By Zoe Papadakis | Tuesday, 25 August 2020 11:49 AM EDT. Published: 20:36 EST . 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. [52][53][54] The case was later settled out of court, with evidence in Clift's favor, but the damage to Clift's reputation as unreliable and troublesome endured. However, in 1962, Cliff had to sign up to play Sigmund Feud in Huston's biopic "Freud: The Secret Passion." [76][77] He told Clift "I could make you love me," at the end of their two-year affair. A portrait of Montgomery Clift leaning on a fence with an intent expression before his accident on 01 January, 1950 | Photo: Getty Images. He described their relationship with fondness and kept taped film reels of Clift and the company of There Shall Be No Night enjoying leisure time together. (The director himself never met his famous uncle, having been born eight years after his death). Who Is Julian Sands' Wife? The stars first worked together in the 1951 drama 'A Place in the Sun,' leading to a close bond that lasted until the actor's death in 1966 at age 45. To help build their case, the film-makers had rare access to the actors archives, as well as to the familys story, courtesy of a special connection: the doc was co-directed by the stars nephew, Robert Clift, and his wife, Hillary Demmon. On July 22, 1966, Clift was in his New York City townhouse, located at 217 East 61st Street. He pleaded with her to make changes to her book to correct the mischaracterizations. Lorenzo came into the picture when Monty was at his lowest. The re-opening of the German market since WW2 put potential profits ahead of everything else and the picture suffered for it. 1467, Montgomery Clift: Beautiful Loser, Hoskyns, Barney, p. 96, Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women As I Knew Them, by Langella, Frank, p. 336, Capote: A Biography, Clarke Gerald, p. 235, Montgomery Clift: Beautiful Loser, Hoskyns, Barney, p. 34, Lost Friendships: A Memoir of Truman Capote,Tennessee Williams, and Others, Windham, Donald, p. 64, Original Story By: A Memoir of Broadway and Hollywood, Laurents, Arthur, pp. Then again, nothing about Clifts life was expected. He and his co-star Olivia de Havilland made an appealing couple in this film adaptation of a Henry James novel. With the revelatory documentary Making Montgomery Clift, filmmakers Robert Clift (born eight years after his famous uncle's hyper-mythologized 1966 death) and Hillary Demmon compellingly. 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. Clift later stated that he could never have finished the film without McDowall's moral support. He was in the middle of making "Raintree County," a movie that reunited him with his "A Place in the Sun" co-star Elizabeth Taylor, and his accident took place after Clift had been a guest at Taylor's Beverly Hills home. The younger Clift serves the added role of narrator, voicing his journey to discover who the late actor really was, in contrast to what so many others have made him out to be. kofender. Clifts papers include several undated, intimate, tender images of a young Elizabeth Taylor with one of her sons. He was born Edward Montgomery Clift on October 17, 1920. A short while later, Taylor and some of the others rushed to the scene of the accident. [73][74][75] In 1948, when Clift left Robbins to pursue a movie career in Hollywood, the announcement devastated Robbins. Clift is buried in the Quaker Cemetery in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. With a man of such conflicted legacy, one can at least fall back on the basics. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. It wasn't long before he made his way to New York City. His parents were Quakers and met as students at Cornell University, marrying in 1914. Along with Marlon Brando and James Dean, Clift was considered one of the original method actors in Hollywood (though Clift distanced himself from the term); he was one of the first actors to be invited to study in the Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg and Elia Kazan. A seeming exception was one in his final years with a man named Lorenzo who had been hired to help him. Another confidant said his personal life didnt bother him. [30] The film was awarded a screenwriting Academy Award for the credited writers. Clift was driving a Chevrolet Bel Air sedan when the accident occurred. The New York Times' obituary noted his portrayal of "moody, sensitive young men". By the age of thirty, Montgomery Clift seemed to have everything: youth, beauty, talent, and the prospect of a lucrative film career with limitless possibilities. Actress Marilyn Monroe even warned him never to work with Hutson, whom she described as a "sadist. Life once described them as soul mates, and added: That Clift was gay made little difference in the intensity and duration of the two stars adoration of one another. The pair first starred together in the 1951 film A Place in the Sun; Clifts early nickname for the actress was Bessie Mae. They also appeared together in Raintree County (1957) and Suddenly, Last Summer (1959). Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. If you have a story that tracks along that line, that will feel true to people. Clift would appear in one last film, The Defector, before dying, apparently in his sleep, in 1966, at the age of 45 a culmination of years of drug and alcohol abuse. Elegantly titled and captioned in white ink, the pages reveal that Clift had a filmmaker and photographers eye for framing, sense of place, and capturing action at its seminal moment. For decades, the star has been the subject of Hollywood gossip and speculation, and Robert Clift is determined to share his uncle's untold story. Clift declined, and that morning, at the age of 45, he was dead. He didnt want the studios to dictate the kinds of roles he would play, his nephew said. Films like A Place in the Sun and From Here to Eternity made Clift a rare performer enjoyed by audiences and critics alike, but when he passed away in 1966 aged just 45, the actor had long since become best known for his personal dramas, in particular a disfiguring 1956 car accident that undid his once near-saintly beauty and accelerated his . Here are some examples: Scenes filmed before the accident involving Montgomery 'Monty' Clift's character of John Wickliff Shawnessy:-Scene with his parents where his dad tells him he is related to Thomas Carlyle-First time John meets Flash Perkins-Photography scene (first time he meets Susannah)-Drinking scene with Flash Perkins-The race-The . is for general information purposes only. Judy Balaban, his daughter, has stated that she had an immediate connection with Clift and the two were "joined at the hip," dating for many months following. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in the 1951 film "A Place in the Sun" on 01 January, 1951 | Photo: Getty Images. He and his private nurse, Lorenzo James, had not spoken much all day. Marlon Brando was cast as his replacement. Ah, Monty in just about anything (even after his face-scarring accident). Fred Zinnemann's "The Search" preceded "Red River" as his first film in 1948 and first Academy Award nomination. At the time, Clift was encouraged to hide his sexuality because it would destroy his career as a leading man in Hollywood. The story of Clift's devastating car crash varies somewhat from one account to the next. How? He also talked publicly for the first time about his 1956 car accident, the injuries he received, and its aftereffects on his appearance. As a consequence, he was unable to find film work for four years. Clift asserts that the actors use of alcohol and prescription drugs stemmed, primarily, from a near-fatal car accident in 1956. He earned an impressive four Academy Award nominations during his career. [95], Clift was also friends with Marlon Brando, who dropped by his home offering to accompany him to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. After a two-month recovery period, Clift returned to the set to finish the film. On January 13, 1963, a few weeks after the initial release of Freud, Clift appeared on the live television discussion program The Hy Gardner Show, where he spoke at length about the release of his current film, his film career, and treatment by the press. 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He used them to numb his physical pain. Angela (Elizabeth Taylor) is the rich, indolent young woman who. He starts in a blue-collar job in the factory, where he soon begins to date his co-worker Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters). The cause of death was listed as a heart attack, but a major contributing factor was the cumulative effect of pain killers and liquor. [44] Marilyn Monroe (in what was to be her last filmed role) was also having emotional and substance abuse problems at the time; she described Clift in a 1961 interview as "the only person I know who is in even worse shape than I am". Why not have a musical about Romeo and Juliet but make it with gangs in New York?' The New York World-Telegram noticed Clifts "amazing poise and dexterity" while producer Theo Bamberger commended him for what he called a "natural histrionic instinct. ", The "Suddenly, Last Summer" star reportedly had the worse of experience with John Huston. He was a mere seedling of 45. Monty brought a different masculinity to the screen, said Demmon. "Red River," which has become a classic western, featured Clift starring opposite John Wayne. Hollywood's Montgomery Clift, who was highly wanted for his diverse acting skill in the industry, kept the public entertained during his time. [72] Clift and Robbins camouflaged their relationship by dating women. Edward Montgomery "Monty" Clift (/ m n t m r i /; October 17, 1920 - July 23, 1966) was an American actor.A four-time Academy Award nominee, The New York Times said he was known for his portrayal of "moody, sensitive young men". Kramer, Stanley and Thomas M. Coffey (1997). Mini bio of the life of actor Montgomery Clift who is probably most famous for starring in "A place in the sun" and "From here to eternity".This video was ma. Before its signature I am an actor opening bit, the SAG Awards 2023 red carpet is the place to be. Clift, presumably an introvert, would have been super frustrated to know his physical look would be a topic for national speculation. Paramount Pictures ended up offering him the best of any incoming studio offer (which he accepted): a three-film deal (down from the typical seven-year contract) that came with the freedom to turn down any script and any director, as well as the ability for either himself or the studio to terminate the agreement at any time. It tells the story of a working-class young man who is entangled with two women: one who works in his wealthy uncle's factory, and the other a beautiful socialite. One of the few men on this list is actor Montgomery Clift. Clift was there, as were actors Kevin McCarthy and Rock Hudson, and Hudson's wife, Phyllis Gates, per Vanity Fair. . Clift asserts that the actor's use of alcohol and prescription drugs stemmed, primarily, from a near-fatal car accident in 1956. In fact, the attitudes he and his family held towards his relationships with men were strikingly modern. 11:50 AM. Clift had a brother named William Brooks Clift Jr., His next four films were The Young Lions (1958), which is the only film featuring both Clift and Marlon Brando, Lonelyhearts (1958), Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) and Elia Kazan's Wild River, released in 1960. He still drank, but not as heavily. I have visited him there. (1) Mann, William J. He needed a lot of plastic surgery to repair his face, according to the Los Angeles Times. Clift's body was taken to the city morgue about 2 miles (3.2km) away at 520 First Avenue, and autopsied. Clift received and declined offers for roles in the following films: In 1960, Clift was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6104 Hollywood Boulevard. A bout five years ago, filmmaking duo Robert Clift and Hillary Demmon Clift decided to make a documentary about Robert's long-dead uncle. The secret life of legendary actor Montgomery Clift has been revealed by his nephew. After midnight, shortly before 1:00a.m., James went to his own bedroom to sleep, without saying another word to 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. Montgomery Clift Hid His Sexuality for Years but Elizabeth Taylor Knew His Secret & Revealed It after His Death. Clift also struggled with his . He was only 45. A portrait of Montgomery Clift after his accident on 01 January, 1958 | Photo: Getty Images, After Clift's terrible car accident, the star faced some challenging moments in the movie industry. 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. 1951. His main acting rival (and fellow Omaha native), Marlon Brando, was so moved by Clift's performance that he voted for Clift to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, sure that he would win. When he took his final curtain call, Clift was just 45 years old. [21] At age 20, he appeared in the Broadway production of There Shall Be No Night, a work which won the 1941 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Here was someone who was vulnerable and sensitive - and who actually listened to women.. After a break, Clift committed himself to three more films, all of which premiered during 1953: I Confess to be directed by Alfred Hitchcock; Vittorio De Sica's Terminal Station; and Fred Zinnemann's From Here to Eternity which earned Clift his third Academy Award nomination (his second of two nominations for films directed by Zinnemann). This image is titled Cheval et Marnie, in Clifts handwriting. When they left, they got into their . After leaving a party at Elizabeth Taylor's house, he wrapped his car around a telephone pole . [49][50] On a taped phone call, Clift said that he played the character in a way that "holds onto himself, in spite of himself" with dignity.[51]. [93][94] In his memoir, Arthur Laurents suggests that Clift had a fling with Farley Granger. An adopted child, his mother Sunny maintained that Clifts true maternal great-grandfathers were the US postmaster-general Montgomery Blair as well as Union commander Robert Anderson, a part of her lineage that was clarified to her (when she came of age) by Dr. Edward Montgomery, the family doctor who delivered her. While his mother, Ethel Fogg 'Sunny' Clift was your typical American homemaker. [89][90] One of Clift's first intimate relationships was with composer Lehman Engel. Happy Birthday, Montgomery Clift. Her romantic interest in him evolved into an intense friendship after he revealed her that he was gay (some sources say he was bisexual). ", Montgomery Clift at London Airport from New York to make the new film "Suddenly, Last Summer" on 13 May, 1959 | Photo: Getty Images. But, in general, his relationships with men had more to do with sex than with a deep emotional connection. Gardner recalled the 'rumours' of Clift's disfigurement following the car accident that occurred in May 1956 in the midst of filming for Raintree County (1957) as Clift drove away from a dinner party hosted by co-star Elizabeth Taylor. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. It hardly helped lend nuance to that reading that Clift was a well-known and long-time abuser of pain killers and alcohol, actions which likely sped his death from a heart attack at 45 in 1966. Little did he know, he was always destined for something more. He wanted to be a free agent, and he did it successfully. In a 1957 issue of McCalls magazine, Clift quipped, "My childhood was hobgoblin, my parents traveled a lotThats all I can remember."[15]. 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Cookie Statement and your California Privacy Rights, as were actors Kevin McCarthy and Rock Hudson and... Henry James novel conflicted legacy, one can at least fall back the! 89 ] [ 90 ] one of Clift 's body was taken to the screen, Demmon! Appealing couple in this film adaptation of a young Elizabeth Taylor & # x27 ; s house, wrapped. Was Bessie Mae his career ] in his New York? Rock Hudson, and autopsied McDowall! Composer Lehman Engel a fling with Farley Granger because it would destroy his career as a result reading... The director himself never met his famous uncle, having been born years... Different masculinity to the scene of the accident to his own bedroom to,. Date his co-worker Alice Tripp ( Shelley Winters ) Suddenly, Last Summer '' star reportedly the! Secret life of legendary actor Montgomery Clift on October 17, 1920 the attitudes he and his nurse! Ethel Fogg & # x27 ; Sunny & # x27 ; obituary his. 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