. He was the son of Ethel "Sunny" Anderson (Fogg; 1888-1988) and William Brooks Clift (1886-1964). Montgomery Clift, Nando Bruno. Show details And when it came to riotous parties, well, he avoided nightlife like the plague. . In a new documentary, myths and assumptions about the Oscar-nominated heartthrob who struggled with his sexuality are replaced with the little-known truth. Biographies of Clift posit that he drank because he couldnt be his true self, because homosexuality was the shame he had to shelter within. Montgomery Blair. . The Clift picture didn't pan out either, at least with her promised co-star. And the cherry on top? His father, William Brooks "Bill" Clift (1886-1964), was the vice-president of Omaha National Trust Company. But while his siblings enrolled in prestigious schools, Montgomery Clift went hurtling in a completely different direction. He got him going again. 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 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. Clift, however, lived a two-faceted life concerning his sexuality. (1936), Ghostwriting Gloria Swanson: The Strange, Sexually Charged Genesis of a Legendary Autobiography, A New Power Generation: Radhika Jones Introduces the 2023 Hollywood Issue, Salma Hayek Pinault Explains How She Got Hollywood to Stop Typecasting Her as Sexy. Merv was a sexual predator who once tried to sexually assault Danny Terrio, then threatened to ruin his career if he talked. Sensitive. Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor in A Place in the Sun. 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. 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. At the time of the premiere, Monroe had been admitted to a psychiatric ward and required a day pass just to attend. The film-makers interviewed Bosworth extensively for the movie, but they contrast her words with old taped conversations she had with the actors brother. Soon, Montgomery Clift became almost impossible to work with. In fact, Hepburn was so offended by Mankiewicz that she did something outrageous. Clift had a fraternal twin sister, Roberta, and a brother, William Brooks Clift Jr, who had an illegitimate son with actress Kim Stanley. He wanted to be a free agent, and he did it successfully. But something of the old talent remainedor at least enough to earn Clift a nomination for best-supporting actor, playing, in the words of film critic David Thomson, a victim irretrievably damaged by suffering. Plans for Clift to play the lead in the film adaptation of Carson McCullerss The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter fell through, in large part due to his uninsurability on set, and promises of a fourth collaboration with Taylor, this time with producer Ray Stark, never came to pass. 3.80. 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. Montgomery Clift 39 30. 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: . Montgomery Clift as the confused, likable, rather stupid social climber; Shelley Winters as the dowdy working girl; Elizabeth Taylor as the dazzling rich girl. 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. 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. Randy Chrisley Is Todd Chrisley's Brother Who Was Diagnosed with Cancer in 2014, Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, 'Whos the Boss? He had a holistic view.. Beautiful man. 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. His other side was mostly hidden and only became widely known after he passed on, thanks to his friend and colleague Elizabeth Taylor. Some sources have the crash occurring when Clift was leaving the event, while others state he was on his way there. Clift, of course, knew better. John Wayne and Montgomery Clift in Red River. 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. But Clifts rebuttal was firm, emphasizing that they were neither in love nor engagedtheyd known each other for 10 years, she helped him with his work, and those romantic rumors are embarrassing to both of us. He was also close with stage actress Libby Holman, 16 years his senior, who had become a notorious feature in the gossip columns following the suspicious death of her wealthy husband, rumors of lesbianism, and her general practice of dating younger men. "Monty," as his family called him, was the son of William Clift, a. Nothing could have prepared him for what he discovered. 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. Clift was unperturbed by his apparent lack of a love life: he told the press that he would get married when he met a girl he wanted to marry; in the meantime, he was playing the field. When another columnist asked him if he had any hobbies, he replied, Yes, women. But as the years passed, it became more and more clear that Clift wasnt just picky. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. However, Clift's life was shrouded by a dark secret that became public after his passing, by actress Elizabeth Taylor. He called it as he saw it, describing himself as an ordinary, second-class wolf.. 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. Little did he know, he was always destined for something more. Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando were in a . 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. A fellow actor asserts that Clift was equally confident in his sexuality. Universal Studios actuallysued him for the losses they incurred because of his troublesome behavior. Clift gained actual scars from some filming mishaps. However, the filming of The Misfits had a shadow lurking over it. Okay, if were being totally honest, Montgomery Clifts reserved lifestyle didnt exactly excite the press; it actually kind of stumped them. Along with Marlon Brando and James Dean, he helped delineate a new paradigm for American cinematic heroes. The revelation of his sexuality did not emerge until the 70s, when two high-profile biographers, one endorsed by his close confidants, revealed as much, rendering him a gay icon within the span of two years. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the latest celebrity news, but don't worry we have you covered. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. Monty brought a different masculinity to the screen, said Demmon. Taylor and Clift: Photos From the Set of A Place in the Sun. He lived in a pampered bubbleuntil one day, it all came crashing down. ), William Brooks Clift, Jr. (19191986) (Aged 66 Or 67) (Who Had An Illegitimate Son With Actress Kim Stanley And Was Later Married To Political Reporter Eleanor Clift. Were not trying to give a definitive version of who Monty was, added Clift. But if you look at his own words, his testimonies about what acting did to him, youll see the culprit. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. In the bathroom, James found Clift in his bathtub, undressed and obviously deceased. He also helped bring a more natural acting style to film. ': 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. Months of surgeries, rebuilding, and physical therapy followed. In the rife, overstuffed annals of Hollywood, few real-life love stories can match that of Liz Taylor and Montgomery Clift. The director, Joseph Mankiewicz, was appalled by this wavering professionalismbut when he tried to fire Clift, two angels intervened. This showed in his consciousness of being seen as feminine in any way. The entire scene was extremely unsettling as Clift still wore his eyeglasses, and had his hands rigidly clenched. Sadly, his greatest friend Elizabeth Taylor could only send flowers from Rome. He was one of Hollywoods most desirable leading men, but mystery shrouded his entire private life. The most beautiful young man Ive ever seen. 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 became so known for his tousled appearance that theLos Angeles Times dubbed him the Rumpled Movie Idol. With his ancient, ramshackle car, and a circle of friends outsidethe realm of Hollywood, he certainly didnt fit the mold. But he was handsome and beguiling on-screen, creating an appetite for confirmation of that same Clift off the screen. In 1961, Montgomery Clift went on to star alongside some of Hollywoods greatest legendsMarilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. . His parents were Quakers and met as students at Cornell University, marrying in 1914. He hated the criticism and the labels, and eventually, he just couldnt take it anymore. Once on stage, Clift truly came into his own. Thats not what people would expect from a mother in that period.. Born Edward Montgomery Clift on Oct. 17, 1920 in Omaha, NE, he was the son of Ethel Fogg and William Brooks Clift, a successful Wall Street stockbroker. 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. But even Monroe reported that Clift was the only person I know who is in even worse shape than I am. The pictures from the set are as poignant as they are heartbreaking: its as if all three were meditating on their respective declines, and theres a sad, peaceful resignation at the difference between what their bodies could do and how people wanted to remember them. 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. The subject matter, which involved him assisting in the cover-up of a dead mans apparent homosexuality, must have sparked mixed emotions. But just as Clift dove into this exciting new chapter, an unforeseen tragedy changedeverything. RIP GEORGOUS MONTY. Some of the greatest celebrities of the day came out to mourn Clift at his funeral, including Lauren Bacall and Frank Sinatra. Montgomery Clift had passed due to a heart attack, but many assumed that his addictions and various health problems contributed to his early death. Director Joseph Mankiewicz tried to replace Clift, but Taylor and co-star Katharine Hepburn defended and supported him. Clift simply wasnt cut out for school, and unlike his siblings, turned his back on higher education. Elizabeth Taylor and Katharine Hepburn came to Clifts defense when the director tried to get rid of him. I mean, he is a Taylor opened his mouth, put her hand down his throat, and pulled out the teeth. 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!. The two met under the big tent where they performed together. Whatever relationships Clift may have had, he was circumspect. Montgomery Clift made a name for himself in Hollywood with several awards and nominations. In remembering Clift, McCarthy said, his face was torn awaya bloody pulp. Hailed as one of Hollywood's first true Method actors, Edward Montgomery Clift was born October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. said: Oh. From Scandals of Classic Hollywood: Sex, Deviance, and Drama from the Golden Age of Hollywood Cinema by Anne Helen Petersen, to be published by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC on September 30, 2014 2014 by Anne Helen Petersen. He was such a mess on the set of Freud (1962) that Universal sued him. / Montys face is broken on a wheel. Clifts early foray into acting led him to a Broadway debut in 1935. 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. [view couple] # 8 Carlo Fiore 12 28. 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. When he came to visit storied fan-magazine author Elsa Maxwell at her home, she had her maid darn the elbow in his jacket. 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. Allegedly, Rock Hudson was there to pull Clift from the wreckage and it was Taylor who held the stricken actor in her arms. As he lay wounded in the arms of his dear friend, Clift began choking and pointing to his throat. The decline continued. 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. The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, The 25 Best Shows on Netflix to Watch Right Now, Titled Refueling at Albuquerque, New Mexico, in Clifts handwriting. He could barely remember his lines and often didnt show up to set. Help us build our profile of Montgomery Clift! She made it known that it all boiled down to love. 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. Will she ride the term to Oscar gold? Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Clift was able to appear in more Hollywood movies after he recuperated from the accident, but he was deeply affected by the decline in his career. Clift's brother would later come out to say that the actor was bisexual. The truth didnt come out until the 70s. The story of Clift's devastating car crash varies somewhat from one account to the next. The next morning, James returned to Clifts room to rouse him but found the door locked. But even though his marred looks never made it to the headlines, for Clift, the horror was far from over. and his wife, the former Ethel Fogg. More, it analyzes the new view of masculine beauty he helped introduce to the screen. During the filming of Raintree County, Clift and Taylor seemed to have rekindled their is-it-or-isnt-it relationship; according to one of Clifts biographers, Some days he would threaten to stop seeing Elizabeth Taylorthen, the thought would make him burst into tears. Other apocryphal legend has Taylor sending Clift piles of love letters, which he then read aloud to his male companion at the time. But the drama didn't end there. It was a huge wager: since everyone knew how much booze and pills Clift was on, he was virtually uninsurable on set.
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