He still drank, but not as heavily. 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. Soon, the washed-up actor was completely out of work. Beautiful man. She had always been there for him, and once said, Monty couldve been the biggest star in the world if he did more movies. But Taylors dedication to her friend went above and beyond. 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. According to Clifts doctors, it was amazing that he was even alive. Instead, Clift enjoyed reading, filling his spare moments with Chekov and Aristotlediving into history, or learning about economics. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift goofed around during a break in filming A Place in the Sun. A still of Montgomery Clift. 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. 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. He was sick of being a symbol, a symptom, a testament to something. All Rights Reserved. Some believe that Clifts romantic leanings were much less of a secret than originally thought. And the cherry on top? He wanted to be a free agent, and he did it successfully. With Clift on board, Suddenly, Last Summer morphed into a verifiable mess. His apartment, which he rented for 10 dollars a month, was described by friends as beat up and by him as terrific. He survived on two meals a day, mostly combinations of steak, eggs, and orange juice, and he eschewed nightclubs, instead spending his spare time reading Chekov, classic works of history and economics, and Aristotle, whom he praised for his belief in happiness, or the gentle art of the soul. When he wasnt reading or exhausting himself in preparation for a part, he liked to go to the local night court and attend high-profile court cases just to watch the humanity on display. Every actor was in the midst of fighting their own demons. Suddenly, the Clift family was completely broke and had no choice to move to New York. 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. 5 talking about this. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 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. 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). Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando. You see, when Clift sat down to read through the script for The Search,he was less than enthused with the writing. He had a close friendship with a woman named Myra Letts, whom the gossip columnists tried arduously to frame as a love interest. Something was seriously wrong. 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. In fact, the attitudes he and his family held towards his relationships with men were strikingly modern. As for Clift, the shoot was incredibly taxing, both mentally and physically: in addition to acquiring a scar across his nose from a stray bulls horn, severe rope burns while attempting to tame a wild horse, and various other rough-and-tumble injuries, he also performed what has widely come to be regarded as one of his best scenes, a stilted, heartbreaking conversation with his mother from a phone booth. July 22, 1966, was a sweltering day in New York City, and Montgomery Clift had been languishing in his townhouse on 61st Street. Courtesy Everett Collection Elizabeth was more visible than the publicity-shy Monty. They seem to have their stories all written out beforehand., Clifts private life was boringhe didnt date, he didnt flirt, he didnt hang out in public. Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando. Teach, I loved the way how he played in A Place in the Sun. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. He got him going again. However, he became more comfortable with her and eventually found it easy to open up about his sexuality. His image was, more than anything else, confusingunmalleable to Hollywoods preexisting star categories. 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?. True or not, the resilience of the story is a testimony to what people wanted to believe about the bond between the two stars. Little did he know, he was always destined for something more. Hes never sucked my cock.. 2023 Cond Nast. With his screenwriting suggestions, the film took home an Academy Award. But the documentary notes Clift made as many movies after the accident as before, and that those projects included some of his most acclaimed performances. . Next came "The Nutty Professor" as Lewis' student, Stella Purdy, who he is infatuated with. Peter Stackpole The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock. (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.). His first two films were smashing successesand for veryimpressive reasons. 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. 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. He also helped bring a more natural acting style to film. Free delivery for many products! With unprecedented control over the projects he starred in, Clift agreed to do the romantic drama, The Heiress. "Indiscretion of an American Wife" romance and drama movie produced in Italy and USA and released in 1953. 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. 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. 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. In fact, his doctors considered it amazing that the actor had even pulled through. While filming his next picture, Lonelyhearts (1958), Clift lashed out, proclaiming, I am notrepeat nota member of the Beat Generation. But this wasnt the actors first time at the rodeo. 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. Whatever relationships Clift may have had, he was circumspect. 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. Hollywood began to see him as hostile and messy and frugal, and Clift wasnt having it. . 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. Clift had a rather negative notion about Taylor even before meeting her. In 1951, Clift embarked upon one of his most famous roles as George Eastman inA Place in the Sun. Director: William Wyler | Stars: Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson, Miriam Hopkins Votes: 16,212 4. He knew that people would flock to the cinema just to see his damaged face. In order to get him the part, she had to offer up some kind of insurance, and this time, she put her own salary on the line. Clift simply wasnt cut out for school, and unlike his siblings, turned his back on higher education. Montgomery Clift made a name for himself in Hollywood with several awards and nominations. His father made a lot of money in banking but was quite poor during the depression. Even if Clift himself was already spiraling out of control, playing a character that did the same only amplified the psychological toll. 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. He worked on a summer production where his talents blossomed and it opened an auspicious doorone that would seal his fate forever. Welcome to Who Is Montgomery Clift?, a page dedicated to showcasing actors & movie makers of the Golden Age of Hollywood. 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. 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. 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. It has a good rating on IMDb: 6.2 stars out of 10. And then there was the physical toll. Taylor immediately stuck her delicate, little hand down his throat and removed the obstruction. 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. An interviewer once asked him what his hobbies were, Clift replied, "women. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the latest celebrity news, but don't worry we have you covered. About a month afterThe Misfitswrapped, Gable suffered a heart attack and passed. 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)). 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?. 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. He called it as he saw it, describing himself as an ordinary, second-class wolf.. Clift couldnt get through longer scenes, having to split them up into two or three chunks. When he read the story that criticized his bare-bones wardrobe, the scandalized actor lashed out with a biting response. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. A way into the 70s, there was more clarification to his sexuality. This made him an A-list actor and a multi-award-winning star. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? ': 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. Montgomery Clift was an undeniably attractive man, and before long, he'd cultivated a rather passionate female fan base. said: Oh. . The decline continued. 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. Fellow actor Kevin McCarthy was driving ahead of Clift when the horror show went down. and his wife, the former Ethel Fogg. Well, in 1955, he had a chance to reunite with his old friend and co-star, Elizabeth Taylor, in Raintree County. Finally, Clift had a chance to climb out of his slumpbut before he made it over the top, tragedy struck. The Clift picture didn't pan out either, at least with her promised co-star. There are a few versions that detail the aftermath of Clifts accident, but one has all the drama of a motion picture itself. His . 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. MONTY YOU WERE THE BEST!!! He read books about Montgomery Clift and James Dean, and credited seeing "Taxi Driver" at age 13 with fueling his desire to be in movies. Luckily, over time, they clawed their way back to financial security. Travel back in time with treasured photos and stories, sent right to your inbox. 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. But that wasnt the wildest part of the story. There were no wild outings for this reserved homebody. His own mother, in a voice recording played in Making Montgomery Clift, said, "Monty was a . Taylor talked about the need for staunch support for gay people and their rights. Eyebrows were raised when the actor shared in an article he authored that he liked it "lonely. By 15, Clift made his Broadway debut in Cole Porters Jubilee. Liz Ronk edited this gallery for LIFE.com. And yet, the mystery persists. Whether he liked it or not, they were out for a storyAnd the one they wanted above all? A Place In The Sun (1951) & From Here To Eternity (1953). He also detested the man. . He pleaded with her to make changes to her book to correct the mischaracterizations. While he never excelled at school, his extraordinary abilities as an actor. 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. Clift detested Waynes antiquated male constraints. . 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. Montgomery Clift as the confused, likable, rather stupid social climber; Shelley Winters as the dowdy working girl; Elizabeth Taylor as the dazzling rich girl. In The Young Lions (1958), released just two years after the accident, the pain and resentment seem almost visible. Clift's childhood was unconventional. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Taylor, on the other hand, felt intimidated when she was yet to meet him. Montgomery Clift didnt need much to keep himself happy and entertained. Still, unlike other notable gay actors, any affairs Montgomery Clift had were secured behind a lock and key. Lancaster's . A portrait of Elizabeth Taylor And Montgomery Clift from the film "A Place In The Sun", 1951 | Photo: Getty Images. He had a holistic view.. 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. Oddly enough, when he died, the homocons on Gay Patriot praised him on . Clift appeared in The Misfits, a revisionist western best known as the final film of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. Christine Tran is a history buff(ette) and media scholar. But for 12 years, he set Hollywood aflame. 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. He was one of Hollywoods most desirable leading men, but mystery shrouded his entire private life. However, one salient fact remains: Clifts ruined face never made it to the papersIn fact, not one photograph of that night exists. However, Clift's sexuality was not much of a secret within the movie industry. (The director himself never met his famous uncle, having been born eight years after his death). It is a feature-length film with a runtime of 1h 3min. In the rife, overstuffed annals of Hollywood, few real-life love stories can match that of Liz Taylor and Montgomery Clift. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hitchcock's I CONFESS (DVD, 1953); M CLIFT, A BAXTER. In 1961, Montgomery Clift went on to star alongside some of Hollywoods greatest legendsMarilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. He was only 15 years old, but this wasnt just a fun pastimeit was serious business. While on his way back, he had an accident. The story of Clift's devastating car crash varies somewhat from one account to the next. You see, the entire healing process put Clift through the paces. . 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. 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. I am not one of Americas Angry Young Men. Quite fittingly, he once said, The closer we come to the negative, todeath, the more we blossom. Even after his passing, his forever friend, Elizabeth Taylor, never forgot him. 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. Allegedly, Rock Hudson was there to pull Clift from the wreckage and it was Taylor who held the stricken actor in her arms. That said, he kept his sexuality a secret: The prejudices of the time left him no choice. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. That secret, depending on your source, was that Clift was gay or bisexual. ), 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. 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..
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