Nothing could have prepared him for what he discovered. Once on stage, Clift truly came into his own. And then there was the physical toll. The accident changed his appearance, and many biographers assumed Clift felt ruined by it and, so, drank more. and his wife, the former Ethel Fogg. "Monty," as his family called him, was the son of William Clift, a. Curtis's relationship to the term nepo baby has evolved over the last few months. And even more shocking? Still, unlike other notable gay actors, any affairs Montgomery Clift had were secured behind a lock and key. Will she ride the term to Oscar gold? One infamous fact about Montgomery Clift is that he only owned one suit. Edward Montgomery Clift was born on October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. . Which gives that narrative a lot of traction. 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. 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 Montgomery Clift was an undeniably attractive man, and before long, he'd cultivated a rather passionate female fan base. He lived in a pampered bubbleuntil one day, it all came crashing down. 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. 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. Thats why his work doesnt feel dated, Demmon said. But when he climbed into the room, he discovered something absolutely gut-wrenching. 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). 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. This would not only show off his range but allow him to sidestep any dangers of typecasting. But this wasnt the actors first time at the rodeo. . As he lay wounded in the arms of his dear friend, Clift began choking and pointing to his throat. Clifts early foray into acting led him to a Broadway debut in 1935. Elizabeth Taylor and Katharine Hepburn came to Clifts defense when the director tried to get rid of him. Of course, when it came to his appearance, this gorgeous star really didnt give a hoot. 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. In his words, I learned that most writers dont need interviews to write about me. Horrified, James immediately called for help, but of course, it was already too late. Her interests include the European Renaissance, popular culture, and Internet history. Peter Stackpole The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock. Can he still feel?). Merv was a sexual predator who once tried to sexually assault Danny Terrio, then threatened to ruin his career if he talked. When James offered to join him, the belligerent shot him down immediately, crying, Absolutely not.Sadly, this was Montgomery Clifts final interaction. A year and a half away from her own tragic end, Marilyn Monroe described Clift as the only person I know who is in even worse shape than I am. Together, this cast truly reflected a band of withering misfits. . According to two A-list biographers, the late star was gay. Firstly, he didnt even like Hollywood, preferring to stay in New York as much as he could. But the tragedies didnt end there. For example, in 1956 Taylor likely saved Clifts life when, after he crashed his car leaving a party at her home, she raced to the wreck and literally pulled from his mouth broken teeth on which he had begun to choke. Of course, Clift didnt walk away unscathed either. Of course, Clift took one of his greatest secrets to his grave. / Is he alive? She continued to stand by his memory by supporting gay rights and speaking out against homophobia. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. The surgeries led to the use of strong painkillers. Thanks for your help! When he came to visit storied fan-magazine author Elsa Maxwell at her home, she had her maid darn the elbow in his jacket. ufff q hombre tan guapo y atractivo, y grn actor ademas, como me hubiese gustado conocerlo con unos ojos maravillosos. 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. However, his worry began to mount when the actor didnt respond to his insistent knocking. He insisted on maintaining his residence in New York, spending as little time in Hollywood as possible. 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. 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 injuries included a broken nose and jaw, a fractured sinus, and deep cuts across his face that called for extensive plastic surgery. Nobody wanted to deal with him anymore, and for four years, he couldnt land a single role. 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. That said, he kept his sexuality a secret: The prejudices of the time left him no choice. To Clift, however, he considered his humble home terrific.. As such, Taylors intervention only enhances the very real love story that existed between her and Clift. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Indeed, it was his apparent lack of romantic attachments that confounded the gossip press the most. Thats not what people would expect from a mother in that period.. He was the son of Francis Preston Blair, elder brother of Francis Preston Blair Jr. and cousin of B. Gratz Brown . In Clifts eyes, de Havilland imparted nothing of herself into the role. Montgomery Clift is a member of the following lists: American film actors, Actors Studio alumni and Bisexual actors. 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. He wanted to be a free agent, and he did it successfully. Of course, as unusual as his lifestyle seemed, healso had a number of interesting routines. There were even speculations that he was warned about being gay. His parents were Quakers and met as students at Cornell University, marrying in 1914. The story of Clift's devastating car crash varies somewhat from one account to the next. Hailed as one of Hollywood's first true Method actors, Edward Montgomery Clift was born October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. . The Big Lift (1950) Approved | 120 min | Drama, War 6.4 Rate Upon closer inspection, Clifts career reveals notable clues as to who he genuinely was and the private struggles he faced. Montgomery Clift was in relationships with Sal Mineo, Paul Newman, Henry Willson, Jack Larson, William LeMassena, Libby Holman, Maurice Leonard and Arnold Saint Subber. Some of the greatest celebrities of the day came out to mourn Clift at his funeral, including Lauren Bacall and Frank Sinatra. 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. d-d-darling, I r-r-really wouldnt know. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! 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. 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)). Clift couldnt get through longer scenes, having to split them up into two or three chunks. A four-time Oscar nominee who died at 45, Montgomery Clift was a bright young talent, a tabloid fixture, and a posthumous gay icon. . We want our readers to trust us. Have I said something wrong? He also didnt want to sign a contract with a studio, then the only viable way into the business. But, in general, his relationships with men had more to do with sex than with a deep emotional connection. His father made a lot of money in banking but was quite poor during the depression. Sal Mineo and Montgomery Clift had a relationship Montgomery Clift is rumored to have hooked up with Paul Newman Henry Willson and Montgomery Clift had a relationship Jack Larson and Montgomery Clift had a relationship William LeMassena and Montgomery Clift had a relationship Montgomery Clift and Libby Holman had a relationship Maurice Leonard and Montgomery Clift had a relationship Arnold Saint Subber and Montgomery Clift had a relationship Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando shared a link: https://www.allmovie.com/artist/montgomery-clift-p13682, I never used to like him until I saw 'The Heiress' he really was gorgeous, it's such a shame his life was unhappy. However, Clift soon realized that you cant always have your cake and eat it too. 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. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Clift's childhood was unconventional. Whatever the case may be, Montgomery Clifts life was unbelievably impressive and distressing. Ex-lover Larson said in the film that Clift actually preferred his work after the accident to his performances before. Liz Ronk edited this gallery for LIFE.com. He played the desperate, the drunken, and the deceived, and the trajectory of his life was as tragic as that in any of his films. But the producer, Sam Spiegel, decided to go forward, no matter the risk. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Instead, he bided his time, and thankfully, luck was on his side. There were questions about the woman in his life and why he was single. In all honesty, his face wasnt horribly changed at all, but there was one shocking difference. When the duo finally met in Stevens' office, it was pretty magical for Taylor. His leading lady, Olivia de Havilland, disappointed him in every wayand his criticisms were downright brutal. Suddenly, the Clift family was completely broke and had no choice to move to New York. Charles Castillo, author of "Elizabeth & Monty: The Untold Story," shared that the actress tried to seduce Clift. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. Next came "The Nutty Professor" as Lewis' student, Stella Purdy, who he is infatuated with. Some believe that Clifts romantic leanings were much less of a secret than originally thought. Montgomery Clift Born: 1920-10-17, Omaha, Nebraska, USA Education: NA Ethnicity: Caucasian Death Date:-0001-11-30 Addition Websites. A four-time Academy Award nominee, The New York Times said he was known for his portrayal of "moody, sensitive young men". Montgomery Clift spent a miserly 10 dollars a month on what his friends referred to as a beat up apartment. Edward Montgomery Clift (; October 17, 1920 July 23, 1966) was an American actor. Contemporaries like James Dean and Marlon Brando also did. "Monty," as the performer was known to family and . From here on out, however, he plunged even further into his addiction. Clift was unperturbed by his apparent lack of a love life: he told the press that he would get married when he met a girl he wanted to marry; in the meantime, he was playing the field. When another columnist asked him if he had any hobbies, he replied, Yes, women. But as the years passed, it became more and more clear that Clift wasnt just picky. But he was handsome and beguiling on-screen, creating an appetite for confirmation of that same Clift off the screen. Itd be his only film with Brando, even though the two barely shared the screen. He was sick of being a symbol, a symptom, a testament to something. Clift asserts that the actors use of alcohol and prescription drugs stemmed, primarily, from a near-fatal car accident in 1956. The next morning, James returned to Clifts room to rouse him but found the door locked. 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. But the drama didnt end there. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. 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. It was reported that Taylor even tried to help him find a partner. 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. During the peak period of his career, the actor and some Hollywood friends were returning from a party held at Taylor's home. "Bobby was a very fine actor, but as you can imagine, he was no Montgomery Clift," she said. Clifts sexuality, like those other 50s idols Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter, was carefully concealed from the public. Universal Studios actuallysued him for the losses they incurred because of his troublesome behavior. What does he inspire anyone to do drink, die young? 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." Monroe and Taylor are shadowed by Montgomery. Unlike many of his handsome contemporaries, he never had a blonde bombshell hanging off his arm. He got him going again. Clift cared nothing for appearances: the Los Angeles Times called him the Rumpled Movie Idol; he infamously owned only one suit. 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. The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, The 25 Best Shows on Netflix to Watch Right Now, Titled Refueling at Albuquerque, New Mexico, in Clifts handwriting. Fed up with the script, Clift desperately wanted to change her lines, saying, She isnt giving me enough to respond [to]. Of course, poor de Havilland soon had more than just her prickly love interest to contend with. At the end of the day, Clifts private nurse Lorenzo James checked in on him just after midnight. While filming his next picture, Lonelyhearts (1958), Clift lashed out, proclaiming, I am notrepeat nota member of the Beat Generation. But the drama didn't end there. 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. 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. ), 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. James found his patient sitting up in bed and watching his film, The Misfits, but Clift clearly didnt want to be disturbed. Montgomery Clift didnt need much to keep himself happy and entertained. His other side was mostly hidden and only became widely known after he passed on, thanks to his friend and colleague Elizabeth Taylor. The entire experience had a cursed tinge to it, and before long, it left disaster in its wake. 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. Taylor and Clift: Photos From the Set of A Place in the Sun. He was not worried [about being gay], Larson asserts in the film. The most beautiful young man Ive ever seen. 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. However, Clift's life was shrouded by a dark secret that became public after his passing, by actress Elizabeth Taylor. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on 1920-10-17. . 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. These are just among the many words which have been used to describe Montgomery Clift, the enigmatic heartthrob of the 1950s. Clift had a rather negative notion about Taylor even before meeting her. I am not one of Americas Angry Young Men. I do not count myself as a member of the ripped-sweatshirt fraternity.. The film-makers interviewed Bosworth extensively for the movie, but they contrast her words with old taped conversations she had with the actors brother. William Brooks Clift (Was A Vice-President Of Omaha National Trust Company. It was also a dark, melancholy film: as a review in Variety pointed out, the complex mass of introspective conflicts, symbolic parallels, and motivational contradictions was so nuanced as to seriously confound general audiences, who were likely unable to cope with the philosophical undercurrents of the Arthur Miller script. Apparently, one of Clifts tooths had pierced his tongue, causing him to choke. Well, in 1955, he had a chance to reunite with his old friend and co-star, Elizabeth Taylor, in Raintree County. Production resumed on Raintree County, which the studio feared would fail following Clifts accident. After filming wrapped, she tracked him down and spat directly in his face. But the facial reconstruction, heavy painkiller use, and rampant alcohol abuse made it look like hed aged a decade. (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. Still, his second venture was perhaps even more of an impressive feat. Montgomery Clift later resided in . His image was, more than anything else, confusingunmalleable to Hollywoods preexisting star categories. She would wield considerable influence over the early part of his film career, advising him in decisions to decline lead roles in Sunset Blvd. 5 talking about this. 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. 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. I mean, he is a John Wayne and Montgomery Clift in Red River. That secret that Clift was gay during an impossible era (the 1930s through the 60s) led many interpreters to conclude that the actor must have led a life riddled with fear and shame. Clift had a fraternal twin sister, Roberta, and a brother, William Brooks Clift Jr, who had an illegitimate son with actress Kim Stanley.