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He summoned a doctor, but it was already too late. At the age of 25, Clift made the leap to Hollywoodbut he was a rebel right from the get-go. 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. This year the young man . His smashed face was rebuilt, he reconciled with his estranged father, but he continued bedeviled by dependency on drugs and his unrelenting guilt over his homosexuality.With his Hollywood career in an irreversible slide despite giving an occasional riveting performance, such as in Stanley Kramer's Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), Monty returned to New York and tried to slowly develop a somewhat more sensible lifestyle in his brownstone row house on East 61st Street in Manhattan. 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. One infamous fact about Montgomery Clift is that he only owned one suit. They seem to have their stories all written out beforehand.. There was a nonchalance to Clifts attitude in regards to women. Montgomery Clift later resided in . Author Christopher Isherwood aptly illustrated Montgomery Clifts shocking transformation: Nearly all his good looks are goneHe has a ghastly, shattered expression. But remember, Clift was never one to dwell on his looks, and it must have been frustrating that everyone else cared so much. It wasnt until years after his tragic passing that Clifts darkest secret finally came out. Contact sheet from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpoles shoot on a Paramount lot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. Biographies of Clift posit that he drank because he couldnt be his true self, because homosexuality was the shame he had to shelter within. I thought he was dead. He immediately returned to Taylors house to notify the party of the bloody disaster. 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. Although hed only been away from Hollywood for four and a half years, the handsome Montgomery Clift looked incrediblyoldand the reason was downright heartbreaking. 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. What happened next has since become the stuff of Hollywood legend. Before long, photographers began to descend on the gory scene. Horrified, James immediately called for help, but of course, it was already too late. But 1961 audiences were too close to the day-to-day deterioration of its stars to see the meditative genius of The Misfits. Clift gained actual scars from some filming mishaps. He had a close friendship with a woman named Myra Letts, whom the gossip columnists tried arduously to frame as a love interest. Oddly enough, when he died, the homocons on Gay Patriot praised him on . Well, in 1955, he had a chance to reunite with his old friend and co-star, Elizabeth Taylor, in Raintree County. Montgomery Clift is a member of the following lists: American film actors, Actors Studio alumni and Bisexual actors. 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. 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. "Indiscretion of an American Wife" is currently available to stream on Fubo TV. 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. But the drama didn't end there. Realizing that Clift was in mortal danger, McCarthy raced to the scene of the accident. He looked about ten years older than the Montgomery Clift audiences remembered and adored. So finely After filming wrapped, she tracked him down and spat directly in his face. When Clift became a household name in the movie industry, his romantic life became a widely-discussed subject by the press. But if you look at his own words, his testimonies about what acting did to him, youll see the culprit. Montgomery Clift was an undeniably attractive man, and before long, hed cultivated a rather passionate female fan base. Every actor was in the midst of fighting their own demons. During her appearance at the GLAAD Media Awards, Taylor openly spoke about her late friends sexuality while she addressed the rights of gay people. Between 1963 and 1966, he faded from public view, emerging only to film a final performance in the French spy thriller The Defector (1966). July 22, 1966, was a sweltering day in New York City, and Montgomery Clift had been languishing in his townhouse on 61st Street. The film-makers interviewed Bosworth extensively for the movie, but they contrast her words with old taped conversations she had with the actors brother. Born in 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska, Clift was raised like an aristocrat, with a private tutor and frequent trips to Europe. Over the next 10 years, he earned prominent roles in plays by Tennessee Williams and Thornton Wilder, opposite stars like Fredrick March and Tallulah Bankhead. His beat-up car was 10 years old, and his best friends were all outside of the movie business. Upon closer inspection, Clifts career reveals notable clues as to who he genuinely was and the private struggles he faced. Something was seriously wrong. These are just among the many words which have been used to describe Montgomery Clift, the enigmatic heartthrob of the 1950s. 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. He used them to numb his physical pain. But her heroism didnt end there. But after an initial flurry of coverage, he retreated from public view entirely. By 15, Clift made his Broadway debut in Cole Porters Jubilee. But the tragedies didnt end there. After the success of 1953sFrom Here to Eternity, Montgomery Clift suddenly stopped making films. Above all, Clift was perpetually curious. Clift was off the Hollywood scene for four years, within which his career declined. MONTY YOU WERE THE BEST!!! During the peak period of his career, the actor and some Hollywood friends were returning from a party held at Taylor's home. Unlike many other actors, he didnt jump straight into a contract. However, even with all the negative hubbub surrounding this shoot, it was nothing compared to the darkness of one of Clifts next projects. 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. She noted that they needed to live a life of equality while being able to get married and adopt kids. 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. However, Clift's life was shrouded by a dark secret that became public after his passing, by actress Elizabeth Taylor. An interviewer once asked him what his hobbies were, Clift replied, "women. Whatever the case may be, Montgomery Clifts life was unbelievably impressive and distressing. Tellingly, theyre always pitched under working titles like Beautiful Loser and' Tragic Beauty. Of course, Clift didnt walk away unscathed either. By the early 1950s he was exclusively homosexual, though he continued to hide his homosexuality and maintained a number of close friendships with theater women (heavily promoted by studio publicists).His film debut was Red River (1948) with John Wayne quickly followed by his early personal success The Search (1948) (Oscar nominations for this, A Place in the Sun (1951), From Here to Eternity (1953) and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)). Lorenzo was one of the reasons.. Although he may not have realized it, Clifts horrific accident sparked the beginning of the end, intensifying his preexisting ailments and sending him down a dark path from which he could never return. Firstly, he didnt even like Hollywood, preferring to stay in New York as much as he could. He was, in his words, nothing more than an ordinary, second-class wolf., These anecdotes, and dozens like them, would establish Clift, along with Brando, as the embodiment of 50s youth culture, rebelling against conformity and all that postwar Americans were supposed to embrace. While filmingThe Search,he asked the director to reshoot a scene for one baffling reason: He called a boy dear. But that wasnt all. There are a few versions that detail the aftermath of Clifts accident, but one has all the drama of a motion picture itself. Months of surgeries, rebuilding, and physical therapy followed. She developed an intense decade-plus obsession over the young actor, even financing an experimental play, "Mexican Mural" for him. The decline continued. There were no wild outings for this reserved homebody. 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. 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. But when hedid get a hankering for a fun excursion, Clift knew exactly where he wanted to be. / Montys face is broken on a wheel. 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. Apparently, one of Clifts tooths had pierced his tongue, causing him to choke. Its impossible for us to know what happenedor if the two even had a relationship that went beyond the platonicbut it was returning from a party at Taylors house, mid-filming for Raintree County, that he smashed his car into a telephone pole. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. Some of the greatest celebrities of the day came out to mourn Clift at his funeral, including Lauren Bacall and Frank Sinatra. One time when he was delivering his line on the set of "The Search," he mistakenly called a boy 'dear' and insisted that the director did a reshoot. The results were not pretty. In 1951, Clift embarked upon one of his most famous roles as George Eastman inA Place in the Sun. His first two films were smashing successesand for veryimpressive reasons. You see, when Clift sat down to read through the script for The Search,he was less than enthused with the writing. According to this version of the story, when photographers arrived, Taylor announced that she knew each and every one of them personally-- and if they took pictures of Clift, who was still very much alive, shed make sure they never worked in Hollywood again. yo tambien hubiera tenido algo con el claro que si, Monty, I love you. Next came "The Nutty Professor" as Lewis' student, Stella Purdy, who he is infatuated with. He died in 1966 at the age of 45. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. When James offered to join him, the belligerent shot him down immediately, crying, Absolutely not.Sadly, this was Montgomery Clifts final interaction. ", However, it became more eminent that his single status bordered on his sexuality as time went on. Director Joseph Mankiewicz tried to replace Clift, but Taylor and co-star Katharine Hepburn defended and supported him. ), 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. 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. 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. Montgomery Clift was in relationships with Sal Mineo, Paul Newman, Henry Willson, Jack Larson, William LeMassena, Libby Holman, Maurice Leonard and Arnold Saint Subber. He could watch the real grit of humanity play out before himthe court a stage for some of the most sensational high-profile cases. He was a great talent but the male counterpart to Monroe, lonely, sad, and pitiful. Okay, if were being totally honest, Montgomery Clifts reserved lifestyle didnt exactly excite the press; it actually kind of stumped them. He died. With alarm bells screaming in his head, James raced outside to fetch a ladder, climbing up toward Clifts bedroom window. Oh dear. And the cherry on top? She made it known that it all boiled down to love. Clifts early foray into acting led him to a Broadway debut in 1935. Were always looking for your input! In The Young Lions (1958), released just two years after the accident, the pain and resentment seem almost visible. Taylor talked about the need for staunch support for gay people and their rights. It was unheard of, especially for a young star, but it was a sellers market. Picture 1 of 12 . His injuries included a broken nose and jaw, a fractured sinus, and deep cuts across his face that called for extensive plastic surgery. Sadly, his greatest friend Elizabeth Taylor could only send flowers from Rome. The Big Lift (1950) Approved | 120 min | Drama, War 6.4 Rate Absolutely stunning. Can he still feel?). When the duo finally met in Stevens' office, it was pretty magical for Taylor. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. Show more . Free delivery for many products! Still, unlike other notable gay actors, any affairs Montgomery Clift had were secured behind a lock and key. He is most remembered for A Place In The Sun (1951) & From Here To Eternity (1953).. His zodiac sign is Libra. Nobody wanted to deal with him anymore, and for four years, he couldnt land a single role. and his wife, the former Ethel Fogg. Following The Misfits, Clifts disintegration continued. In a new documentary, myths and assumptions about the Oscar-nominated heartthrob who struggled with his sexuality are replaced with the little-known truth. 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. But that wasnt the wildest part of the story. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. After his accident, Clift had an arduous road to recovery. Sensitive. In fact, the attitudes he and his family held towards his relationships with men were strikingly modern. 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. To help build their case, the film-makers had rare access to the actors archives. This would not only show off his range but allow him to sidestep any dangers of typecasting. With Clift on board, Suddenly, Last Summer morphed into a verifiable mess. Indiscrecin de una esposa: Dirigido por Vittorio De Sica. He got him going again. With his screenwriting suggestions, the film took home an Academy Award. A seeming exception was one in his final years with a man named Lorenzo who had been hired to help him. If you have a story that tracks along that line, that will feel true to people. Who is Montgomery Clift dating? 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. He knew that people would flock to the cinema just to see his damaged face. Connect any celebrity with Montgomery Clift to see how closely they are linked romantically! RIP GEORGOUS MONTY. Have I said something wrong? A wild exclusive excerpt from the new book, Oscars 2023: Yes, Some Awards Movies Flopped, but Art Matters, How in the F--k Does Anyone Live Here?: Bret Easton Ellis on Life, Art, and What the Hell Happened to Manhattan, Todd Field on 2 Decades of Oscar Campaigns, From, I didnt realize the deadly minefield of a campaign season, the Oscar nominee says in a career-spanning interview. Merv was a sexual predator who once tried to sexually assault Danny Terrio, then threatened to ruin his career if he talked. Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando. 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. Montgomery's ancestry was English, as well as more distant Scottish, Dutch, German and French. cocksucker. Then, sweetly, wide-eyed with little girl navet, she He also helped bring a more natural acting style to film. Welcome to Who Is Montgomery Clift?, a page dedicated to showcasing actors & movie makers of the Golden Age of Hollywood. You see, the reason behind Montgomery Clifts barren dating life was rather simple: He was gay. The film went on to win six Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Screenplay, and is now hailed as a (flawed) classic. 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. His parents were Quakers and met as students at Cornell University, marrying in 1914. They took a risk on the troubled actorand it endedbadly. James found his patient sitting up in bed and watching his film, The Misfits, but Clift clearly didnt want to be disturbed. . From here on out, however, he plunged even further into his addiction. 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. But this wasnt the actors first time at the rodeo. 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. While on his way back, he had an accident. But the facial reconstruction, heavy painkiller use, and rampant alcohol abuse made it look like hed aged a decade. A young naive woman falls for a handsome young man who her emotionally abusive father suspects is a fortune hunter. 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. Directors Robert Anderson Clift Hillary Demmon Writers Robert Anderson Clift Hillary Demmon Stars . Clift cared nothing for appearances: the Los Angeles Times called him the Rumpled Movie Idol; he infamously owned only one suit. Montgomery Clift as Noah Ackerman Dean Martin as Michael Whiteacre Hope Lange as Hope Plowman Barbara Rush as Margaret Freemantle May Britt as Gretchen Hardenberg Maximilian Schell as Captain Hardenberg Dora Doll as Simone Lee Van Cleef as First Sergeant Rickett Liliane Montevecchi as Franoise Parley Baer as Sergeant Brandt 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. About He also detested the man. 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. A bout five years ago, filmmaking duo Robert Clift and Hillary Demmon Clift decided to make a documentary about Robert's long-dead uncle. Their. In truth, his face wasnt truly disfigured. However, he became more comfortable with her and eventually found it easy to open up about his sexuality. Clifts lifestyle had the press slotting him in with non-conformists of the dayright alongside hotshots like Marlon Brandobut the actor didnt respond well to being labeled and defined. All Rights Reserved. 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. He also sunk into alcoholism, of which Taylor and some other friends tried to help 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. He was the son of Ethel "Sunny" Anderson (Fogg; 1888-1988) and William Brooks Clift (1886-1964). . Taylor, on the other hand, felt intimidated when she was yet to meet him. Suddenly, the Clift family was completely broke and had no choice to move to New York. It was reported that Taylor even tried to help him find a partner. John Wayne and Montgomery Clift in Red River. Montgomery Clift | 20 Gay Hollywood Legends | Purple Clover "I love men in bed, but I really love women," Montgomery Clift is quoted as saying in a 1978 biography. 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. Thats why his work doesnt feel dated, Demmon said. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on 1920-10-17. Taylor opened his mouth, put her hand down his throat, and pulled out the teeth. Free Postage. 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. But the drama didnt end there. In one tape made by his father in the 1960s, we hear the stars mother tell him, with untroubled candor, that Monty was a homosexual early. (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. Clift had a fraternal twin sister, Roberta, and a brother, William Brooks Clift Jr, who had an illegitimate son with actress Kim Stanley. / Is he alive? In this exclusive excerpt from her forthcoming book, Anne Helen Petersen recounts the actors lonely life, ferocious talent, and tragic decline. Of course, Clift took one of his greatest secrets to his grave. made. With unprecedented control over the projects he starred in, Clift agreed to do the romantic drama, The Heiress. I think he was 12 or 13., Its obviously a non-issue for her, co-director Demmon said. Montgomery Clift Born: 1920-10-17, Omaha, Nebraska, USA Education: NA Ethnicity: Caucasian Death Date:-0001-11-30 Addition Websites. 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. Contemporaries like James Dean and Marlon Brando also did. Edward Montgomery Clift (; October 17, 1920 July 23, 1966) was an American actor. The pieces of the puzzle dont quite fit. It was ironic his relationship with the bisexual middle-aged Holman would be the principal (and likely the last) heterosexual relationship of his life and only cause him further anguish over his sexuality. Documentary Biography Classic film star and queer icon Montgomery Clift's legacy has long been a story of tragedy and self-destruction. Carlo Fiore and Marlon Brando were in . 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. But while Clift certainly seemed like a budding Hollywood heartthrob on the outside, in reality, he wasfar from it. 5 talking about this. Peace. (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.). Clift's childhood was unconventional. 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. . Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. 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. When he wasnt reading or preparing for his next role, he took pleasure in visiting the local night court. Indeed, it was his apparent lack of romantic attachments that confounded the gossip press the most. "Indiscretion of an American Wife" romance and drama movie produced in Italy and USA and released in 1953. [6] His mother was Ethel Fogg "Sunny" Clift ( ne Anderson; 1888-1988). When he read the story that criticized his bare-bones wardrobe, the scandalized actor lashed out with a biting response. Moreover? 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. He was the son of Ethel "Sunny" Anderson (Fogg; 1888-1988) and William Brooks Clift (1886-1964). 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. Like them, Clift was comfortable with the full contours, and consequences, of his beauty, playing the object in a way previously preserved for female stars.