Montgomery Clift had passed due to a heart attack, but many assumed that his addictions and various health problems contributed to his early death. 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. He summoned a doctor, but it was already too late. 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. He insisted on maintaining his residence in New York, spending as little time in Hollywood as possible. Peace. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Montgomery Clift was in relationships with Sal Mineo, Paul Newman, Henry Willson, Jack Larson, William LeMassena, Libby Holman, Maurice Leonard and Arnold Saint Subber. Something was seriously wrong. 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. The surgeries led to the use of strong painkillers. 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. In Clifts eyes, de Havilland imparted nothing of herself into the role. A portrait of Elizabeth Taylor And Montgomery Clift from the film "A Place In The Sun", 1951 | Photo: Getty Images. Born on October 17, 1920, Edward Montgomery Clift was born into a family with lofty ideals. Allegedly, Rock Hudson was there to pull Clift from the wreckage and it was Taylor who held the stricken actor in her arms. 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. Ex-lover Larson said in the film that Clift actually preferred his work after the accident to his performances before. Sal Mineo and Montgomery Clift were in a rela Montgomery Clift and Paul Newman were rumored Henry Willson and Montgomery Clift were in a Jack Larson and Montgomery Clift were in a re William LeMassena and Montgomery Clift were i Montgomery Clift and Libby Holman were in a r Maurice Leonard and Montgomery Clift are sepa Arnold Saint Subber and Montgomery Clift were Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando were in a Heart attack (brought on by "occlusive coronary artery disease"), Friends Quaker Cemetery, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York City, New York, USA. Taylor, caught up in filming with Richard Burton in Paris, sent flowers to the funeral. She developed an intense decade-plus obsession over the young actor, even financing an experimental play, "Mexican Mural" for him. When it came to the lengthier scenes, the actor just couldnt deliver; they had to be divided into smaller cuts just so he could see them through. Montgomery Clift girlfriend, wife list. Montgomery Clift was an undeniably attractive man, and before long, he'd cultivated a rather passionate female fan base. His interests lay elsewhere. If Paramount wanted him, theyd have to give him what he wanteda power differential that would go on to structure the star-studio relationship for the next 40 years. . But for 12 years, he set Hollywood aflame. While filmingRaintree County, Clift attended a dinner party at Taylors housebut sadly, he didnt make it home in one piece. Their unique bond so evident in these pictures made on the Paramount lot during filming of A Place in the Sun, and never published in LIFE, was occasionally deepened even further by disasters visited upon them both through the years. 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. Montgomery Clift Born: 1920-10-17, Omaha, Nebraska, USA Education: NA Ethnicity: Caucasian Death Date:-0001-11-30 Addition Websites. But after an initial flurry of coverage, he retreated from public view entirely. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. Hollywood began to see him as hostile and messy and frugal, and Clift wasnt having it. He got him going again. ", A portrait of Montgomery Clift against a wooden backdrop on 01 January, 1948 | Photo: Getty mages. 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. Directors Robert Anderson Clift Hillary Demmon Writers Robert Anderson Clift Hillary Demmon Stars But her heroism didnt end there. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. Allegedly, the director brought Clift on board, thinking hed be a soothing effect for Monroe. But the tragedies didnt end there. At the age of 25, Clift made the leap to Hollywoodbut he was a rebel right from the get-go. They seem to have their stories all written out beforehand.. She noted that they needed to live a life of equality while being able to get married and adopt kids. 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. Hollywood repeatedly came courting, but he put off offers for nearly a decade, even turning down roles in classic films like East of Eden and the co-lead in Sunset Boulevard. And even more shocking? Unlike many of his handsome contemporaries, he never had a blonde bombshell hanging off his arm. made. . The film went on to win six Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Screenplay, and is now hailed as a (flawed) classic. Clift detested Waynes antiquated male constraints. Show more . His other side was mostly hidden and only became widely known after he passed on, thanks to his friend and colleague Elizabeth Taylor. 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. In 1929, the Wall Street Crash hit Clifts father like a ton of bricks, and his mothers dreams disappeared in an instant. He could barely remember his lines and often didnt show up to set. Apparently, one of Clifts tooths had pierced his tongue, causing him to choke. Montgomery Clift, Nando Bruno. Soon, the washed-up actor was completely out of work. Peter Stackpole The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock. Con Jennifer Jones, Montgomery Clift, Gino Cervi, Richard Beymer. 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 Clifts sexuality finally emerged with the help of two biographers, and before long, the public turned him into a gay icon. While filming his next picture, Lonelyhearts (1958), Clift lashed out, proclaiming, I am notrepeat nota member of the Beat Generation. Still, his second venture was perhaps even more of an impressive feat. Moreover? 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. Other testimonies to Clifts gayness abound: early in his film career, he had purportedly been warned that being gay would ruin him; he was so conscious of being seen as feminine or fey in any way that when he ad-libbed a line in The Search, calling a boy dear, he insisted that director Fred Zinnemann reshoot the take. Yet Clift would come to hate the image that constrained him, just as he hated the suggestion that he was a slob, unfriendly, or loathed in Hollywood: after the story of his bare closet came out in the Saturday Evening Post, he worked arduously to set the record straight, underlining the ways in which publicity takes a kernel of the truth and expands it into legend. Over the next 10 years, he earned prominent roles in plays by Tennessee Williams and Thornton Wilder, opposite stars like Fredrick March and Tallulah Bankhead. 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. He wasnt solely an actor, she said. Apparently, Burt Lancaster's From Here to Eternity co-star Montgomery Clift intimidated himso much so that in their first scene together you can see Lancaster shaking. cocksucker. Then, sweetly, wide-eyed with little girl navet, she When The Heiress came out, Clift's loyal fanatics came with their claws out and wrote vicious letters to Olivia de Havilland for rejecting Clift's character in the film. But that wasnt all. 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. Okay, if were being totally honest, Montgomery Clifts reserved lifestyle didnt exactly excite the press; it actually kind of stumped them. Well, in 1955, he had a chance to reunite with his old friend and co-star, Elizabeth Taylor, in Raintree County. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Search _ 1948 DVD Montgomery Clift Aline MacMahon Wendell Corey V Rare at the best online prices at eBay! Moments after the accident, actor Kevin McCarthy, driving in front of Clift, ran back to check on him, seeing that his face was torn awaya bloody pulp. While he never excelled at school, his extraordinary abilities as an actor. Carlo Fiore and Marlon Brando were in . The unhinged character he played in the film hit too close to home and psychologically drained him. 2023 Cond Nast. He was, at least in the press, something approaching asexualthe title of a Motion Picture article, authored by Clift, declared simply, I Like It Lonely!. Contact sheet from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpoles shoot on a Paramount lot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. . It left him with chronic health issues for the rest of his life. . [view couple] # 8 Carlo Fiore 12 28. Tellingly, theyre always pitched under working titles like Beautiful Loser and' Tragic Beauty. In fact, the attitudes he and his family held towards his relationships with men were strikingly modern. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the latest celebrity news, but don't worry we have you covered. Luckily, his isolated lifestyle gave him an advantage. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. Taylor opened his mouth, put her hand down his throat, and pulled out the teeth. And thus began what Robert Lewis, Clifts teacher at the Actors Studio, called the longest suicide in Hollywood history. Even before Raintree, the decline had been visible. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Taylor, at last free from her long-standing contract with MGM, next used her power as the biggest star in Hollywood to insist that Clift be cast in her new project, Suddenly, Last Summer (1959). Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! 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. Picture 1 of 12 . An interviewer once asked him what his hobbies were, Clift replied, "women. Years before, Clift had battled dysentery, which introduced him to the sinister side effects of pain management. Help us build our profile of Marlon Brando! His father made a lot of money in banking but was quite poor during the depression. 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. The actress had read many articles about Clift's acting prowess and thought she would not be the perfect match. Clift gained actual scars from some filming mishaps. But while Clift certainly seemed like a budding Hollywood heartthrob on the outside, in reality, he wasfar from it. To Clift, however, he considered his humble home terrific.. And yet, the mystery persists. But this was only the beginning. Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando. Clift once said, The closer we come to the negative, to death, the more we blossom. He took himself to that precipice, but he fell straight in. ': 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. I think he was 12 or 13., Its obviously a non-issue for her, co-director Demmon said. He called it as he saw it, describing himself as an ordinary, second-class wolf.. Instead, he bided his time, and thankfully, luck was on his side. In all honesty, his face wasnt horribly changed at all, but there was one shocking difference. In this exclusive excerpt from her forthcoming book, Anne. Montgomery Blair (May 10, 1813 - July 27, 1883) was an American politician and lawyer from Maryland. He told everyone that hed marry when he met the right girl, but that in the meantime, he was simply playing the field. Once, when questioned about his pastimes, he quipped, Yes, women. But where were they? Whether he liked it or not, they were out for a storyAnd the one they wanted above all? Marlon Brando girlfriend, wife list. He still drank, but not as heavily. Although Clift and Montgomery were only good friends, their coupling inA Place in the Sunhelped drive its popularity. 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. Whether this captivating story is real or not remains to be seen. at the best online prices at eBay! Whatever relationships Clift may have had, he was circumspect. When he wasnt reading or preparing for his next role, he took pleasure in visiting the local night court. Contemporaries like James Dean and Marlon Brando also did. When he read the story that criticized his bare-bones wardrobe, the scandalized actor lashed out with a biting response. He was such a mess on the set of Freud (1962) that Universal sued him. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? He was a great talent but the male counterpart to Monroe, lonely, sad, and pitiful. 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. You see, the reason behind Montgomery Clifts barren dating life was rather simple: He was gay. Some believe that Clifts romantic leanings were much less of a secret than originally thought. Clifts early foray into acting led him to a Broadway debut in 1935. However, one salient fact remains: Clifts ruined face never made it to the papersIn fact, not one photograph of that night exists. A successful man in the business world, Bill nevertheless deferred to this strong-willed, opinionated woman at home. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in A Place in the Sun. Oh dear. They went to London to see Laurence Olivier together, ate together, sat in front of the fire together, Clift said. The results were not pretty. But for Clift, there was just no escape, and it was only going to get worse. It was unheard of, especially for a young star, but it was a sellers market. 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. When James offered to join him, the belligerent shot him down immediately, crying, Absolutely not.Sadly, this was Montgomery Clifts final interaction. He was one of Hollywoods most desirable leading men, but mystery shrouded his entire private life. I thought he was dead. He immediately returned to Taylors house to notify the party of the bloody disaster. 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. While driving, he fell asleep at the wheel and the consequences were utterly gruesome. What a pity hes a Horrified, James immediately called for help, but of course, it was already too late. His decline was never explicitly evoked, but with his visage in Raintree County, it was there for all to see. But when his nephew dives into the family archives, a much more complicated picture emerges. . 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.. This would not only show off his range but allow him to sidestep any dangers of typecasting. But he was handsome and beguiling on-screen, creating an appetite for confirmation of that same Clift off the screen. In his first film, Red River, Clift had the chance to play opposite the western superstar John Wayne. The documentary was released at the Los Angeles Film Festival and . The duo eventually got to know each other better, and according to Taylor, they liked each other. Taylor immediately stuck her delicate, little hand down his throat and removed the obstruction. TAYLOR ON CLIFT'S SEXUALITY AFTER HIS DEATH. Heres A Mystery: Why Did Arthur Conan Doyles Son Dress Up Like a Knight? She wouldnt die for another year and a half, but Misfits would be her last completed film. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Taylor and Clift: Photos From the Set of A Place in the Sun. One time when he was delivering his line on the set of "The Search," he mistakenly called a boy 'dear' and insisted that the director did a reshoot. 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. The pieces of the puzzle dont quite fit. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. Throughout filming, members of the crew came up with code words to alert everyone about the lead actors level of intoxication. Clift's last 10 years prior to his death from his 1956 car accident were called the "longest suicide in history" by famed acting teacher Robert Lewis. As his eyes drifted closed, Clift suddenly veered off the road and drove straight into a telephone pole. Courtesy Everett Collection Elizabeth was more visible than the publicity-shy Monty. He surely wasnt a suave Prince Charming, and yet, on-screen, he was a downright masterpiece. In fact, his doctors considered it amazing that the actor had even pulled through. Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor during the filming of A Place in the Sun. American Actor Montgomery Clift was born Edward Montgomery Clift on 17th October, 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA and passed away on 23rd Jul 1966 Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA aged 45. He used them to numb his physical pain. While filmingThe Search,he asked the director to reshoot a scene for one baffling reason: He called a boy dear. But that wasnt all. Picture Information. While his brother claimed that Clift was bisexual, writer Truman Capotes unpublished work alludes to Clifts gayness quite explicitly. That Clift was gay made little difference in the intensity and duration of the two stars adoration of one another: here, after all, were two talented, passionate artists who met at a young age (she was in her teens; he was in his late twenties) and immediately discovered that they were, for lack of a better phrase, soul mates. Indeed, it was his apparent lack of romantic attachments that confounded the gossip press the most. A portrait of Montgomery Clift acting as Matt Garth in the western film "Red River" on 01 January, 1948 | Photo: Getty Images. He also sunk into alcoholism, of which Taylor and some other friends tried to help him. However, Clift soon realized that you cant always have your cake and eat it too. said: Oh. But even the troubled blonde bombshell recognized that her co-star was in dire straits. Next came "The Nutty Professor" as Lewis' student, Stella Purdy, who he is infatuated with. Although hed only been away from Hollywood for four and a half years, the handsome Montgomery Clift looked incrediblyoldand the reason was downright heartbreaking. With unprecedented control over the projects he starred in, Clift agreed to do the romantic drama, The Heiress. Connect any celebrity with Montgomery Clift to see how closely they are linked romantically! Montgomery Clift was in 8 on-screen matchups, including Anne Baxter in I Confess (1953), Elizabeth Taylor in A Place in the Sun (1951), Dolores Hart in Lonelyhearts (1958), Donna Reed in From Here to Eternity (1953) and Jennifer Jones in Indiscretion of an American Wife (1953). Hepburn was reportedly so incensed by Mankiewiczs treatment of Clift that when the film officially wrapped, she found the director and spat in his face. Their claims were deemed reliable because one of the biographers was certified by one of Clift's confidants. 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. You`ve being alwasy an inspiration for me. Making Montgomery Clift, which was co-directed by Clift's nephew Robert Clift (and Robert's wife Hillary. I do not count myself as a member of the ripped-sweatshirt fraternity. He wasnt a young rebel, an old rebel, a tired rebel, or a rebellious rebelall he cared about was re-creating a slice of life on the screen. He died. He worked on a summer production where his talents blossomed and it opened an auspicious doorone that would seal his fate forever. . In 1961, Montgomery Clift went on to star alongside some of Hollywoods greatest legendsMarilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. 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. Clift was off the Hollywood scene for four years, within which his career declined. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. July 22, 1966, was a sweltering day in New York City, and Montgomery Clift had been languishing in his townhouse on 61st Street. Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. All Rights Reserved. But this wasnt the actors first time at the rodeo. Another confidant said his personal life didnt bother him. It was reported that Taylor even tried to help him find a partner. 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.