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Clift had shown an interest in acting and theatrics as a child living in Switzerland and France but did not take the initiative to go out for a part in a local production until age 13, when his family was forced to downsize and relocate from Chicago to Sarasota, Florida. All content, including text, and images contained on. He even appeared in the original production of Tennessee Williams' play "You Touched Me" (1945) (per Playbill). After a two-month recovery period, Clift returned to the set to finish the film. [60] According to Clift's brother, Clift was either gay or bisexual. As his eyes drifted closed, Clift suddenly veered off the road and drove straight into a telephone pole. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. But when he climbed into the room, he discovered something absolutely gut-wrenching. The autopsy report cited the cause of death as a heart attack brought on by "occlusive coronary artery disease". . | [18][19] He instead continued to flourish onstage and appeared in works by Moss Hart and Cole Porter, Robert Sherwood, Lillian Hellman, Tennessee Williams, and Thornton Wilder, creating the part of Henry in the original production of The Skin of Our Teeth. 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 . The crew of Raintree Country even had code words about his state of intoxication. An adopted child, his mother Sunny maintained that Clifts true maternal great-grandfathers were the US postmaster-general Montgomery Blair as well as Union commander Robert Anderson, a part of her lineage that was clarified to her (when she came of age) by Dr. Edward Montgomery, the family doctor who delivered her. However, the filming of The Misfits had a shadow lurking over it. Clift later stated that he could never have finished the film without McDowall's moral support. He was one of Hollywoods most desirable leading men, but mystery shrouded his entire private life. [73][74][75] In 1948, when Clift left Robbins to pursue a movie career in Hollywood, the announcement devastated Robbins. Clifts undated images depict a more mature Loy, with whom he starred in the 1958 film Lonelyhearts. While filmingRaintree County, Clift attended a dinner party at Taylors housebut sadly, he didnt make it home in one piece. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. In . Clifts papers include several undated, intimate, tender images of a young Elizabeth Taylor with one of her sons. Hollywood Stars. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. After filming wrapped, she tracked him down and spat directly in his face. Instead, he bided his time, and thankfully, luck was on his side. With the facial reconstruction, heavy painkiller use, and rampant alcohol abuse that took place . Were always looking for your input! A portrait of Montgomery Clift after his accident on 01 January, 1958 | Photo: Getty Images, After Clift's terrible car accident, the star faced some challenging moments in the movie industry. After the car accident, it was evident that Clift would need to adjust to his new limitations. if only because audiences would want to compare his face from before and after the accident. Director: George Stevens | Stars: Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters, Anne Revere. However, this changed after Clift's car accident that left his face in a terrible condition. 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. that benefits the victims. a plaque reading MONTGOMERY CLIFT LIVED HERE 1960-1966, which Clift's mother . 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 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. On January 13, 1963, a few weeks after the initial release of Freud, Clift appeared on the live television discussion program The Hy Gardner Show, where he spoke at length about the release of his current film, his film career, and treatment by the press. 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. After all, his leading lady was none other than the beguiling Elizabeth Taylor, and together, these two stars were pure fire. Not only would this film win him respect for his impeccable acting performance, but it would also fuel a brand new cycle of romance rumors. He was linked to actresses Libby Holman[64][65] and Phyllis Thaxter. Austin, TX: University of Austin Press, 90101. At the end of the day, Clifts private nurse Lorenzo James checked in on him just after midnight. He had a small non-paying role. And the cherry on top? The next year, Taylor used her status to wrangle an acting part for Clift; she demanded that he be a part ofSuddenly, Last Summer. Google Scholar. [72] Clift and Robbins camouflaged their relationship by dating women. [30] The film was awarded a screenwriting Academy Award for the credited writers. His own life had its tragic aspects (a terrible car accident that damaged his face, indulgence in drink and drugs, and sexual conflicts), but his filmography is worth a second, third, fourth, and fifth look: . [22] On May 24, 1944, he was part of the cast of Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness! Clift did the film without pay because he just wanted to tackle this character. Okay, if were being totally honest, Montgomery Clifts reserved lifestyle didnt exactly excite the press; it actually kind of stumped them. We want our readers to trust us. Taylor saved his life by climbing inside the wrecked car and pulled broken teeth from his throat. Montgomery Clift had the most earnest of faces: big, pleading eyes, a set jaw, and the sort of immaculate side part we haven't seen since. Barred from feature films, Clift turned to voice work. The accident severely damaged his face and many thought he wouldn't live. Minneapolis and London: University of Minnesota Press. Whlen Sie aus erstklassigen Inhalten zum Thema Montgomery Clift in hchster Qualitt. All rights reserved. Something was seriously wrong. This image is titled Cheval et Marnie, in Clifts handwriting. Every actor was in the midst of fighting their own demons. At the time of the premiere, Monroe had been admitted to a psychiatric ward and required a day pass just to attend. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For the latter, Clift committed to building strength and endurance, jogging laps around Hollywood High School as well as learning how to imitate playing the bugle and reading sheet music from trumpeter Mannie Klein for the role of middleweight boxer and bugle-playing soldier Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt. Whether platonic or not, these two actors shared an undeniable bond that was undeniably strengthened by this one unfortunate event. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Clift got his start on Broadway as a teen and, after turning down film roles for nearly a decade, finally accepted a part in 1948's . He used inner silence, unusual pauses in his speeches, awkward body movements. Brando: The Men, Streetcar Named Desire, Viva Zapata. Se encontraba en su apartamento de la calle 61, situado en el Upper East Side neoyorquino (conocido como el Brownstone).Supuestamente, su asistente le oy decir sus ltimas palabras cuando lo llam para que saliese de su habitacin, preguntndole si quiz le . (1951) Movies of the Week: A Place in the Sun, Life, 28 May: 478 and 50. Jared Leto, Doja Cat and More Pay Homage to Choupette, Karl Lagerfelds Cat and Heir, at the Met Gala 2023. His leading lady, Olivia de Havilland, disappointed him in every wayand his criticisms were downright brutal. He worked on a summer production where his talents blossomed and it opened an auspicious doorone that would seal his fate forever. Unlike many other actors, he didnt jump straight into a contract. Over two decades of friendship they made, separately and together, some of the era's defining movies-including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Misfits, Suddenly, Last Summer, and Cleopatra. Actor. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. Clift also took to drinking, and his addiction was well known amongst his colleagues. 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. London: BFI. Clift was driving a Chevrolet Bel Air sedan when the accident occurred. Sadly, his greatest friend Elizabeth Taylor could only send flowers from Rome. . AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. LeMassena remained a close friend to Clift until his death. His main acting rival (and fellow Omaha native), Marlon Brando, was so moved by Clift's performance that he voted for Clift to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, sure that he would win. White, Susan (2011) A Surface Collaboration: Hitchcock and Performance, in Thomas Leitch and Leland Poague (eds), A Companion to Alfred Hitchcock. Of course, when it came to his appearance, this gorgeous star really didnt give a hoot. Why not have a musical about Romeo and Juliet but make it with gangs in New York?' [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. 1 (July): 413 and 11112. Allegedly, Rock Hudson was there to pull Clift from the wreckage and it was Taylor who held the stricken actor in her arms. In 1959, Clift was slammed by film director Joseph Mankiewicz after Taylor noted that the star was still "vulnerable. That same year, he had a small but powerful role in "Judgment at Nuremberg," playing Polish man who testified during the Nazi trials about being sterilized, per the Los Angeles Times. Clift's body was taken to the city morgue about 2 miles (3.2km) away at 520 First Avenue, and autopsied. The star attempted to put the record straight, suggesting that, despite the immediate impact of the crash, he could now proclaim confidently: Im exactly the same as I was before. The evidence on screen, however, indicated otherwise. [citation needed]. "Georgia" meant bad, "Florida" very bad, and "Zanzibar" unworkable. He spent months in the hospital and had major plastic surgeries. While the press assumed that Balaban and Clift were an item, Clift secretly dated British actor Roddy McDowall. In 1929, the Wall Street Crash hit Clifts father like a ton of bricks, and his mothers dreams disappeared in an instant. And then there was the physical toll. It wasn't long before he made his way to New York City. McDowall starred with Clift in his final picture, The Defector. Later that same year, he appeared in Cole Porter's "Jubilee." Quite fittingly, he once said, The closer we come to the negative, todeath, the more we blossom. Even after his passing, his forever friend, Elizabeth Taylor, never forgot him. Part of Clift's mother's effort was her determination that her children should be brought up in the style of true aristocrats. You see, the entire healing process put Clift through the paces. Montgomery Clift may have been one of the most self-aware actors of his day, and he certainly knew the name of the game. As such, Taylors intervention only enhances the very real love story that existed between her and Clift. [23] In 1949, as part of the promotional campaign for the film The Heiress, he played Heathcliff in the one-hour version of Wuthering Heights for Ford Theatre. Hollywood's Montgomery Clift, who was highly wanted for his diverse acting skill in the industry, kept the public entertained during his time. War . 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. Malden and Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. Kramer, Stanley and Thomas M. Coffey (1997). Huge bouquets of flowers, including some from Elizabeth Taylor, flanked his coffin at the simple service in New York City, where his family, close friends and celebrities like Lauren Bacall bowed their heads in prayer.. In his one 12-minute cameo scene in Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), Clift played a developmentally disabled German baker who had been a victim of the Nazi sterilisation programme testifying at the Nuremberg trials. Edward Montgomery Clift was born on October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. James Naremores description of Clifts ravaged face in Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) aptly expresses the decline in the stars appearance following the accident. Montgomery Clift had passed due to a heart attack, but many assumed that his addictions and various health problems contributed to his early death. This page was last edited on 26 March 2023, at 00:06. Unlike many of his handsome contemporaries, he never had a blonde bombshell hanging off his arm. The pieces of the puzzle dont quite fit. He lived in a pampered bubbleuntil one day, it all came crashing down. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. Fellow actor Kevin McCarthy was driving ahead of Clift when the horror show went down. But just as Clift dove into this exciting new chapter, an unforeseen tragedy changedeverything. Clifts recuperation took months, and when he finally returned to set, there was more trouble afoot. He also talked publicly for the first time about his 1956 car accident, the injuries he received, and its aftereffects on his appearance. Not only did he rarely go out in public, but he also didnt date.