Clift's childhood was unconventional. But even though his marred looks never made it to the headlines, for Clift, the horror was far from over. He was sick of being a symbol, a symptom, a testament to something. She continued to stand by his memory by supporting gay rights and speaking out against homophobia. 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. 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. (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. 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. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. But the press will always be the press, and no amount of Montgomery Clifts ire could change that. A fellow actor asserts that Clift was equally confident in his sexuality. The entire scene was extremely unsettling as Clift still wore his eyeglasses, and had his hands rigidly clenched. 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. Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando were in a . In this exclusive excerpt from her forthcoming book, Anne. He called it as he saw it, describing himself as an ordinary, second-class wolf.. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. He pointed out that she just let the director determine her every move. He was the son of Ethel "Sunny" Anderson (Fogg; 1888-1988) and William Brooks Clift (1886-1964). 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. . said: Oh. . During the peak period of his career, the actor and some Hollywood friends were returning from a party held at Taylor's home. Free Postage. 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. While his brother claimed that Clift was bisexual, writer Truman Capotes unpublished work alludes to Clifts gayness quite explicitly. Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando. yo tambien hubiera tenido algo con el claro que si, Monty, I love you. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. While she sounds apologetic, the changes were never made. Clift wasn't one to hide a feeling, which made him a great actor and also a terrible straight man. 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. He also didnt want to sign a contract with a studio, then the only viable way into the business. 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. 2023 Cond Nast. The next year, Taylor used her status to wrangle an acting part for Clift; she demanded that he be a part ofSuddenly, Last Summer. And then there was the physical toll. Taylor, caught up in filming with Richard Burton in Paris, sent flowers to the funeral. In the bathroom, James found Clift in his bathtub, undressed and obviously deceased. And the cherry on top? You see, Clift wasnt just a pretty face, he also had a bunch of quirks that made him incredibly singular in comparison to other leading men. The subject matter, which involved him assisting in the cover-up of a dead mans apparent homosexuality, must have sparked mixed emotions. 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. Directors Robert Anderson Clift Hillary Demmon Writers Robert Anderson Clift Hillary Demmon Stars Free shipping for many products! He was the son of Ethel "Sunny" Anderson (Fogg; 1888-1988) and William Brooks Clift (1886-1964). Peter Stackpole The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock. It turned into John Cassavetes' "Too Late Blues," with Bobby Darrin. July 22, 1966, was a sweltering day in New York City, and Montgomery Clift had been languishing in his townhouse on 61st Street. It wasnt until years after his tragic passing that Clifts darkest secret finally came out. But for Clift, there was just no escape, and it was only going to get worse. She once lovingly described how she was in awe of the star actor's perfect facial features. 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. 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. Were always looking for your input! Instead, he bided his time, and thankfully, luck was on his side. Clifts teacher, Robert Lewis, called his gradual decline the longest suicide in Hollywood history. Although he had problems before filmingRaintree County, Clifts drinking was more pronounced than ever. To help build their case, the film-makers had rare access to the actors archives. Clift asserts that the actors use of alcohol and prescription drugs stemmed, primarily, from a near-fatal car accident in 1956. Nothing could have prepared him for what he discovered. Beautiful man. and his wife, the former Ethel Fogg. Taylor talked about the need for staunch support for gay people and their rights. The surgeries led to the use of strong painkillers. Because of the accident, the studio worried about the success of Raintree County. Nope. That, combined with his spiraling alcohol addiction, wrung the youth right out of the handsome actor. A four-time Oscar nominee who died at 45, Montgomery Clift was a bright young talent, a tabloid fixture, and a posthumous gay icon. . But he was handsome and beguiling on-screen, creating an appetite for confirmation of that same Clift off the screen. ", However, it became more eminent that his single status bordered on his sexuality as time went on. He died in 1966 at the age of 45. 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!. . Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. Absolutely stunning. Whether this captivating story is real or not remains to be seen. Have I said something wrong? His other side was mostly hidden and only became widely known after he passed on, thanks to his friend and colleague Elizabeth Taylor. . 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. While working in New York in the early 1940s, he met wealthy former Broadway star Libby Holman. 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. 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. I mean, he is a After all, his leading lady was none other than the beguiling Elizabeth Taylor, and together, these two stars were pure fire. 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. Yet, according to a new documentary, titled Making Montgomery Clift, the stars substance abuse had nothing at all to do with his sexuality. 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. 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. But when his nephew dives into the family archives, a much more complicated picture emerges. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. "Indiscretion of an American Wife" romance and drama movie produced in Italy and USA and released in 1953. Clifts recuperation took months, and when he finally returned to set, there was more trouble afoot. cocksucker, isnt he, Tallulah? Miss Bankhead said: Well, But for 12 years, he set Hollywood aflame. 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. 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. He also sunk into alcoholism, of which Taylor and some other friends tried to help him. He had a close friendship with a woman named Myra Letts, whom the gossip columnists tried arduously to frame as a love interest. He served in the Lincoln administration cabinet as Postmaster-General from 1861 to 1864, during the Civil War. His beat-up car was 10 years old, and his best friends were all outside of the movie business. It wasnt until years after his tragic passing that Clifts darkest secret finally came out. made. 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. Soon, the washed-up actor was completely out of work. Something was seriously wrong. Horrified, James immediately called for help, but of course, it was already too late. . Follow her on Twitter @lizabethronk. All Rights Reserved. It was unheard of, especially for a young star, but it was a sellers market. (38) and his wife, Meghan Markle (41), officially . He was one of Hollywoods most desirable leading men, but mystery shrouded his entire private life. Montgomery Clift 39 30. What does he inspire anyone to do drink, die young? They seem to have their stories all written out beforehand.. 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. While driving, he fell asleep at the wheel and the consequences were utterly gruesome. By 15, Clift made his Broadway debut in Cole Porters Jubilee. By 1950, he was troubled with allergies and colitis (the U.S. Army had rejected him for military service in World War II for chronic diarrhea) and, along with pill problems, he was alcoholic. James found his patient sitting up in bed and watching his film, The Misfits, but Clift clearly didnt want to be disturbed. Director Joseph Mankiewicz tried to replace Clift, but Taylor and co-star Katharine Hepburn defended and supported him. Months of surgeries, rebuilding, and physical therapy followed. About In a new documentary, myths and assumptions about the Oscar-nominated heartthrob who struggled with his sexuality are replaced with the little-known truth. 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. 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. His interests lay elsewhere. Montgomery's ancestry was English, as well as more distant Scottish, Dutch, German and French. He was lonely, yet with the help of his refusal to live in Los Angeles or participate in caf society, he was able to keep his private life private. But while Clift certainly seemed like a budding Hollywood heartthrob on the outside, in reality, he wasfar from it. 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. Which gives that narrative a lot of traction. Carlo Fiore and Marlon Brando were in . As such, Taylors intervention only enhances the very real love story that existed between her and Clift. But while his siblings enrolled in prestigious schools, Montgomery Clift went hurtling in a completely different direction. Itd be his only film with Brando, even though the two barely shared the screen. He was the son of Francis Preston Blair, elder brother of Francis Preston Blair Jr. and cousin of B. Gratz Brown . During her appearance at the GLAAD Media Awards, Taylor openly spoke about her late friends sexuality while she addressed the rights of gay people. What a pity hes a Heres A Mystery: Why Did Arthur Conan Doyles Son Dress Up Like a Knight? . But if you look at his own words, his testimonies about what acting did to him, youll see the culprit. He pleaded with her to make changes to her book to correct the mischaracterizations. Clift simply wasnt cut out for school, and unlike his siblings, turned his back on higher education. Monroe and Taylor are shadowed by Montgomery. When he wasnt reading or preparing for his next role, he took pleasure in visiting the local night court. Unlike Rock Hudson, whose affairs were very nearly exposed to the entire nation by Confidential, Clift never made the pages of the scandal rags. 3.80. There were questions about the woman in his life and why he was single. But this wasnt the actors first time at the rodeo. Show more . Observers also point out that Clift had sexual relationships with women. . He wasnt solely an actor, she said. Montgomery Clift later resided in . Nearly all his good looks are gone, Isherwood wrote. Montgomery Clift spent a miserly 10 dollars a month on what his friends referred to as a beat up apartment. Where were these so-called women? Well, at the very heart of it all, Montgomery Clift hid a dangerous secretone that wouldnt emerge untilyears later. The duo eventually got to know each other better, and according to Taylor, they liked each other. After Eternity he dropped out of Hollywood for several years, and signed a three-year contract with MGM in 1955 to make Raintree County, which re-united him with his Place in the Sun co-star Elizabeth Taylor. RIP GEORGOUS MONTY. ", A portrait of Montgomery Clift against a wooden backdrop on 01 January, 1948 | Photo: Getty mages. This made him an A-list actor and a multi-award-winning star. The 'Red River star was then tagged a gay icon. These are just among the many words which have been used to describe Montgomery Clift, the enigmatic heartthrob of the 1950s. / Cut the applause and dim the light. 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Search _ 1948 DVD Montgomery Clift Aline MacMahon Wendell Corey V Rare at the best online prices at eBay! The two met under the big tent where they performed together. Just look at the fan magazine titles: Making Love the Clift Way, Two Loves Has Monty, Montgomery Clifts Tragic Love Story, Is It True What They Say About Monty? Who Is Monty Kidding? Hes Travelin Light, The Lurid Love Life of Montgomery Clift, and, perhaps most flagrantly, Monty Clift: Woman Hater or Free Soul?. 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. Elizabeth Taylor stuck by her friends, and Montgomery Clift undoubtedly claimed a special spot in her heart. Clifts sexuality, like those other 50s idols Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter, was carefully concealed from the public. But her heroism didnt end there. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? True or not, the resilience of the story is a testimony to what people wanted to believe about the bond between the two stars. After filming wrapped, she tracked him down and spat directly in his face. The entire experience had a cursed tinge to it, and before long, it left disaster in its wake. Although hed only been away from Hollywood for four and a half years, the handsome Montgomery Clift looked incrediblyoldand the reason was downright heartbreaking. Allegedly, the director brought Clift on board, thinking hed be a soothing effect for Monroe. A seeming exception was one in his final years with a man named Lorenzo who had been hired to help him. / Is he alive? Luckily, over time, they clawed their way back to financial security. Apparently, Burt Lancaster's From Here to Eternity co-star Montgomery Clift intimidated himso much so that in their first scene together you can see Lancaster shaking. Picture Information. According to Clifts doctors, it was amazing that he was even alive. But even the troubled blonde bombshell recognized that her co-star was in dire straits. Edward Montgomery Clift was born on October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. July 24, 1966 12 AM PT. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 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. 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. Although Clift and Montgomery were only good friends, their coupling inA Place in the Sunhelped drive its popularity. Looking back, the film had a legacy of darkness surrounding it: Gable died of a heart attack less than a month after filming; Monroe was only able to attend the films premiere with a pass from her stay at a psychiatric ward. 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 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. William Brooks Clift (Was A Vice-President Of Omaha National Trust Company. 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. But Clifts rebuttal was firm, emphasizing that they were neither in love nor engagedtheyd known each other for 10 years, she helped him with his work, and those romantic rumors are embarrassing to both of us. He was also close with stage actress Libby Holman, 16 years his senior, who had become a notorious feature in the gossip columns following the suspicious death of her wealthy husband, rumors of lesbianism, and her general practice of dating younger men. He knew that people would flock to the cinema just to see his damaged face. The decline continued. If you have a story that tracks along that line, that will feel true to people. There were even speculations that he was warned about being gay. A still of Montgomery Clift. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. The pieces of the puzzle dont quite fit. 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. His own mother, in a voice recording played in Making Montgomery Clift, said, "Monty was a . The Searchturned out to be a huge hit for Clift. The most beautiful young man Ive ever seen. Unlike many other actors, he didnt jump straight into a contract. (The director himself never met his famous uncle, having been born eight years after his death).
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