Another confidant said his personal life didnt bother him. Even if Clift himself was already spiraling out of control, playing a character that did the same only amplified the psychological toll. It was unheard of, especially for a young star, but it was a sellers market. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. Actor Montgomery Clift, 45, three times nominated for Academy Awards, died early Saturday of a heart attack in his plush East Side townhouse. 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. Nope. Finally, Clift had a chance to climb out of his slumpbut before he made it over the top, tragedy struck. said: Oh. and his wife, the former Ethel Fogg. 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. Montgomery Clift as the confused, likable, rather stupid social climber; Shelley Winters as the dowdy working girl; Elizabeth Taylor as the dazzling rich girl. At the time of the premiere, Monroe had been admitted to a psychiatric ward and required a day pass just to attend. He insisted on maintaining his residence in New York, spending as little time in Hollywood as possible. Clifts early foray into acting led him to a Broadway debut in 1935. What happened next has since become the stuff of Hollywood legend. In truth, his face wasnt truly disfigured. Instead, Clift enjoyed reading, filling his spare moments with Chekov and Aristotlediving into history, or learning about economics. Some sources have the crash occurring when Clift was leaving the event, while others state he was on his way there. All Rights Reserved. Whatever relationships Clift may have had, he was circumspect. From Scandals of Classic Hollywood: Sex, Deviance, and Drama from the Golden Age of Hollywood Cinema by Anne Helen Petersen, to be published by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC on September 30, 2014 2014 by Anne Helen Petersen. 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. 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. He served in the Lincoln administration cabinet as Postmaster-General from 1861 to 1864, during the Civil War. Nothing could have prepared him for what he discovered. 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. Tellingly, theyre always pitched under working titles like Beautiful Loser and' Tragic Beauty. Clifts recuperation took months, and when he finally returned to set, there was more trouble afoot. Apparently, one of Clifts tooths had pierced his tongue, causing him to choke. Peace. As his eyes drifted closed, Clift suddenly veered off the road and drove straight into a telephone pole. 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. However, Clift soon realized that you cant always have your cake and eat it too. With Clift on board, Suddenly, Last Summer morphed into a verifiable mess. He looked about ten years older than the Montgomery Clift audiences remembered and adored. Over the next decade, the burgeoning actor dug his heels in and made a name for himself on the stage. Show details . That, combined with his spiraling alcohol addiction, wrung the youth right out of the handsome actor. When Clift became a household name in the movie industry, his romantic life became a widely-discussed subject by the press. cocksucker, isnt he, Tallulah? Miss Bankhead said: Well, American actor Montgomery Clift was spectacular on the big screen for his portrayal of sensitive male characters. RIP GEORGOUS MONTY. 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. In 1951, Clift embarked upon one of his most famous roles as George Eastman inA Place in the Sun. He was not worried [about being gay], Larson asserts in the film. "Bobby was a very fine actor, but as you can imagine, he was no Montgomery Clift," she said. His image was, more than anything else, confusingunmalleable to Hollywoods preexisting star categories. A successful man in the business world, Bill nevertheless deferred to this strong-willed, opinionated woman at home. 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. 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. TAYLOR ON CLIFT'S SEXUALITY AFTER HIS DEATH. 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. 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. ': What Happened to the Stars of the Iconic Series through the Years, Debbie Reynolds Called Elizabeth Taylor's Phone Yet Her Own Husband Eddie Fisher Picked Up, Rock Hudson & Jim Nabors Never Spoke Again after They Were Reportedly Seen Getting Married, Elizabeth Taylor Proposed to an Actor 20 Years Her Senior & Replaced Him with 25-Year Older Man. Whisked away to the morgue, Clifts body underwent an autopsy that shed some light on his sudden demise. Of course, Clift took one of his greatest secrets to his grave. Help us build our profile of Montgomery Clift! With his screenwriting suggestions, the film took home an Academy Award. / Montys face is broken on a wheel. Determined to keep his gayness under wraps, Clift made sure that his masculine facade shone onscreen. d-d-darling, I r-r-really wouldnt know. His leading lady, Olivia de Havilland, disappointed him in every wayand his criticisms were downright brutal. 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. 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. . Sensitive, mysterious, brooding, and suspiciously single. While filmingThe Search,he asked the director to reshoot a scene for one baffling reason: He called a boy dear. But that wasnt all. Years before, Clift had battled dysentery, which introduced him to the sinister side effects of pain management. 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. Director: William Wyler | Stars: Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson, Miriam Hopkins Votes: 16,212 4. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on 1920-10-17. Carlo Fiore and Marlon Brando were in . 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. ufff q hombre tan guapo y atractivo, y grn actor ademas, como me hubiese gustado conocerlo con unos ojos maravillosos. Something was seriously wrong. And even more shocking? She would wield considerable influence over the early part of his film career, advising him in decisions to decline lead roles in Sunset Blvd. If you have a story that tracks along that line, that will feel true to people. . 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. Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando were in a . 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. Clift had a rather negative notion about Taylor even before meeting her. But while his siblings enrolled in prestigious schools, Montgomery Clift went hurtling in a completely different direction. Thanks for your help! There were no wild outings for this reserved homebody. 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. . In his eyes, he wasnt a rebel, he was simply an actor who wanted to portray a slice of life. Tired of being boxed in, he stated, I am notrepeat nota member of the Beat Generation. Some of the greatest celebrities of the day came out to mourn Clift at his funeral, including Lauren Bacall and Frank Sinatra. Biographies of Clift posit that he drank because he couldnt be his true self, because homosexuality was the shame he had to shelter within. She is completing her PhD in Toronto, Canada. 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. You couldn't help but come. The film went on to win six Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Screenplay, and is now hailed as a (flawed) classic. Okay, if were being totally honest, Montgomery Clifts reserved lifestyle didnt exactly excite the press; it actually kind of stumped them. But even the troubled blonde bombshell recognized that her co-star was in dire straits. Elizabeth Taylor and Katharine Hepburn came to Clifts defense when the director tried to get rid of him. I do not count myself as a member of the ripped-sweatshirt fraternity.. However, the filming of The Misfits had a shadow lurking over it. 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. 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. Montgomery Clift was an undeniably attractive man, and before long, he'd cultivated a rather passionate female fan base. All his life, it was misery," said McCarthy. Montgomery Edward "Monty" Clift (October 17, 1920 - July 23, 1966) was an American movie, television, radio, and stage actor who is known for his roles in From Here to Eternity, A Place in the Sun, The Misfits, Red River, and in Judgement at Nuremberg.He was nominated four times for an Academy Award.His great-great-grandfather was politician Francis Preston Blair. This showed in his consciousness of being seen as feminine in any way. It turned into John Cassavetes' "Too Late Blues," with Bobby Darrin. We want our readers to trust us. . Many Hollywood stars have committed versions of the long suicide. He wasnt the only one who challenged such norms at the time. His mother wanted all of her children to be raised as distinguished aristocrats, and as such, little Clift and his siblings received an elite upbringing: private tutors, extensive travel, and language lessons. Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor in A Place in the Sun. Next came "The Nutty Professor" as Lewis' student, Stella Purdy, who he is infatuated with. You`ve being alwasy an inspiration for me. And then there was the physical toll. The revelation of his sexuality did not emerge until the 70s, when two high-profile biographers, one endorsed by his close confidants, revealed as much, rendering him a gay icon within the span of two years. Sadly, his greatest friend Elizabeth Taylor could only send flowers from Rome. He was only 15 years old, but this wasnt just a fun pastimeit was serious business. But that wasnt the wildest part of the story. 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. His decline was never explicitly evoked, but with his visage in Raintree County, it was there for all to see. 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. Part of honoring someone is being open to that person not being just one, reductive thing., Making Montgomery Clift is showing at NewFest with a release date yet to be announced, Tab Hunter: how Hollywood's boy next door became a gay icon, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Marlon Brando: Portraits of a Charismatic Young Star, 1952, Marilyn, Arthur Miller and More: A Star Producers Spectacular Orbit. 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. I mean, he is a But when he climbed into the room, he discovered something absolutely gut-wrenching. He also detested the man. About Tellingly, theyre always pitched under working titles like Beautiful Loser and' Tragic Beauty. The most beautiful young man Ive ever seen. His interests lay elsewhere. 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. A bout five years ago, filmmaking duo Robert Clift and Hillary Demmon Clift decided to make a documentary about Robert's long-dead uncle. Clift's brother would later come out to say that the actor was bisexual. Soon, Montgomery Clift became almost impossible to work with. He was the son of Ethel "Sunny" Anderson (Fogg; 1888-1988) and William Brooks Clift (1886-1964). He also sunk into alcoholism, of which Taylor and some other friends tried to help him. Charles Castillo, author of "Elizabeth & Monty: The Untold Story," shared that the actress tried to seduce Clift. 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. As such, Taylors intervention only enhances the very real love story that existed between her and Clift. Now were at a historical point in mainstream queer discourse where that story seems less viable., Though the film aims to update, and to fairly contextualize, the actors story, the directors stress that they dont want to simply swap one image of Montgomery Clift for another. His father made a lot of money in banking but was quite poor during the depression. 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. He had a close friendship with a woman named Myra Letts, whom the gossip columnists tried arduously to frame as a love interest. He wasnt solely an actor, she said. Absolutely stunning. But for Clift, there was just no escape, and it was only going to get worse. Contact sheets from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpole's shoot on a Paramount lot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. 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. 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. Or, as Bosley Crowther, taking the populist slant in The New York Times, explained, the characters were amusing, but they were also shallow and inconsequential, and that is the dang-busted trouble with this film.. Author Christopher Isherwood tracked Clifts decline in his journals, and by August 1955, he was drinking himself out of a career; on the set of Raintree, the crew had designated words to communicate how drunk Clift was: bad was Georgia, very bad was Florida, and worst of all was Zanzibar. The documentary was released at the Los Angeles Film Festival and . 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. Teach, I loved the way how he played in A Place in the Sun. 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. He lived in a pampered bubbleuntil one day, it all came crashing down. Not only did he rarely go out in public, but he also didnt date. [view couple] # 8 Carlo Fiore 12 28. Montgomery Clift later resided in . Close friends, such as actor Kevin McCarthy and his wife, tried to get Clift to slow down and dry out, but their pleas . Hollywood began to see him as hostile and messy and frugal, and Clift wasnt having it. 5 talking about this. While he never excelled at school, his extraordinary abilities as an actor. If Paramount wanted him, theyd have to give him what he wanteda power differential that would go on to structure the star-studio relationship for the next 40 years. Clift couldnt get through longer scenes, having to split them up into two or three chunks. Monroe and Taylor are shadowed by Montgomery. Indeed, it was his apparent lack of romantic attachments that confounded the gossip press the most.