Available at: http://www.time.com/time (accessed 29 June 2010). But the press will always be the press, and no amount of Montgomery Clifts ire could change that. 108, 135, Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About American Masters, Season 23, Episode 1, Somewhere the life of Jerome Robbins by Vaill, Amanda, p. 240, Jerome Robbins: his life, his theater, his dance by Jowitt, Deborah, pp. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in the 1951 film "A Place in the Sun" on 01 January, 1951 | Photo: Getty Images. He played the desperate, the drunken, and the. Universal Studios actuallysued him for the losses they incurred because of his troublesome behavior. [96], Clift supported Adlai Stevenson in the 1952 United States presidential election.[97]. (1936), Clift with a sultry Marilyn Monroe in a souvenir photograph taken at San Franciscos Fairmont Hotel, which once boasted a variety of alluringly named nightspots, including the Venetian Room, the Squire Room, and the Tonga Room. In 1929, the Wall Street Crash hit Clifts father like a ton of bricks, and his mothers dreams disappeared in an instant. Later that same year, he appeared in Cole Porter's "Jubilee." Thus, as long as Clift's father was able to pay for it, he and his siblings were privately tutored, travelled extensively in America and Europe, became fluent in German and French, and led a protected life, sheltered from the destitution and communicable diseases which became legion following the First World War. Damaged Beauty: Montgomery Clift, Tragedy and the Redefinition of a Star Image. . [7][8] Clift had a twin sister, Roberta (who later went by "Ethel"), who survived him by 48 years, and an older brother, William Brooks Clift, Jr. (19191986), known as "Brooks," who had a son with actress Kim Stanley and was later married to political reporter Eleanor Clift. In "The Heiress" (1949), Clift took the role of romantic lead, playing up his charismatic good looks. 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG. He insisted on performing his stunts himself, including swimming in the river Elbe in March. A Place in the Sun was critically acclaimed; Charlie Chaplin called it "the greatest movie made about America". Of course, Clift took one of his greatest secrets to his grave. This image is titled Cheval et Marnie, in Clifts handwriting. [30] The film was awarded a screenwriting Academy Award for the credited writers. After completing John Huston's Freud: The Secret Passion (1962), Universal Studios sued him for his frequent absences that caused the film to go over budget. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? [63], Many of Clift's biographers note his relationships with men and some few women based on friends' accounts and interviews. In addition to lingering effects of dysentery and chronic colitis, an underactive thyroid was later revealed during the autopsy. Fans waited for two hours outside St. James' Church on Madison Avenue to say goodbye to Montgomery Clift. Montgomery Clift is known for his remarkable diversity onset and great looks. Of course, when it came to his appearance, this gorgeous star really didnt give a hoot. His leading lady, Olivia de Havilland, disappointed him in every wayand his criticisms were downright brutal. The cause of death was listed as a heart attack, but a major contributing factor was the cumulative effect of pain killers and liquor. He was involved with the Adventures of Superman actor Jack Larson and theater actor William LeMassena,[69][70] with whom he had a three-year relationship. Clift's next role as the drifter George Eastman in A Place in the Sun (1951) is regarded as one of his signature method acting performances. 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. 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. 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. Clockwise from lower left: Clift after his 1956 car accident, which partially paralyzed the left side of his face; Taylor in bikini for a promotional photo for "Suddenly, Last Summer" in 1959; Clift and Taylor in a steamy scene from 1951's "A Place in the Sun" and the book cover of Charles Casillo's Elizabeth and Monty. Contact sheets from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpole's shoot on a Paramount lot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. Christine Tran is a history buff(ette) and media scholar. In 1961, Montgomery Clift went on to star alongside some of Hollywoods greatest legendsMarilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? Rate. And when it came to riotous parties, well, he avoided nightlife like the plague. The unhinged character he played in the film hit too close to home and psychologically drained him. User Reviews Montgomery Clift was a lone figure, aware and decent but vulnerable. One infamous fact about Montgomery Clift is that he only owned one suit. This biography of Montgomery Clift provides detailed information about his childhood, life, acting career, achievements and timeline. Maxwell, Elsa (1949) Talk, Dark and Different, Photoplay, Vol. [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]. In 1929, the Wall Street Crash hit Clift's father like a ton of bricks, and his mother's dreams disappeared in an instant. 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?. Violet-eyed siren Elizabeth Taylor and classically handsome Montgomery Clift were the most gorgeous screen couple of their time. An inside look at the actors secretive love life. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. A near-fatal auto accident in 1957 changed his looks and sent him into drug and alcohol addiction. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. While director William Wyler notably had difficulty with his poor posture, co-star Olivia de Havilland expressed difficulty with his seriousness, saying that "Monty was painstaking and I liked that about him, but I had a sense that Monty was thinking almost entirely of himself and leaving me out of the scene."[34]. But the face, with its crushed bones and severed nerves, could only . When he wasnt reading or preparing for his next role, he took pleasure in visiting the local night court. My mom never told me how her best friend died. For him, the freedom to be selective about his roles was more important than money or fame. Clift was also a Hollywood maverick of sorts, choosing to remain independent at a time when most actors were under contract to the movie studios, per Vanity Fair. Some sources have the crash occurring when Clift was leaving the event, while others state he was on his way there. She was so. Google Scholar. This page was last edited on 26 March 2023, at 00:06. He pointed out that she just let the director determine her every move. 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. (1951) Movies of the Week: A Place in the Sun, Life, 28 May: 478 and 50. In remembering Clift, McCarthy said, his face was torn awaya bloody pulp. Actor: From Here to Eternity. James Naremore's description of Clift's 'ravaged face' in Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) aptly expresses the decline in the star's appearance following the accident. But it was his next pairing with Elizabeth Taylor that proved to be his most dynamic on-screen. Farmer, Brett (2000) Spectacular Passions: Cinema, Fantasy, Gay Male Spectatorship. 4 (April): 589 and 847. According to McCarthy, Clift told Taylor in a rather unregistered voice that his two front teeth were in his throat, suffocating him. A portrait of Montgomery Clift leaning on a fence with an intent expression before his accident on 01 January, 1950 | Photo: Getty Images. 2. He earned his first Academy Award nomination for best actor for "The Search," and yet "Red River" seems to be better remembered these days. There was a nonchalance to Clifts attitude in regards to women. [89][90] One of Clift's first intimate relationships was with composer Lehman Engel. Paramount executive Luigi Luraschi remembered that Taylor, just like many American teenagers, seemed "unmistakably in love" with Clift around the time of filming A Place in the Sun,[59] which commenced soon after their premiere outing. Hollywood's Montgomery Clift, who was highly wanted for his diverse acting skill in the industry, kept the public entertained during his time. While this traumatic event robbed him of his heartthrob status and turned him into a somewhat disturbing, socially alienated character, author Elisabetta Girelli argues that Clift had always combined on-screen erotic ambiguity with real . is also about him. if only because audiences would want to compare his face from before and after the accident. Barthes, Roland (1999) The Face of Garbo [1957], in Leo Braudy and Marshall Cohen (eds), Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings. Dean: East of Eden, Rebel Without A Cause, Giant. The social-media famous cat could not attend in person, but a handful of guests found ways to honor her with their looks. Horrified, James immediately called for help, but of course, it was already too late. 14, No. A studio portrait of Montgomery Clift before his accident on 01 January, 1940 | Photo: Getty Images. Alerted by friend Kevin McCarthy, who witnessed the collision, Taylor found Clift conscious yet bleeding and swelling rapidly under the shattered dashboard. . Continued pain from his injuries led him to rely on alcohol and pills for relief as he had done after an earlier bout with dysentery left him with chronic intestinal problems. 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 scene where John dances with his sister-in-law-The scene where John tells Susannah that he wants the slaves freed after he reads Garwood's speech-John sees his baby son for first time-The scene after Lincoln's inauguration ("You look older John")-The scene where John tells the Professor he is not running for officeScenes filmed after the accident; (They are fairly easy to spot because the whole left side of Clift's face is partly paralyzed despite the camera men's skill at filming as much of the right side of Clift's face as possible):-John's first scene with Nell-Classroom scene when the Professor tells his class the story of the Raintree-All of the exterior swamp scenes-Where John gets Garwood dirty on the carriage-The picnic scene with Susannah, the Professor and Mrs. Gray-Scene where the Professor gets on train-On the riverboat with Susannah-The scene where John visits Susannah's burned down estate-Most of the Civil War battle scenes (though he has a false beard)-John visiting Susannah in the asylum To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories, Titled Refueling at Albuquerque, New Mexico, in Clifts handwriting. What finally brought him back to the screen? Despite his injury he continued to make movies. After leaving a party organized by co-star Elizabeth Taylor in May 1956, Clift raced along a steep road before crashing. The next morning, James returned to Clifts room to rouse him but found the door locked. Although hed only been away from Hollywood for four and a half years, the handsome Montgomery Clift looked incrediblyoldand the reason was downright heartbreaking. Over the years, the two close friends were there for each other during various times of crisis and tragedy, including the 1956 car crash that left Clift's famous face permanently marred. In the decades since Monty's death in 1966, his life has been . Bettmann . Still, the last half of his 20-year career has been referred to as the "longest suicide in Hollywood history" by acting teacher Robert Lewis because of Clift's subsequent abuse of painkillers and alcohol. 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. He could barely remember his lines and often didnt show up to set. At 6:30a.m., James woke up and went to wake Clift, but found the bedroom door closed and locked. 'Happy Days's' Anson Williams Divorced the Same Woman Twice after Almost Losing His Life in the Early 2000s, Marlo Thomas Spouse Was a Virgin before Marriage to Mom of His 5 Kids & a Lousy Lover Afterward, Why Is Chris Pratt Receiving Backlash? news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Clift was the subject of fascination by the character Vikar (James Franco) in the film Zeroville, which was shot in 2015 and released on September 20, 2019, in limited theaters, to largely negative reviews. Morira de un ataque al corazn tres meses antes de ser estrenada. Clift's body was taken to the city morgue about 2 miles (3.2km) away at 520 First Avenue, and autopsied. Clift made his Broadway debut in "Fly Away Home" in 1935, according to the Irish Times. [24] In January 1951, he participated in the episode "The Metal in the Moon" for the series Cavalcade of America, sponsored by the chemical company DuPont Company. Suddenly, Last Summer (1959), Columbia Pictures, The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Tormented Facts About Edvard Munch, The Man Behind The Scream, Shameless Facts About Cleo De Merode, The First Celebrity, Calamitous Facts About Sharon Stone, Hollywoods Unlucky Star, Surprising Facts About Phil Hartman, The Tragic Comedian. Clift, along with actor Kevin McCarthy, had been attending a party at Elizabeth Taylor's house in Beverly Hills. Nevertheless, he showed no bitterness and remained one of Clift's loyal friends. According to some reports, she reportedly held Clift and removed two teeth that had fallen out in the crash from his throat, as they were causing him to choke. In 1966, Clift finished filming his last project, "The Defector," and returned to his New York City apartment. "[32] Clift was on the cover of Life magazine by December 1948. Clift had traveled extensively with his family while growing up, and it was while he and the family were in Florida that he landed his first part, per Britannica. Dyer, Richard (1998) Stars. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Look magazine gave him its Achievement Award and called him "the most promising star on the Hollywood horizon. However, even with all the negative hubbub surrounding this shoot, it was nothing compared to the darkness of one of Clifts next projects. . 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. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. His first two films were smashing successesand for veryimpressive reasons. Something was seriously wrong. | She gave so much as an actress, Clift once recalled. [16] Close to a year later, around the time the family moved again, settling in New York City, Clift debuted on Broadway at 14 years old as Harmer Masters in the comedy Fly Away Home which ran from January to July 1935 at the 48th Street Theatre. 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. He could watch the real grit of humanity play out before himthe court a stage for some of the most sensational high-profile cases. Its the season for starting anew: peppermint-scented window cleaner, fresh inspiration by way of the late artist Nicola L., a gentle serum for skin repair, and more. 6. The N.Y.P.L.s Montgomery Clift papers also contain several undated images of his Suddenly, Last Summer co-star Katharine Hepburn looking characteristically redoubtable and Waspy. Although the results of Clift's plastic surgeries were remarkable for the time, there were noticeable differences in his facial appearance, particularly the left side of his face, which was nearly immobile. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. In the bathroom, James found Clift in his bathtub, undressed and obviously deceased. 76 Metascore. Download preview PDF. Before long, photographers began to descend on the gory scene. He is best remembered for his role as Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt in the 1953 film From Here to Eternity. Clifts teacher, Robert Lewis, called his gradual decline the longest suicide in Hollywood history. Although he had problems before filmingRaintree County, Clifts drinking was more pronounced than ever. 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. Years before, Clift had battled dysentery, which introduced him to the sinister side effects of pain management. About a month afterThe Misfitswrapped, Gable suffered a heart attack and passed. Unlike many other actors, he didnt jump straight into a contract. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. Girelli, Elisabetta (2013) "Montgomery Clift Queer Star", Wayne University Press. Gehman, Richard (1957) Montys Brush with Death, Photoplay, Vol. The next year, Taylor used her status to wrangle an acting part for Clift; she demanded that he be a part ofSuddenly, Last Summer. Overall he ended up unhappy with his performance and left early during the film's premiere. Born Edward Montgomery Clift on October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska, he found his love of theater early on (via the Los Angeles Times).
Living Negro League Players,
Lockhart Seafood And Steak Menu,
Ice Cold Gold Eric Drummond Net Worth,
Articles M