Monty's post-accident career has been called "the longest suicide in Hollywood history." In 1966, ten years after his car accident, Montgomery Clift died alone in his New York apartment while watching "The Misfits" on TV. In the face of such criticism, Clift went ahead and confused the gossip columns even more. 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. However, this changed after Clift's car accident that left his face in a terrible condition. 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]. 76 Metascore. [22] On May 24, 1944, he was part of the cast of Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness! But for Clift, there was just no escape, and it was only going to get worse. But the tragedies didnt end there. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. In 1966, Clifts stalwart friend, Elizabeth Taylor, came to his aid once again and managed to get him a part in Reflections in a Golden Eye. Whether he was leaving from or arriving at Taylor's home, it is an undisputed fact that Clift drove his car into a telephone pole and suffered horrific injuries, including significant facial damage (via Vanity Fair). She was so. 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. Of course, Clift took one of his greatest secrets to his grave. After the success of 1953sFrom Here to Eternity, Montgomery Clift suddenly stopped making films. 3. that benefits the victims. Before long, photographers began to descend on the gory scene. 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. [89][90] One of Clift's first intimate relationships was with composer Lehman Engel. Universal Studios actuallysued him for the losses they incurred because of his troublesome behavior. Farmer, Brett (2000) Spectacular Passions: Cinema, Fantasy, Gay Male Spectatorship. ", Montgomery Clift at London Airport from New York to make the new film "Suddenly, Last Summer" on 13 May, 1959 | Photo: Getty Images. These were extremely unorthodox, risky procedures, and had the effect of involving the audience with him, an exceedingly selfish aim if one thinks only in terms of the play, but a daring and stupendously courageous maneuver when one thinks of the ground he was breaking. The following summer in 1949, Clift shot The Big Lift in Berlin: intended to be more of a semi-documentary, pro-America wartime film and less of an acting vehicle,[35] but still a welcome opportunity to portray a U.S. soldier. The 25 Best-Dressed Celebrities at the Met Gala 2023. (1949) Movies of 1948, Life, 14 March: 446, 4950, 534. 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. 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. Apparently, one of Clifts tooths had pierced his tongue, causing him to choke. if only because audiences would want to compare his face from before and after the accident. [40][41] In a filmed interview years later in 1963, Clift described his injuries in detail, including how his broken nose could be snapped back into place. 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. According to Clift biographer Patricia Bosworth, Taylor considered Clift her dearest friend, and he was unflinchingly loyal to her. In the years since From Here to Eternity, Clift's drinking had spiraled out of control . All Rights Reserved. A policeman examines the wreckage of actor Montgomery Clift's car after it crashed into a power pole following a dinner party at the home of Michael Wilding and Elizabeth Taylor. Clift (per IMDb) made a big splash with his first two films with leading roles in "The Search" and "Red River," both released in 1948. Working with her was like going up and down on an escalator.. After filming wrapped, she tracked him down and spat directly in his face. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. | Look magazine gave him its Achievement Award and called him "the most promising star on the Hollywood horizon. As a result, Clift's health and physical appearance deteriorated. As such, the story that unfolds in Making Montgomery Clift . For him, the freedom to be selective about his roles was more important than money or fame. [78], Robbins is said to have conceived the basic plot of West Side Story after Clift shared the idea with him, according to actor Russ Tamblyn. In 1929, the Wall Street Crash hit Clift's father like a ton of bricks, and his mother's dreams disappeared in an instant. Suddenly, the Clift family was completely broke and had no choice to move to New York. He was one of Hollywoods most desirable leading men, but mystery shrouded his entire private life. Clift first met Elizabeth Taylor in 1949, and she felt an immediate attraction to him, according to People magazine. He was linked to actresses Libby Holman[64][65] and Phyllis Thaxter. Montgomery Clift didn't depart fast and beautiful like James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, nor did he enjoy the long and varied career of Marlon Brando. In one instant Montgomery Clift's life changed forever. Clift also took to drinking, and his addiction was well known amongst his colleagues. that benefits the victims. With Montgomery Clift, Robert Ryan, Myrna Loy, Dolores Hart. He earned an impressive four Academy Award nominations during his career. He owed his life to his close friend Taylor, who immediately went to help him when she learned of the incident. In one of the most evocative treasures in the Clift papers at the N.Y.P.L., this black-page scrapbook, titled My Trip West, details Clifts Depression-era visit to the American West. Clift later stated that he could never have finished the film without McDowall's moral support. He even appeared in the original production of Tennessee Williams' play "You Touched Me" (1945) (per Playbill). Gehman, Richard (1957) Montys Brush with Death, Photoplay, Vol. Literature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0), Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout. When James offered to join him, the belligerent shot him down immediately, crying, Absolutely not.Sadly, this was Montgomery Clifts final interaction. Clift's "Raintree Country" co-star Taylor remained with him at the accident scene and cradled his badly injured head till an ambulance arrived. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Taylor also threatened to end any photographer's career who dared to take a picture of the seriously wounded Clift. Clift's life was derailed, however, by a terrible car accident in 1956. We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. Determined to make it better, he made some key changesand they made allthe difference. More posts from the OldSchoolCool community. Malden and Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. This was described as "a power differential that would go on to structure the starstudio relationship for the next 40 years". To make it fair to James Dean, we would have to judge it on their first 3 roles each. Clift was only 45 years old when he died. Born on October 17, 1920, Edward Montgomery Clift was born into a family with lofty ideals. 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? Durham and London: Duke University Press. He had to undergo plastic surgery and increased his intake of alcohol and pain . Some believe that Clifts romantic leanings were much less of a secret than originally thought. Bosworth, Patricia (1978) Montgomery Clift: A Biography. Clift's body was taken to the city morgue about 2 miles (3.2km) away at 520 First Avenue, and autopsied. [60] According to Clift's brother, Clift was either gay or bisexual. During the filming of the movie in 1956, Taylor and her then-husband, Michael Wilding, had guests over for a party one night. Girelli, Elisabetta (2013) "Montgomery Clift Queer Star", Wayne University Press. Were always looking for your input! Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? He was one of Hollywoods most desirable leading men, but mystery shrouded his entire private life. 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. On the morning of July 23, 1966, Montgomery Clift's housemate couldn't wake the actor. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. 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.. Something was seriously wrong. 90.2k. 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. While the press assumed that Balaban and Clift were an item, Clift secretly dated British actor Roddy McDowall. After all, his leading lady was none other than the beguiling Elizabeth Taylor, and together, these two stars were pure fire. McCarthy had been driving in front of Clift when the crash occurred, and he thought that Clift had been killed. Instead, this postwar icon's career unglamorously petered out, the matinee idol and Method trailblazer losing his looks, suddenly, in a 1956 car accident and his reputation, more slowly, to the . In fact, his doctors considered it amazing that the actor had even pulled through. But this was only the beginning. Sprawled across The Metropolitan Museum of Arts iconic steps, the Met Gala 2023 red carpet welcomed a bevy of fashionable attendees to fashions biggest night. He had a small non-paying role. Download preview PDF. [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".