Sensitive, mysterious, brooding, and suspiciously single. But the facial reconstruction, heavy painkiller use, and rampant alcohol abuse made it look like hed aged a decade. And when it came to riotous parties, well, he avoided nightlife like the plague. 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. She developed an intense decade-plus obsession over the young actor, even financing an experimental play, "Mexican Mural" for him. And even then, he didnt live a glamorous movie star existence. And even more shocking? Unlike Rock Hudson, whose affairs were very nearly exposed to the entire nation by Confidential, Clift never made the pages of the scandal rags. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. As his eyes drifted closed, Clift suddenly veered off the road and drove straight into a telephone pole. He wasnt solely an actor, she said. A four-time Academy Award nominee, The New York Times said he was known for his portrayal of "moody, sensitive young men". 5 talking about this. Grasping at straws, the media decided to do what little they could to sensationalize the actors non-existent, One of Clifts closest friends was a woman named Myra Letts, and for the ruthless gossip columns, it wasnt a huge leap from friend to girlfriend. Clift didnt entertain this for a second and shot the sordid speculations down immediately, saying that there was zero intimacy between them: those romantic rumors are embarrassing to both of us.. . He also detested the man. She would wield considerable influence over the early part of his film career, advising him in decisions to decline lead roles in Sunset Blvd. A portrait of Montgomery Clift acting as Matt Garth in the western film "Red River" on 01 January, 1948 | Photo: Getty Images. [6] His mother was Ethel Fogg "Sunny" Clift ( ne Anderson; 1888-1988). But just as Clift dove into this exciting new chapter, an unforeseen tragedy changedeverything. .. But 1961 audiences were too close to the day-to-day deterioration of its stars to see the meditative genius of The Misfits. 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. Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando. INDISCRETION OF AN AMERICAN WIFE 1953 DVD PUBLIC DOMAIN FILM MONTGOMERY CLIFT. Merv was a sexual predator who once tried to sexually assault Danny Terrio, then threatened to ruin his career if he talked. Whether morally repulsive or philosophically compelling, The Misfits bombed, only to be recuperated, years later, as a masterpiece of the revisionist genre. 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. While he never excelled at school, his extraordinary abilities as an actor. 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. 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. . It was a flimsy speculation built on shaky evidence, but with no sign of any real lovemaking in Clifts life, it was all the fan magazines had. 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. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the latest celebrity news, but don't worry we have you covered. He wanted to be a free agent, and he did it successfully. This showed in his consciousness of being seen as feminine in any way. This made him an A-list actor and a multi-award-winning star. Even the press seemed to unintentionally hit upon the one thing he wanted to keep hidden, with titles like Two Loves Has Monty and Monty Clift: Woman Hater or Free Soul?. Clifts recuperation took months, and when he finally returned to set, there was more trouble afoot. Picture Information. However, his worry began to mount when the actor didnt respond to his insistent knocking. She made it known that it all boiled down to love. In The Young Lions (1958), released just two years after the accident, the pain and resentment seem almost visible. He lived in a pampered bubbleuntil one day, it all came crashing down. In remembering Clift, McCarthy said, his face was torn awaya bloody pulp. Clift's childhood was unconventional. With Clift on board, Suddenly, Last Summer morphed into a verifiable mess. Some sources have the crash occurring when Clift was leaving the event, while others state he was on his way there. 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. During the peak period of his career, the actor and some Hollywood friends were returning from a party held at Taylor's home. But, in general, his relationships with men had more to do with sex than with a deep emotional connection. Show more . Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando. 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. Taylor had married British actor Michael Wilding in 1952, but by 1956, their marriage was in decline. At the time of the premiere, Monroe had been admitted to a psychiatric ward and required a day pass just to attend. He was only 15 years old, but this wasnt just a fun pastimeit was serious business. That secret, depending on your source, was that Clift was gay or bisexual. The true story of Montgomery Clift, as told by his youngest nephew Making Montgomery Clift explodes the myths surrounding the Hollywood star and queer icon. Peace. 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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. In fact, after the lovers have been separated for good and the young man is in the death house [Clifts character murders Winters after getting her pregnant], the face of the girl comes floating in via double exposure to give him a last unsubstantial peck before he goes out to be executed. He insisted on maintaining his residence in New York, spending as little time in Hollywood as possible. Monty brought a different masculinity to the screen, said Demmon. He gained excellent theatrical notices and soon piqued the interests of numerous lovelorn actresses; their advances met with awkward conflict. Clift detested Waynes antiquated male constraints. said: Oh. Born in 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska, Clift was raised like an aristocrat, with a private tutor and frequent trips to Europe. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. . Above all, Clift was perpetually curious. As to why Bosworth drew on the gay-self-hate narrative, and why that view took hold, the directors blame the homophobia of the time the book was written, in the 1970s. What a pity hes a But for Clift, there was just no escape, and it was only going to get worse. Whatever relationships Clift may have had, he was circumspect. But that wasnt the wildest part of the story. 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. But when hedid get a hankering for a fun excursion, Clift knew exactly where he wanted to be. Born on October 17, 1920, Edward Montgomery Clift was born into a family with lofty ideals. Before long, photographers began to descend on the gory scene. Unlike many other actors, he didnt jump straight into a contract. While driving, he fell asleep at the wheel and the consequences were utterly gruesome. The Big Lift (1950) Approved | 120 min | Drama, War 6.4 Rate ", However, it became more eminent that his single status bordered on his sexuality as time went on. However, Clift's life was shrouded by a dark secret that became public after his passing, by actress Elizabeth Taylor. By 15, Clift made his Broadway debut in Cole Porters Jubilee. Although Clift and Montgomery were only good friends, their coupling inA Place in the Sunhelped drive its popularity. 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 gained actual scars from some filming mishaps. Their claims were deemed reliable because one of the biographers was certified by one of Clift's confidants. 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. An interviewer once asked him what his hobbies were, Clift replied, "women. Curtis's relationship to the term nepo baby has evolved over the last few months. 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. Because of the accident, the studio worried about the success of Raintree County. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. Clift's brother would later come out to say that the actor was bisexual. 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! Every actor was in the midst of fighting their own demons. Many Hollywood stars have committed versions of the long suicide. Hes so beautiful, murmured Miss Parker. 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. MONTY YOU WERE THE BEST!!! Clift and Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor first became acquainted when they played counterparts on George Stevens's "A Place in the Sun." All Rights Reserved. A four-time Oscar nominee who died at 45, Montgomery Clift was a bright young talent, a tabloid fixture, and a posthumous gay icon. Of course, Clift took one of his greatest secrets to his grave. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. He worked on a summer production where his talents blossomed and it opened an auspicious doorone that would seal his fate forever. Firstly, he didnt even like Hollywood, preferring to stay in New York as much as he could. Montgomery Clift was in relationships with Sal Mineo, Paul Newman, Henry Willson, Jack Larson, William LeMassena, Libby Holman, Maurice Leonard and Arnold Saint Subber. But after an initial flurry of coverage, he retreated from public view entirely. 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. Nearly all his good looks are gone, Isherwood wrote. 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. Christine Tran is a history buff(ette) and media scholar. The view then about queer people was that they would be inherently conflicted or tormented about their sexuality, said Demmon. Teach, I loved the way how he played in A Place in the Sun. Not only did he rarely go out in public, but he also didnt date. When James offered to join him, the belligerent shot him down immediately, crying, Absolutely not.Sadly, this was Montgomery Clifts final interaction. An inside look at the actors secretive love life. When Clift became a household name in the movie industry, his romantic life became a widely-discussed subject by the press. Taylor immediately stuck her delicate, little hand down his throat and removed the obstruction. I am not one of Americas Angry Young Men. 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. . Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Oddly enough, when he died, the homocons on Gay Patriot praised him on . This year the young man . In the bathroom, James found Clift in his bathtub, undressed and obviously deceased. 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. 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. 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. Lancaster's . Travel back in time with treasured photos and stories, sent right to your inbox. 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. Luckily, over time, they clawed their way back to financial security. But the producer, Sam Spiegel, decided to go forward, no matter the risk. Montgomery Clift had the most earnest of faces: big, pleading eyes, a set jaw, and the sort of immaculate side part we havent seen since. 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 has a good rating on IMDb: 6.2 stars out of 10. The director, Joseph Mankiewicz, was appalled by this wavering professionalismbut when he tried to fire Clift, two angels intervened. Picture 1 of 12 . 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. But that didnt mean that the gossip press didnt hint at something different, something queer, in the broadest sense of the word, about him. at the best online prices at eBay! 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. Were not trying to give a definitive version of who Monty was, added Clift. In 1951, Clift embarked upon one of his most famous roles as George Eastman inA Place in the Sun. Thats not what people would expect from a mother in that period.. ", A portrait of Montgomery Clift against a wooden backdrop on 01 January, 1948 | Photo: Getty mages. It wasnt until years after his tragic passing that Clifts darkest secret finally came out. / Cut the applause and dim the light. 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. Soon, Montgomery Clift became almost impossible to work with. 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. The truth didnt come out until the 70s. ), William Brooks Clift, Jr. (19191986) (Aged 66 Or 67) (Who Had An Illegitimate Son With Actress Kim Stanley And Was Later Married To Political Reporter Eleanor Clift. 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. Here was someone who was vulnerable and sensitive - and who actually listened to women.. I Confess - Hitchcock - His Life in Pictures Magazine Pictorial [United Kingdom] (June 2022), Montgomery Clift - Retro Magazine Pictorial [Poland] (May 2022), Montgomery Clift - Pani domu Magazine Pictorial [Poland] (August 2011). He wasnt the only one who challenged such norms at the time. 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. But when he climbed into the room, he discovered something absolutely gut-wrenching. Hailed as one of Hollywood's first true Method actors, Edward Montgomery Clift was born October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. made. According to two A-list biographers, the late star was gay. Universal Studios actuallysued him for the losses they incurred because of his troublesome behavior. Benign to most but, in hindsight, highly suggestive. Montgomery Clift was certainly one of a kind, and when he landed in Hollywood, it became extremely clear that he was going to do things his own way. Sadly, his greatest friend Elizabeth Taylor could only send flowers from Rome. He hated the criticism and the labels, and eventually, he just couldnt take it anymore. 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. Nope. . Months of surgeries, rebuilding, and physical therapy followed. It wasnt until years after his tragic passing that Clifts darkest secret finally came out. She continued to stand by his memory by supporting gay rights and speaking out against homophobia. . He had a holistic view.. Clifts sexuality, like those other 50s idols Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter, was carefully concealed from the public. However, the filming of The Misfits had a shadow lurking over it. When the duo finally met in Stevens' office, it was pretty magical for Taylor. Montgomery Clift Born: 1920-10-17, Omaha, Nebraska, USA Education: NA Ethnicity: Caucasian Death Date:-0001-11-30 Addition Websites. After all, his leading lady was none other than the beguiling Elizabeth Taylor, and together, these two stars were pure fire. It was unheard of, especially for a young star, but it was a sellers market. In Clifts eyes, de Havilland imparted nothing of herself into the role. He died in 1966 at the age of 45. 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. But the troubled star. Upon closer inspection, Clifts career reveals notable clues as to who he genuinely was and the private struggles he faced. The documentary was released at the Los Angeles Film Festival and . 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." But when his nephew dives into the family archives, a much more complicated picture emerges. They took a risk on the troubled actorand it endedbadly. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? Determined to keep his gayness under wraps, Clift made sure that his masculine facade shone onscreen. Whether this captivating story is real or not remains to be seen. On the morning of July 23, 1966, Montgomery Clift's housemate couldn't wake the actor. And yet, the mystery persists. Montgomery Clift 39 30. 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. Have I said something wrong? 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. In a new documentary, myths and assumptions about the Oscar-nominated heartthrob who struggled with his sexuality are replaced with the little-known truth. In 1929, the Wall Street Crash hit Clifts father like a ton of bricks, and his mothers dreams disappeared in an instant. 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. The decline continued. Clift had a fraternal twin sister, Roberta, and a brother, William Brooks Clift Jr, who had an illegitimate son with actress Kim Stanley. . Courtesy Everett Collection Elizabeth was more visible than the publicity-shy Monty. Montgomery Clift is American by birth. 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. His beat-up car was 10 years old, and his best friends were all outside of the movie business. RIP GEORGOUS MONTY. Were always looking for your input! He was a great talent but the male counterpart to Monroe, lonely, sad, and pitiful. 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.. 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. One infamous fact about Montgomery Clift is that he only owned one suit. Whisked away to the morgue, Clifts body underwent an autopsy that shed some light on his sudden demise. His other side was mostly hidden and only became widely known after he passed on, thanks to his friend and colleague Elizabeth Taylor. I thought he was dead. He immediately returned to Taylors house to notify the party of the bloody disaster. Adopted at the age of one, his mother was told by a well-intentioned doctor years later that she was the offspring of Southern aristocrats, so she chose to raise her own children accordingly. . Elizabeth Taylor stuck by her friends, and Montgomery Clift undoubtedly claimed a special spot in her heart. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. 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). 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. From here on out, however, he plunged even further into his addiction. A seeming exception was one in his final years with a man named Lorenzo who had been hired to help him. There are a few versions that detail the aftermath of Clifts accident, but one has all the drama of a motion picture itself. . The unspoken truth was that Clift was gay. He became so known for his tousled appearance that theLos Angeles Times dubbed him the Rumpled Movie Idol. With his ancient, ramshackle car, and a circle of friends outsidethe realm of Hollywood, he certainly didnt fit the mold. This was entertainment at its finest. All rights reserved. Lorenzo was one of the reasons.. (38) and his wife, Meghan Markle (41), officially . But the press will always be the press, and no amount of Montgomery Clifts ire could change that. Lancaster's first wife, June Ernst, was, like her mother before her, a renowned acrobat. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. Allegedly, the director brought Clift on board, thinking hed be a soothing effect for Monroe. . Montgomery Clift (1920-1966) is one of the most tragic figures in Hollywood history. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! He didnt want the studios to dictate the kinds of roles he would play, his nephew said. Making Montgomery Clift is a 2018 American documentary film by directors Robert Anderson Clift and Hillary Demmon chronicling the life of the actor Montgomery Clift till his death in 1966. Jack Larson, famous for playing Jimmy Olsen in the hit 1950s TV series Adventures of Superman, recalled how Clift gave him a full mouth kiss the first time they casually met. Marlon Brando girlfriend, wife list. Carlo Fiore and Marlon Brando were in . Finally, Clift had a chance to climb out of his slumpbut before he made it over the top, tragedy struck. Montgomery Clift had passed due to a heart attack, but many assumed that his addictions and various health problems contributed to his early death. 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. What happened next is somewhat fuzzy: one version has Hudson pulling Clift from the car and Taylor cradling him in her arms, at which point Clift started choking and motioning to his throat, where, it soon became clear, two of his teeth had lodged themselves after coming loose during the accident. William Brooks Clift (Was A Vice-President Of Omaha National Trust Company.