden Eye. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. He also won a nomination for Best Actor. ", A portrait of Montgomery Clift against a wooden backdrop on 01 January, 1948 | Photo: Getty mages. He had a close friendship with a woman named Myra Letts, whom the gossip columnists tried arduously to frame as a love interest. I thought he was dead. McCarthy ran to fetch Taylor, Wilding, and Rock Hudson and Hudsons wife, Phyllis Gates, who all raced to the site of the accident. Biographies of Clift posit that he drank because he couldnt be his true self, because homosexuality was the shame he had to shelter within. We want our readers to trust us. Director Joseph Mankiewicz tried to replace Clift, but Taylor and co-star Katharine Hepburn defended and supported him. . Were always looking for your input! He was the son of Ethel "Sunny" Anderson (Fogg; 1888-1988) and William Brooks Clift (1886-1964). It was also a dark, melancholy film: as a review in Variety pointed out, the complex mass of introspective conflicts, symbolic parallels, and motivational contradictions was so nuanced as to seriously confound general audiences, who were likely unable to cope with the philosophical undercurrents of the Arthur Miller script. They went to London to see Laurence Olivier together, ate together, sat in front of the fire together, Clift said. Born in 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska, Clift was raised like an aristocrat, with a private tutor and frequent trips to Europe. Taylor immediately stuck her delicate, little hand down his throat and removed the obstruction. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. He worked on a summer production where his talents blossomed and it opened an auspicious doorone that would seal his fate forever. But something of the old talent remainedor at least enough to earn Clift a nomination for best-supporting actor, playing, in the words of film critic David Thomson, a victim irretrievably damaged by suffering. Plans for Clift to play the lead in the film adaptation of Carson McCullerss The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter fell through, in large part due to his uninsurability on set, and promises of a fourth collaboration with Taylor, this time with producer Ray Stark, never came to pass. 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. I mean, he is a 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. You see, the reason behind Montgomery Clifts barren dating life was rather simple: He was gay. In remembering Clift, McCarthy said, his face was torn awaya bloody pulp. An interviewer once asked him what his hobbies were, Clift replied, "women. His decline was never explicitly evoked, but with his visage in Raintree County, it was there for all to see. For Clift, The Heiress was a mess from top to bottom, and he even walked out on the films premiere, disgusted with his own performance. As his eyes drifted closed, Clift suddenly veered off the road and drove straight into a telephone pole. Clift and Taylor would star again in another 1950s film, the Civil War-era drama, Raintree Countythe movie they were making when Clift almost died in the car wreck outside Taylors homeand would remain deeply attached to one another until Clifts death, at the too-young age of 45, in New York City in 1966. One infamous fact about Montgomery Clift is that he only owned one suit. 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. His father, William Brooks "Bill" Clift (1886-1964), was the vice-president of Omaha National Trust Company. What does he inspire anyone to do drink, die young? Clift was there, as were actors Kevin McCarthy and Rock Hudson, and Hudson's wife, Phyllis Gates, per Vanity Fair. The subject matter, which involved him assisting in the cover-up of a dead mans apparent homosexuality, must have sparked mixed emotions. He was sick of being a symbol, a symptom, a testament to something. ", However, it became more eminent that his single status bordered on his sexuality as time went on. Clift once said, The closer we come to the negative, to death, the more we blossom. He took himself to that precipice, but he fell straight in. 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. 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. I think he was 12 or 13., Its obviously a non-issue for her, co-director Demmon said. When James offered to join him, the belligerent shot him down immediately, crying, Absolutely not.Sadly, this was Montgomery Clifts final interaction. Charles Castillo, author of "Elizabeth & Monty: The Untold Story," shared that the actress tried to seduce Clift. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. 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. Monty brought a different masculinity to the screen, said Demmon. 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. He gained excellent theatrical notices and soon piqued the interests of numerous lovelorn actresses; their advances met with awkward conflict. Whisked away to the morgue, Clifts body underwent an autopsy that shed some light on his sudden demise. The movie, which plays at the LGBTQ movie festival NewFest in New York, refutes scores of oft-repeated assumptions about Clifts life, from his motivations as an actor, to his relationship with his mother to the characterization of his later years. 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. Contact sheets from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpoles shoot on a Paramount lot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. His body was found by his live-in personal secretary/companion Lorenzo James, who found Clift lying nude on top of his bed, dead from what the autopsy called "occlusive coronary artery disease." Montgomery Clift's nephew, co-directing 'Making Montgomery Clift,' an eye-opening documentary about the great movie actor, excavates a treasure trove of family archives. said: Oh. Carlo Fiore and Marlon Brando were in . At the age of 25, Clift made the leap to Hollywoodbut he was a rebel right from the get-go. Clift gained actual scars from some filming mishaps. After filming wrapped, she tracked him down and spat directly in his face. 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. Clift, of course, knew better. Thats why his work doesnt feel dated, Demmon said. (38) and his wife, Meghan Markle (41), officially . He was the son of Ethel "Sunny" Anderson (Fogg; 1888-1988) and William Brooks Clift (1886-1964). July 24, 1966 12 AM PT. She once lovingly described how she was in awe of the star actor's perfect facial features. Clift cared nothing for appearances: the Los Angeles Times called him the Rumpled Movie Idol; he infamously owned only one suit. To help build their case, the film-makers had rare access to the actors archives, as well as to the familys story, courtesy of a special connection: the doc was co-directed by the stars nephew, Robert Clift, and his wife, Hillary Demmon. Elizabeth Taylor Tried to Seduce Montgomery Clift Then Stood By Him After He Came Out to Her Despite his deep attraction to Taylor, at first Clift couldn't bring himself to tell her he was. Hollywood began to see him as hostile and messy and frugal, and Clift wasnt having it. . Whatever the case may be, Montgomery Clifts life was unbelievably impressive and distressing. While filmingThe Search,he asked the director to reshoot a scene for one baffling reason: He called a boy dear. But that wasnt all. Throughout filming, members of the crew came up with code words to alert everyone about the lead actors level of intoxication. In Clifts eyes, de Havilland imparted nothing of herself into the role. It hardly helped lend nuance to that reading that Clift was a well-known and long-time abuser of pain killers and alcohol, actions which likely sped his death from a heart attack at 45 in 1966. But if you look at his own words, his testimonies about what acting did to him, youll see the culprit. 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. Free shipping for many products! John Wayne and Montgomery Clift in Red River. 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Contemporaries like James Dean and Marlon Brando also did. In fact, Hepburn was so offended by Mankiewicz that she did something outrageous. You see, the entire healing process put Clift through the paces. A Place In The Sun (1951) & From Here To Eternity (1953). Horrified, James immediately called for help, but of course, it was already too late. The next morning, James returned to Clifts room to rouse him but found the door locked. Clift had a fraternal twin sister, Roberta, and a brother, William Brooks Clift Jr, who had an illegitimate son with actress Kim Stanley. Montgomery Clift's full name is Edward Montgomery Clift and his nickname is Montgomery Clift. He told everyone that hed marry when he met the right girl, but that in the meantime, he was simply playing the field. Once, when questioned about his pastimes, he quipped, Yes, women. But where were they? Peter Stackpole The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock. But that didnt mean that the gossip press didnt hint at something different, something queer, in the broadest sense of the word, about him. You see, when Clift sat down to read through the script for The Search,he was less than enthused with the writing. (1936), Ghostwriting Gloria Swanson: The Strange, Sexually Charged Genesis of a Legendary Autobiography, A New Power Generation: Radhika Jones Introduces the 2023 Hollywood Issue, Salma Hayek Pinault Explains How She Got Hollywood to Stop Typecasting Her as Sexy. Heres A Mystery: Why Did Arthur Conan Doyles Son Dress Up Like a Knight? Montgomery Clift (1920-1966) is one of the most tragic figures in Hollywood history. In a new documentary, myths and assumptions about the Oscar-nominated heartthrob who struggled with his sexuality are replaced with the little-known truth. Beautiful man. With alarm bells screaming in his head, James raced outside to fetch a ladder, climbing up toward Clifts bedroom window. Clift, however, lived a two-faceted life concerning his sexuality. 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. The director, Joseph Mankiewicz, was appalled by this wavering professionalismbut when he tried to fire Clift, two angels intervened. But this was only the beginning. 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. But when his nephew dives into the family archives, a much more complicated picture emerges. 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. Clift was nominated for awards . at the best online prices at eBay! It is a feature-length film with a runtime of 1h 3min. Luckily, over time, they clawed their way back to financial security. Every actor was in the midst of fighting their own demons. These are just among the many words which have been used to describe Montgomery Clift, the enigmatic heartthrob of the 1950s. Over the next decade, the burgeoning actor dug his heels in and made a name for himself on the stage. My mom never told me how her best friend died. 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. According to two A-list biographers, the late star was gay. . Regardless of the veracity of this story, one thing remains true: theres not a single picture of Clifts broken face. He died in 1966 at the age of 45. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. I am not one of Americas Angry Young Men. 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. ufff q hombre tan guapo y atractivo, y grn actor ademas, como me hubiese gustado conocerlo con unos ojos maravillosos. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. 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. In the rife, overstuffed annals of Hollywood, few real-life love stories can match that of Liz Taylor and Montgomery Clift. In the face of such criticism, Clift went ahead and confused the gossip columns even more. Courtesy Everett Collection Elizabeth was more visible than the publicity-shy Monty. Even his diet was rather spartan: orange juice, steak, and eggs. 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. Follow her on Twitter @lizabethronk. His apartment, which he rented for 10 dollars a month, was described by friends as beat up and by him as terrific. He survived on two meals a day, mostly combinations of steak, eggs, and orange juice, and he eschewed nightclubs, instead spending his spare time reading Chekov, classic works of history and economics, and Aristotle, whom he praised for his belief in happiness, or the gentle art of the soul. When he wasnt reading or exhausting himself in preparation for a part, he liked to go to the local night court and attend high-profile court cases just to watch the humanity on display. Tellingly, theyre always pitched under working titles like Beautiful Loser and' Tragic Beauty. Something was seriously wrong. 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. 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. Clift's childhood was unconventional. Until it sinks into a sentimental quagmire the end, the second movie excels first in being remarkably faithful to Dreisers tale of three pitiful youngsters and in telling the story with the same earnestness and breadth that have made the novel survive as a classic. Still, unlike other notable gay actors, any affairs Montgomery Clift had were secured behind a lock and key. Whether he liked it or not, they were out for a storyAnd the one they wanted above all? He used them to numb his physical pain. Of course, as unusual as his lifestyle seemed, healso had a number of interesting routines. The Big Lift (1950) Approved | 120 min | Drama, War 6.4 Rate Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor during the filming of A Place in the Sun. 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. Clift had a rather negative notion about Taylor even before meeting her. Marlon Brando: Portraits of a Charismatic Young Star, 1952, Marilyn, Arthur Miller and More: A Star Producers Spectacular Orbit. However, this was no quick fix. Taylor had married British actor Michael Wilding in 1952, but by 1956, their marriage was in decline. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hitchcock's I CONFESS (DVD, 1953); M CLIFT, A BAXTER. 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. His leading lady, Olivia de Havilland, disappointed him in every wayand his criticisms were downright brutal. 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. 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. Not only would this film win him respect for his impeccable acting performance, but it would also fuel a brand new cycle of romance rumors. He was not worried [about being gay], Larson asserts in the film. Nope. Hailed as one of Hollywood's first true Method actors, Edward Montgomery Clift was born October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. Travel back in time with treasured photos and stories, sent right to your inbox. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. Here was someone who was vulnerable and sensitive - and who actually listened to women.. The results were not pretty. Above all, Clift was perpetually curious. And then there was the physical toll. . Woodbury Blair was the son of Montgomery Blair, after whom his great-grandson received his middle name, and wife Mary Elizabeth Woodbury, daughter of Levi Woodbury (1789-1851), United States Supreme Court, and wife Elizabeth Wendell Clapp. But when he climbed into the room, he discovered something absolutely gut-wrenching. That, combined with his spiraling alcohol addiction, wrung the youth right out of the handsome actor. Montgomery Clift, Nando Bruno. However, his worry began to mount when the actor didnt respond to his insistent knocking. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on 1920-10-17.
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