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. Clift's childhood was unconventional. There are a few versions that detail the aftermath of Clifts accident, but one has all the drama of a motion picture itself. Were always looking for your input! He hated the criticism and the labels, and eventually, he just couldnt take it anymore. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. It turned into John Cassavetes' "Too Late Blues," with Bobby Darrin. But just as Clift dove into this exciting new chapter, an unforeseen tragedy changedeverything. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Taylor had married British actor Michael Wilding in 1952, but by 1956, their marriage was in decline. Allegedly, the director brought Clift on board, thinking hed be a soothing effect for Monroe. Next came "The Nutty Professor" as Lewis' student, Stella Purdy, who he is infatuated with. A Place In The Sun (1951) & From Here To Eternity (1953). A still of Montgomery Clift. Nope. . 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. Allegedly, hed been forewarned that the truth would destroy his career, and as a result, the actor became increasingly wary of appearing feminine in any way. However, his worry began to mount when the actor didnt respond to his insistent knocking. A fellow actor asserts that Clift was equally confident in his sexuality. Montgomery Clift didnt need much to keep himself happy and entertained. In the rife, overstuffed annals of Hollywood, few real-life love stories can match that of Liz Taylor and Montgomery Clift. He summoned a doctor, but it was already too late. There were even speculations that he was warned about being gay. When he first arrived in Hollywood, he didnt sign a contract, waiting until after the success of his first two films to negotiate a three-picture deal with Paramount that allowed him total discretion over projects. He was only 15 years old, but this wasnt just a fun pastimeit was serious business. 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. 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. While driving, he fell asleep at the wheel and the consequences were utterly gruesome. I mean, he is a Although Clift and Montgomery were only good friends, their coupling inA Place in the Sunhelped drive its popularity. July 24, 1966 12 AM PT. Whisked away to the morgue, Clifts body underwent an autopsy that shed some light on his sudden demise. It was unheard of, especially for a young star, but it was a sellers market. Born in 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska, Clift was raised like an aristocrat, with a private tutor and frequent trips to Europe. The Big Lift (1950) Approved | 120 min | Drama, War 6.4 Rate Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. Luckily, his isolated lifestyle gave him an advantage. However, even with all the negative hubbub surrounding this shoot, it was nothing compared to the darkness of one of Clifts next projects. All Rights Reserved. Over the next decade, the burgeoning actor dug his heels in and made a name for himself on the stage. In Clifts eyes, de Havilland imparted nothing of herself into the role. Whether he liked it or not, they were out for a storyAnd the one they wanted above all? The entire experience had a cursed tinge to it, and before long, it left disaster in its wake. 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. Well, in 1955, he had a chance to reunite with his old friend and co-star, Elizabeth Taylor, in Raintree County. Clifts recuperation took months, and when he finally returned to set, there was more trouble afoot. Unlike many of his handsome contemporaries, he never had a blonde bombshell hanging off his arm. His beat-up car was 10 years old, and his best friends were all outside of the movie business. 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 think he was 12 or 13., Its obviously a non-issue for her, co-director Demmon said. 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. Marlon Brando girlfriend, wife list. An interviewer once asked him what his hobbies were, Clift replied, "women. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hitchcock's I CONFESS (DVD, 1953); M CLIFT, A BAXTER. With unprecedented control over the projects he starred in, Clift agreed to do the romantic drama, The Heiress. Director: William Wyler | Stars: Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson, Miriam Hopkins Votes: 16,212 4. The long suicide was complete. "Indiscretion of an American Wife" is currently available to stream on Fubo TV. Show details 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?. The two met under the big tent where they performed together. His own mother, in a voice recording played in Making Montgomery Clift, said, "Monty was a . Even his diet was rather spartan: orange juice, steak, and eggs. Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando. In this exclusive excerpt from her forthcoming book, Anne Helen Petersen recounts the actors lonely life, ferocious talent, and tragic decline. He lived in a pampered bubbleuntil one day, it all came crashing down. 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. Taylor and Clift: Photos From the Set of A Place in the Sun. Dazzling Facts About Elizabeth Taylor, The Queen Of Hollywood, Stabbed In The Back: These Real-Life Betrayals Are Straight Up Brutal, The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Plot Twist: These Surprise Endings Made Our Jaws Hit The Floor, These Ultra-Spoiled Brats Made Our Eyes Roll Into Our Heads. For somewhat mysterious reasons, Robert Clifts father Brooks taped endless conversations with his famous brother, as well as with their mother and other figures relevant to the story. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. Montgomery Clift as the confused, likable, rather stupid social climber; Shelley Winters as the dowdy working girl; Elizabeth Taylor as the dazzling rich girl. Eyebrows were raised when the actor shared in an article he authored that he liked it "lonely. When he read the story that criticized his bare-bones wardrobe, the scandalized actor lashed out with a biting response. There were no wild outings for this reserved homebody. 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. On the set of 1958sLonelyhearts,Clift had a message for those that tried to fit him into a box. 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. Sadly, his greatest friend Elizabeth Taylor could only send flowers from Rome. 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. While his brother claimed that Clift was bisexual, writer Truman Capotes unpublished work alludes to Clifts gayness quite explicitly. That said, he kept his sexuality a secret: The prejudices of the time left him no choice. An inside look at the actors secretive love life. 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. Thanks for your time! 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. But the facial reconstruction, heavy painkiller use, and rampant alcohol abuse made it look like hed aged a decade. It has a good rating on IMDb: 6.2 stars out of 10. Ad Choices. 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. 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. 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. Luckily, although the public was out for blood, there was one woman on his side. Clift was there, as were actors Kevin McCarthy and Rock Hudson, and Hudson's wife, Phyllis Gates, per Vanity Fair. But when his nephew dives into the family archives, a much more complicated picture emerges. In the bathroom, James found Clift in his bathtub, undressed and obviously deceased. Yet, according to a new documentary, titled Making Montgomery Clift, the stars substance abuse had nothing at all to do with his sexuality. 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.. His injuries included a broken nose and jaw, a fractured sinus, and deep cuts across his face that called for extensive plastic surgery. Moreover? Elizabeth Taylor stuck by her friends, and Montgomery Clift undoubtedly claimed a special spot in her heart. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the latest celebrity news, but don't worry we have you covered. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 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." The documentary was released at the Los Angeles Film Festival and . Contact sheet from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpoles shoot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. The director, Joseph Mankiewicz, was appalled by this wavering professionalismbut when he tried to fire Clift, two angels intervened. 5 talking about this. Directors Robert Anderson Clift Hillary Demmon Writers Robert Anderson Clift Hillary Demmon Stars Soon, the washed-up actor was completely out of work. . [6] His mother was Ethel Fogg "Sunny" Clift ( ne Anderson; 1888-1988). I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. cocksucker. Then, sweetly, wide-eyed with little girl navet, she So finely Clift's reputation in the 1960s was coloured by the brutal comment of Robert Lewis, Clift's teacher at the Actors Studio, who called his late . / Cut the applause and dim the light. 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. When the duo finally met in Stevens' office, it was pretty magical for Taylor. Hailed as one of Hollywood's first true Method actors, Edward Montgomery Clift was born October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. Montgomery Clift Born: 1920-10-17, Omaha, Nebraska, USA Education: NA Ethnicity: Caucasian Death Date:-0001-11-30 Addition Websites. ': 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. He also detested the man. When he wasnt reading or preparing for his next role, he took pleasure in visiting the local night court. Monroe and Taylor are shadowed by Montgomery. He worked on a summer production where his talents blossomed and it opened an auspicious doorone that would seal his fate forever. All rights reserved. In truth, his face wasnt truly disfigured. Then again, nothing about Clifts life was expected. / Is he alive? Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor during the filming of A Place in the Sun. While he never excelled at school, his extraordinary abilities as an actor. Even if Clift himself was already spiraling out of control, playing a character that did the same only amplified the psychological toll. Another confidant said his personal life didnt bother him. Actor Montgomery Clift, 45, three times nominated for Academy Awards, died early Saturday of a heart attack in his plush East Side townhouse. Her interests include the European Renaissance, popular culture, and Internet history. . 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. In Truman Capotes unpublished novel Answered Prayers, for example, the author imagines a dinner party between Clift, Dorothy Parker, and flamboyant stage actress Tallulah Bankhead: . Throughout filming, members of the crew came up with code words to alert everyone about the lead actors level of intoxication. However, this was no quick fix. 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. Montgomery Clift spent a miserly 10 dollars a month on what his friends referred to as a beat up apartment. He also won a nomination for Best Actor. It wasnt until years after his tragic passing that Clifts darkest secret finally came out. A seeming exception was one in his final years with a man named Lorenzo who had been hired to help him. 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. When Clift became a household name in the movie industry, his romantic life became a widely-discussed subject by the press. But that didnt mean that the gossip press didnt hint at something different, something queer, in the broadest sense of the word, about him. It was a huge wager: since everyone knew how much booze and pills Clift was on, he was virtually uninsurable on set. From the start, Clift was framed as a rebel and an individual. Taylor, on the other hand, felt intimidated when she was yet to meet him. And even then, he didnt live a glamorous movie star existence. You`ve being alwasy an inspiration for me. Close friends, such as actor Kevin McCarthy and his wife, tried to get Clift to slow down and dry out, but their pleas . Contact sheet from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpoles shoot on a Paramount lot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. Author Christopher Isherwood aptly illustrated Montgomery Clifts shocking transformation: Nearly all his good looks are goneHe has a ghastly, shattered expression. But remember, Clift was never one to dwell on his looks, and it must have been frustrating that everyone else cared so much. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. and his wife, the former Ethel Fogg. Montgomery Clift, Nando Bruno. He wasnt solely an actor, she said. When The Heiresscame out, Clifts loyal fanatics came with their claws out and wrote vicious letters to Olivia de Havilland for rejecting Clifts character in the film. Montgomery Clift girlfriend, wife list. That, combined with his spiraling alcohol addiction, wrung the youth right out of the handsome actor. Instead, Clift enjoyed reading, filling his spare moments with Chekov and Aristotlediving into history, or learning about economics. He died in 1966 at the age of 45. 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. Some sources have the crash occurring when Clift was leaving the event, while others state he was on his way there.