Sensitive, mysterious, brooding, and suspiciously single. When he read the story that criticized his bare-bones wardrobe, the scandalized actor lashed out with a biting response. Who is Montgomery Clift dating? Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. Peter Stackpole The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock. The long suicide was complete. As for Clift, the shoot was incredibly taxing, both mentally and physically: in addition to acquiring a scar across his nose from a stray bulls horn, severe rope burns while attempting to tame a wild horse, and various other rough-and-tumble injuries, he also performed what has widely come to be regarded as one of his best scenes, a stilted, heartbreaking conversation with his mother from a phone booth. But before the film could be released, Clift passed away, wholly without fanfare, at the age of 45, succumbing to years of drug and alcohol abuse. Lancaster's . Clift and Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor first became acquainted when they played counterparts on George Stevens's "A Place in the Sun." In 1961, Montgomery Clift went on to star alongside some of Hollywoods greatest legendsMarilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. ", However, it became more eminent that his single status bordered on his sexuality as time went on. (38) and his wife, Meghan Markle (41), officially . 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. A portrait of Elizabeth Taylor And Montgomery Clift from the film "A Place In The Sun", 1951 | Photo: Getty Images. Some of the greatest celebrities of the day came out to mourn Clift at his funeral, including Lauren Bacall and Frank Sinatra. 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. I thought he was dead. He immediately returned to Taylors house to notify the party of the bloody disaster. 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. What finally brought him back to the screen? Finally, Clift had a chance to climb out of his slumpbut before he made it over the top, tragedy struck. They seem to have their stories all written out beforehand., Clifts private life was boringhe didnt date, he didnt flirt, he didnt hang out in public. He also detested the man. By the early 1950s he was exclusively homosexual, though he continued to hide his homosexuality and maintained a number of close friendships with theater women (heavily promoted by studio publicists).His film debut was Red River (1948) with John Wayne quickly followed by his early personal success The Search (1948) (Oscar nominations for this, A Place in the Sun (1951), From Here to Eternity (1953) and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)). 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. In the face of such criticism, Clift went ahead and confused the gossip columns even more. July 22, 1966, was a sweltering day in New York City, and Montgomery Clift had been languishing in his townhouse on 61st Street. The director, John Huston, supposedly brought in Clift because he thought hed have a soothing effect on Monroe, who was deeply embroiled in her own addictions, with her own personal demons. 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. 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. Marlon Brando: Portraits of a Charismatic Young Star, 1952, Marilyn, Arthur Miller and More: A Star Producers Spectacular Orbit. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. RIP GEORGOUS MONTY. He advanced a collaborative approach with his directors, working over scripts and making suggestions for edits. 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. They seem to have their stories all written out beforehand.. He pleaded with her to make changes to her book to correct the mischaracterizations. 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: . He died. 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. Author Christopher Isherwood tracked Clifts decline in his journals, and by August 1955, he was drinking himself out of a career; on the set of Raintree, the crew had designated words to communicate how drunk Clift was: bad was Georgia, very bad was Florida, and worst of all was Zanzibar. In the bathroom, James found Clift in his bathtub, undressed and obviously deceased. While his brother claimed that Clift was bisexual, writer Truman Capotes unpublished work alludes to Clifts gayness quite explicitly. Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando. From here on out, however, he plunged even further into his addiction. 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. 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. 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. Free Postage. However, Clift's sexuality was not much of a secret within the movie industry. The Young Lions (film) - Wikipedia This made him an A-list actor and a multi-award-winning star. But, in general, his relationships with men had more to do with sex than with a deep emotional connection. The director, Joseph Mankiewicz, was appalled by this wavering professionalismbut when he tried to fire Clift, two angels intervened. In all honesty, his face wasnt horribly changed at all, but there was one shocking difference. Over the next decade, the burgeoning actor dug his heels in and made a name for himself on the stage. About a month afterThe Misfitswrapped, Gable suffered a heart attack and passed. While working in New York in the early 1940s, he met wealthy former Broadway star Libby Holman. There are a few versions that detail the aftermath of Clifts accident, but one has all the drama of a motion picture itself. His apartment, which he rented for 10 dollars a month, was described by friends as beat up and by him as terrific. He survived on two meals a day, mostly combinations of steak, eggs, and orange juice, and he eschewed nightclubs, instead spending his spare time reading Chekov, classic works of history and economics, and Aristotle, whom he praised for his belief in happiness, or the gentle art of the soul. When he wasnt reading or exhausting himself in preparation for a part, he liked to go to the local night court and attend high-profile court cases just to watch the humanity on display. Production resumed on Raintree County, which the studio feared would fail following Clifts accident. All his life, it was misery," said McCarthy. Elizabeth Taylor Tried to Seduce Montgomery Clift Then Stood By Him After He Came Out to Her Despite his deep attraction to Taylor, at first Clift couldn't bring himself to tell her he was. Montgomery Clift was in relationships with Sal Mineo, Paul Newman, Henry Willson, Jack Larson, William LeMassena, Libby Holman, Maurice Leonard and Arnold Saint Subber. The Search _ 1948 DVD Montgomery Clift Aline MacMahon Wendell Corey V He worked on a summer production where his talents blossomed and it opened an auspicious doorone that would seal his fate forever. Years before, Clift had battled dysentery, which introduced him to the sinister side effects of pain management. This year the young man . 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. Travel back in time with treasured photos and stories, sent right to your inbox. Watch 'Indiscretion of an American Wife' Online Streaming (Full Movie But the documentary notes Clift made as many movies after the accident as before, and that those projects included some of his most acclaimed performances. 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 when hedid get a hankering for a fun excursion, Clift knew exactly where he wanted to be. A wild exclusive excerpt from the new book, Oscars 2023: Yes, Some Awards Movies Flopped, but Art Matters, How in the F--k Does Anyone Live Here?: Bret Easton Ellis on Life, Art, and What the Hell Happened to Manhattan, Todd Field on 2 Decades of Oscar Campaigns, From, I didnt realize the deadly minefield of a campaign season, the Oscar nominee says in a career-spanning interview. 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. He lived in a pampered bubbleuntil one day, it all came crashing down. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. He was one of Hollywoods most desirable leading men, but mystery shrouded his entire private life. Prior to leaving by train for Paris, a married American woman tries to break off her affair with a young Italian in Rome's Stazione Termini. But when he climbed into the room, he discovered something absolutely gut-wrenching. Clift was nominated for awards . Lessons from the Lives of Celebrities: Actor, Montgomery (Monty) Clift Taylor talked about the need for staunch support for gay people and their rights. Suddenly, the Clift family was completely broke and had no choice to move to New York. But the drama didnt end there. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. I think he was 12 or 13., Its obviously a non-issue for her, co-director Demmon said. Teach, I loved the way how he played in A Place in the Sun. The subject matter, which involved him assisting in the cover-up of a dead mans apparent homosexuality, must have sparked mixed emotions. A fellow actor asserts that Clift was equally confident in his sexuality. Not only are you not allowed to be smart, but you were not allowed to be funny in the 90s, the actor said of her career. The Life and Sad Ending of Montgomery Clift The Life and Sad Ending 182K subscribers Subscribe 2.2K Share 106K views 2 years ago Mini bio of the life of actor Montgomery Clift who is. Close friends, such as actor Kevin McCarthy and his wife, tried to get Clift to slow down and dry out, but their pleas . Taylor, caught up in filming with Richard Burton in Paris, sent flowers to the funeral. A car crash in the prime of his career left him in constant pain, and he drank himself to an early death, creating an aesthetic of suffering that has guided the way we think about him today. 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. That, combined with his spiraling alcohol addiction, wrung the youth right out of the handsome actor. Montgomery Clift was in relationships with Sal Mineo, Paul Newman, Henry Willson, Jack Larson, William LeMassena, Libby Holman, Maurice Leonard and Arnold Saint Subber. 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. . The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Indiscrecin de una esposa: Dirigido por Vittorio De Sica. cocksucker, isnt he, Tallulah? Miss Bankhead said: Well, 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. It was reported that Taylor even tried to help him find a partner. But even as Clift consistently took the road less traveled, he still had some biting things to say about the media, especially its desire to pin down his image. Montgomery Clift as Noah Ackerman Dean Martin as Michael Whiteacre Hope Lange as Hope Plowman Barbara Rush as Margaret Freemantle May Britt as Gretchen Hardenberg Maximilian Schell as Captain Hardenberg Dora Doll as Simone Lee Van Cleef as First Sergeant Rickett Liliane Montevecchi as Franoise Parley Baer as Sergeant Brandt And then there was the physical toll. Of course, by this time, Clifts drinking problems werent much of a secret, making him a liability to the studio. But while his siblings enrolled in prestigious schools, Montgomery Clift went hurtling in a completely different direction. But when his nephew dives into the family archives, a much more complicated picture emerges. Montgomery's ancestry was English, as well as more distant Scottish, Dutch, German and French. 2023 Cond Nast. Clifts lifestyle had the press slotting him in with non-conformists of the dayright alongside hotshots like Marlon Brandobut the actor didnt respond well to being labeled and defined. His parents were Quakers and met as students at Cornell University, marrying in 1914. There were questions about the woman in his life and why he was single. Directors Robert Anderson Clift Hillary Demmon Writers Robert Anderson Clift Hillary Demmon Stars However, this was no quick fix. 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. If you have a story that tracks along that line, that will feel true to people. Montgomery Clift 39 30. Curtis's relationship to the term nepo baby has evolved over the last few months. John Wayne and Montgomery Clift in Red River. In fact, the attitudes he and his family held towards his relationships with men were strikingly modern. After filming wrapped, she tracked him down and spat directly in his face. Elizabeth Taylor stuck by her friends, and Montgomery Clift undoubtedly claimed a special spot in her heart. There were even speculations that he was warned about being gay. These are just among the many words which have been used to describe Montgomery Clift, the enigmatic heartthrob of the 1950s. Universal Studios actuallysued him for the losses they incurred because of his troublesome behavior. Edward Montgomery Clift was born on October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. He also didnt want to sign a contract with a studio, then the only viable way into the business. He still drank, but not as heavily. 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. He surely wasnt a suave Prince Charming, and yet, on-screen, he was a downright masterpiece. Born on October 17, 1920, Edward Montgomery Clift was born into a family with lofty ideals. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, Hollywood, 1950. He was set to play in Taylor's Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967), when he died in the early morning hours of July 23, 1966, at his home at age 45. Hes so beautiful, murmured Miss Parker. Before long, photographers began to descend on the gory scene. Montgomery Clift, Nando Bruno. So finely She is completing her PhD in Toronto, Canada. His father, William Brooks "Bill" Clift (1886-1964), was the vice-president of Omaha National Trust Company. Moreover? Because of the accident, the studio worried about the success of Raintree County. When the duo finally met in Stevens' office, it was pretty magical for Taylor. I do not count myself as a member of the ripped-sweatshirt fraternity.. And even more shocking? Nothing could have prepared him for what he discovered. In The Young Lions (1958), released just two years after the accident, the pain and resentment seem almost visible. 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. Montgomery Clift was an undeniably attractive man, and before long, hed cultivated a rather passionate female fan base. Who is Montgomery Clift dating? Montgomery Clift girlfriend, wife 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. 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? By 15, Clift made his Broadway debut in Cole Porters Jubilee. He wasnt the only one who challenged such norms at the time. A portrait of Montgomery Clift acting as Matt Garth in the western film "Red River" on 01 January, 1948 | Photo: Getty Images. 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. A four-time Oscar nominee who died at 45, Montgomery Clift was a bright young talent, a tabloid fixture, and a posthumous gay icon. Contact sheet from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpoles shoot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. Help us build our profile of Marlon Brando! This was entertainment at its finest. Clift detested Waynes antiquated male constraints. (The director himself never met his famous uncle, having been born eight years after his death). To Clift, however, he considered his humble home terrific.. Taped interviews with his brother reveal that the actor felt those roles werent quite right for him and he didnt want to make the wrong first impression. His perpetual question to himself, as he once scribbled in his journal, was, How to remain thin-skinned, vulnerable, and still alive? For Clift, the task proved impossible. She would wield considerable influence over the early part of his film career, advising him in decisions to decline lead roles in Sunset Blvd. He served in the Lincoln administration cabinet as Postmaster-General from 1861 to 1864, during the Civil War. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Clift appeared in The Misfits, a revisionist western best known as the final film of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. All Rights Reserved. In his first film, Red River, Clift had the chance to play opposite the western superstar John Wayne. But that wasnt all. The documentary was released at the Los Angeles Film Festival and . On the morning of July 23, 1966, Montgomery Clift's housemate couldn't wake the actor. Clift was so protective of Holman that when offered the plum role of the male lead in Sunset Boulevard, he turned it downreportedly to avoid any suggestion that Libby Holman was his own delusional Norma Desmond, using a handsome young man to pursue her lost stardom. Allegedly, the director brought Clift on board, thinking hed be a soothing effect for Monroe. 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. The entire experience had a cursed tinge to it, and before long, it left disaster in its wake. Tom Sizemore's acting dreams and troubled journey began in Detroit Every actor was in the midst of fighting their own demons. Taylor immediately stuck her delicate, little hand down his throat and removed the obstruction. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. He looked about ten years older than the Montgomery Clift audiences remembered and adored. 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. In 1929, the Wall Street Crash hit Clifts father like a ton of bricks, and his mothers dreams disappeared in an instant. Lorenzo came into the picture when Monty was at his lowest. Director Joseph Mankiewicz tried to replace Clift, but Taylor and co-star Katharine Hepburn defended and supported him. Indiscretion of An American Wife - amazon.com Elizabeth Taylor and Katharine Hepburn came to Clifts defense when the director tried to get rid of him. (The Clash famously referenced that awful scene, which changed the course of Clifts career and set him on a winding path of booze-and-painkiller-fueled decay, in the song The Right Profile from London Calling: I see a car smashed at night. It wasnt until years after his tragic passing that Clifts darkest secret finally came out. Throughout filming, members of the crew came up with code words to alert everyone about the lead actors level of intoxication. While he never excelled at school, his extraordinary abilities as an actor showed early.