In Truman Capotes unpublished novel Answered Prayers, for example, the author imagines a dinner party between Clift, Dorothy Parker, and flamboyant stage actress Tallulah Bankhead: . They went to London to see Laurence Olivier together, ate together, sat in front of the fire together, Clift said. Travel back in time with treasured photos and stories, sent right to your inbox. Finally, Clift had a chance to climb out of his slumpbut before he made it over the top, tragedy struck. Indiscrecin de una esposa: Dirigido por Vittorio De Sica. His . Welcome to Who Is Montgomery Clift?, a page dedicated to showcasing actors & movie makers of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Of course, Clift didnt walk away unscathed either. 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. He looked about ten years older than the Montgomery Clift audiences remembered and adored. 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. He also sunk into alcoholism, of which Taylor and some other friends tried to help him. In the rife, overstuffed annals of Hollywood, few real-life love stories can match that of Liz Taylor and Montgomery Clift. Montgomery Clift (1920-1966) is one of the most tragic figures in Hollywood history. Beautiful man. Over the next decade, the burgeoning actor dug his heels in and made a name for himself on the stage. 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? And yet, the mystery persists. Luckily, his isolated lifestyle gave him an advantage. Woodbury Blair was the son of Montgomery Blair, after whom his great-grandson received his middle name, and wife Mary Elizabeth Woodbury, daughter of Levi Woodbury (1789-1851), United States Supreme Court, and wife Elizabeth Wendell Clapp. A bout five years ago, filmmaking duo Robert Clift and Hillary Demmon Clift decided to make a documentary about Robert's long-dead uncle. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Peter Stackpole The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock. 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? Nearly all his good looks are gone, Isherwood wrote. 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. He surely wasnt a suave Prince Charming, and yet, on-screen, he was a downright masterpiece. He was such a mess on the set of Freud (1962) that Universal sued him. All rights reserved. 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. The Big Lift (1950) Approved | 120 min | Drama, War 6.4 Rate During the peak period of his career, the actor and some Hollywood friends were returning from a party held at Taylor's home. July 22, 1966, was a sweltering day in New York City, and Montgomery Clift had been languishing in his townhouse on 61st Street. But if you look at his own words, his testimonies about what acting did to him, youll see the culprit. However, even with all the negative hubbub surrounding this shoot, it was nothing compared to the darkness of one of Clifts next projects. Elizabeth Taylor stuck by her friends, and Montgomery Clift undoubtedly claimed a special spot in her heart. The next morning, James returned to Clifts room to rouse him but found the door locked. Another confidant said his personal life didnt bother him. 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. 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. (He never won an Academy Award, although most movie aficionados feel he deserved at least one, for his unforgettable turn as the tortured Robert E. Lee Prewitt in From Here to Eternity.). 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). But even though his marred looks never made it to the headlines, for Clift, the horror was far from over. / Cut the applause and dim the light. His parents were Quakers and met as students at Cornell University, marrying in 1914. Edward Montgomery Clift was born on October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. . To help build their case, the film-makers had rare access to the actors archives. The entire experience had a cursed tinge to it, and before long, it left disaster in its wake. Hes so beautiful, murmured Miss Parker. Contemporaries like James Dean and Marlon Brando also did. And even more shocking? Lorenzo was one of the reasons.. It wasnt until years after his tragic passing that Clifts darkest secret finally came out. The surgeries led to the use of strong painkillers. . . They seem to have their stories all written out beforehand.. 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. In 1929, the Wall Street Crash hit Clifts father like a ton of bricks, and his mothers dreams disappeared in an instant. However, his worry began to mount when the actor didnt respond to his insistent knocking. Con Jennifer Jones, Montgomery Clift, Gino Cervi, Richard Beymer. Following The Misfits, Clifts disintegration continued. . Some believe that Clifts romantic leanings were much less of a secret than originally thought. Close friends, such as actor Kevin McCarthy and his wife, tried to get Clift to slow down and dry out, but their pleas . What happened next has since become the stuff of Hollywood legend. ), 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. Picture Information. While filming a 15-minute supporting role as a mentally handicapped victim of the Holocaust in Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), he had to ad-lib all of his lines. 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. He also helped bring a more natural acting style to film. made. It was, however, much olderby the time Raintree County made its way to theaters, hed been off the screen for four and a half years. What finally brought him back to the screen? While filmingThe Search,he asked the director to reshoot a scene for one baffling reason: He called a boy dear. But that wasnt all. Of course, by this time, Clifts drinking problems werent much of a secret, making him a liability to the studio. But while Clift certainly seemed like a budding Hollywood heartthrob on the outside, in reality, he wasfar from it. Their. On the morning of July 23, 1966, Montgomery Clift's housemate couldn't wake the actor. Firstly, he didnt even like Hollywood, preferring to stay in New York as much as he could. Clift was there, as were actors Kevin McCarthy and Rock Hudson, and Hudson's wife, Phyllis Gates, per Vanity Fair. Next came "The Nutty Professor" as Lewis' student, Stella Purdy, who he is infatuated with. Absolutely stunning. Along with Marlon Brando and James Dean, he helped delineate a new paradigm for American cinematic heroes. He was lonely, yet with the help of his refusal to live in Los Angeles or participate in caf society, he was able to keep his private life private. And so he remains frozen in the popular imagination, circa From Here to Eternitythose high cheekbones, that set jaw, the firm stare: a magnificent, proud, tragically broken thing to behold. There were no wild outings for this reserved homebody. You`ve being alwasy an inspiration for me. 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. Sal Mineo and Montgomery Clift had a relationship Montgomery Clift is rumored to have hooked up with Paul Newman Henry Willson and Montgomery Clift had a relationship Jack Larson and Montgomery Clift had a relationship William LeMassena and Montgomery Clift had a relationship Montgomery Clift and Libby Holman had a relationship Maurice Leonard and Montgomery Clift had a relationship Arnold Saint Subber and Montgomery Clift had a relationship Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando shared a link: https://www.allmovie.com/artist/montgomery-clift-p13682, I never used to like him until I saw 'The Heiress' he really was gorgeous, it's such a shame his life was unhappy. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. However, one salient fact remains: Clifts ruined face never made it to the papersIn fact, not one photograph of that night exists. There were even speculations that he was warned about being gay. A documented conversation between two stars, Tallulah Bankhead and Dorothy Parker, during a dinner party also showed that there was knowledge among stars that Clift was gay. 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. But when he climbed into the room, he discovered something absolutely gut-wrenching. cocksucker. Then, sweetly, wide-eyed with little girl navet, she 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. It was reported that Taylor even tried to help him find a partner. His leading lady, Olivia de Havilland, disappointed him in every wayand his criticisms were downright brutal. Login Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Ex-lover Larson said in the film that Clift actually preferred his work after the accident to his performances before. "Bobby was a very fine actor, but as you can imagine, he was no Montgomery Clift," she said. He is most remembered for A Place In The Sun (1951) & From Here To Eternity (1953).. His zodiac sign is Libra. 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. Montgomery Clift 39 30. But 1961 audiences were too close to the day-to-day deterioration of its stars to see the meditative genius of The Misfits. . Realizing that Clift was in mortal danger, McCarthy raced to the scene of the accident. (1950), (originally written specifically for him; the story perhaps hitting a little too close to home) and High Noon (1952).His long apprenticeship on stage made him a thoroughly accomplished actor, notable for the intensity with which he researched and approached his roles. d-d-darling, I r-r-really wouldnt know. She would wield considerable influence over the early part of his film career, advising him in decisions to decline lead roles in Sunset Blvd. Unlike Rock Hudson, whose affairs were very nearly exposed to the entire nation by Confidential, Clift never made the pages of the scandal rags. Her interests include the European Renaissance, popular culture, and Internet history. 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. Clift detested Waynes antiquated male constraints. American actor Montgomery Clift was spectacular on the big screen for his portrayal of sensitive male characters. Benign to most but, in hindsight, highly suggestive. 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. Of course, as unusual as his lifestyle seemed, healso had a number of interesting routines. Luckily, over time, they clawed their way back to financial security. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in A Place in the Sun. His other side was mostly hidden and only became widely known after he passed on, thanks to his friend and colleague Elizabeth Taylor. A young naive woman falls for a handsome young man who her emotionally abusive father suspects is a fortune hunter. Soon, Montgomery Clift became almost impossible to work with. A seeming exception was one in his final years with a man named Lorenzo who had been hired to help him. He had a holistic view.. Will she ride the term to Oscar gold? It was a huge wager: since everyone knew how much booze and pills Clift was on, he was virtually uninsurable on set. Even his diet was rather spartan: orange juice, steak, and eggs. Their claims were deemed reliable because one of the biographers was certified by one of Clift's confidants. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. 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. Not only did he rarely go out in public, but he also didnt date. You see, the reason behind Montgomery Clifts barren dating life was rather simple: He was gay. And then there was the physical toll. Montgomery Clift Hid His Sexuality for Years but Elizabeth Taylor Knew His Secret & Revealed It after His Death By Olowokandi Fiyin Aug 14, 2021 04:00 P.M. Montgomery Clift made a name for himself in Hollywood with several awards and nominations. Liz Ronk edited this gallery for LIFE.com. 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. Were always looking for your input! Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from Life to Compact Cars and Trucks to A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius. Well get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics youre interested in. Clift, of course, knew better. You see, when Clift sat down to read through the script for The Search,he was less than enthused with the writing. Peace. Which gives that narrative a lot of traction. While his brother claimed that Clift was bisexual, writer Truman Capotes unpublished work alludes to Clifts gayness quite explicitly. 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. 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. Hollywood began to see him as hostile and messy and frugal, and Clift wasnt having it. 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. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Sumner Redstone in Love: The Cringey Sexcapades of a Horny Billionaire, The elderly media titan flexed his MTV ownership, rang his grandson at 3 a.m. for hookups with new women, and rewarded companions with stock options and TV shows. 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. Connect any celebrity with Montgomery Clift to see how closely they are linked romantically! In Clifts eyes, de Havilland imparted nothing of herself into the role. 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. 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. His interests lay elsewhere. According to this version of the story, when photographers arrived, Taylor announced that she knew each and every one of them personally-- and if they took pictures of Clift, who was still very much alive, shed make sure they never worked in Hollywood again. She noted that they needed to live a life of equality while being able to get married and adopt kids. Still, unlike other notable gay actors, any affairs Montgomery Clift had were secured behind a lock and key. 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. This year the young man . I Confess - Hitchcock - His Life in Pictures Magazine Pictorial [United Kingdom] (June 2022), Montgomery Clift - Retro Magazine Pictorial [Poland] (May 2022), Montgomery Clift - Pani domu Magazine Pictorial [Poland] (August 2011). His father made a lot of money in banking but was quite poor during the depression. His body was found by his live-in personal secretary/companion Lorenzo James, who found Clift lying nude on top of his bed, dead from what the autopsy called "occlusive coronary artery disease." In remembering Clift, McCarthy said, his face was torn awaya bloody pulp. ufff q hombre tan guapo y atractivo, y grn actor ademas, como me hubiese gustado conocerlo con unos ojos maravillosos. But this was only the beginning. In its May 28, 1951, issue, meanwhile, LIFE magazine wrote of A Place in the Sun: It is easy for an ambitious young man to get himself involved simultaneously with a simple-hearted girl who lives in a cheap boarding house and an extravagant rich girl who gives gay parties. He knew that people would flock to the cinema just to see his damaged face. I am not one of Americas Angry Young Men. In all honesty, his face wasnt horribly changed at all, but there was one shocking difference. By 1950, he was troubled with allergies and colitis (the U.S. Army had rejected him for military service in World War II for chronic diarrhea) and, along with pill problems, he was alcoholic. His mother wanted all of her children to be raised as distinguished aristocrats, and as such, little Clift and his siblings received an elite upbringing: private tutors, extensive travel, and language lessons. Thanks for your help! After Eternity he dropped out of Hollywood for several years, and signed a three-year contract with MGM in 1955 to make Raintree County, which re-united him with his Place in the Sun co-star Elizabeth Taylor. In Montgomery Clift: A Biography, author Patricia Bosworth describes Monty's father Bill as passive, good-natured, and very dependent on his charismatic wife, Sunny. 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. In one tape made by his father in the 1960s, we hear the stars mother tell him, with untroubled candor, that Monty was a homosexual early. But the press will always be the press, and no amount of Montgomery Clifts ire could change that. A still of Montgomery Clift. Whether platonic or not, these two actors shared an undeniable bond that was undeniably strengthened by this one unfortunate event. He was the son of Francis Preston Blair, elder brother of Francis Preston Blair Jr. and cousin of B. Gratz Brown . 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. 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. Or, as Bosley Crowther, taking the populist slant in The New York Times, explained, the characters were amusing, but they were also shallow and inconsequential, and that is the dang-busted trouble with this film.. Montgomery Clift girlfriend, wife list. The Clift picture didn't pan out either, at least with her promised co-star. Oh dear. Adopted at the age of one, his mother was told by a well-intentioned doctor years later that she was the offspring of Southern aristocrats, so she chose to raise her own children accordingly. However, this was no quick fix. Although hed only been away from Hollywood for four and a half years, the handsome Montgomery Clift looked incrediblyoldand the reason was downright heartbreaking. He could barely remember his lines and often didnt show up to set. It turned into John Cassavetes' "Too Late Blues," with Bobby Darrin. 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. 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. 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! Every actor was in the midst of fighting their own demons. He may have been lonely but the distance he put between his public life and his work life helped keep his mysterious bachelorhood in check. 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. The pieces of the puzzle dont quite fit. Soon, the washed-up actor was completely out of work. William Brooks Clift (Was A Vice-President Of Omaha National Trust Company. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. They took a risk on the troubled actorand it endedbadly. Clift wasn't one to hide a feeling, which made him a great actor and also a terrible straight man. 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. His own mother, in a voice recording played in Making Montgomery Clift, said, "Monty was a . That, combined with his spiraling alcohol addiction, wrung the youth right out of the handsome actor. 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. Anthony Geary Was Elizabeth Taylor's 'Boy Toy' 'The Worse Thing' He Said about Her Was That They Were Friends, Helen Mirren Is 'Heartbroken' by Stepson Rio's Death Inside Her Life as a Stepmother, Richard Chamberlain Was Married to Secret Partner of 33 Years - They Split 7 Years after Actors Coming Out, Samuel L Jackson & Wife Are Married for 41 Years & 'Still Love Each Other' Though They Took 10 Years to Wed, Richard Chamberlain Had an Affair with Younger Wesley Eure Then Broke His Heart by Falling for Another Man, Barbara Hale Was Close with Raymond Burr's Partner after Star's Death - He Kept Their Relationship a Secret for 35 Years, 'Yellowstone' star Taylor Sheridan's Enduring 8-Year Marriage with Wife Who Left Her Career & Moved with Him, Ben Stiller & Christine Taylor's Reunion They Reportedly Gave Their Marriage a 2nd Chance in 2019, Martin Sheen's Four Children Follow in His Footsteps - One of Them Also Inherited His Vices, Robert Reed Was a Doting Father He Refused Visitors except for His Daughter & Friend before His Death, Delving into Taylor Kinney and Lady Gaga's Relationship after Their Unexpected Split, Helen Mirren's 'Fate Was Sealed' When Her Husband Divorced His Ex Yet They Only Married 14 Years Later, Jim Nabors Solidified Love to Partner of 38 Years after Being Called Names by Co-stars Due to His Sexuality, Rock Hudson Visited Doris Day Before His Death While Hiding His Illness The Actors Final Months. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hitchcock's I CONFESS (DVD, 1953); M CLIFT, A BAXTER. In the bathroom, James found Clift in his bathtub, undressed and obviously deceased. This would not only show off his range but allow him to sidestep any dangers of typecasting. Instead, Clift enjoyed reading, filling his spare moments with Chekov and Aristotlediving into history, or learning about economics. Still, his second venture was perhaps even more of an impressive feat. A successful man in the business world, Bill nevertheless deferred to this strong-willed, opinionated woman at home. Sensitive, mysterious, brooding, and suspiciously single. Born on October 17, 1920, Edward Montgomery Clift was born into a family with lofty ideals. Clift, however, lived a two-faceted life concerning his sexuality. In 1961, Montgomery Clift went on to star alongside some of Hollywoods greatest legendsMarilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. Clift had a fraternal twin sister, Roberta, and a brother, William Brooks Clift Jr, who had an illegitimate son with actress Kim Stanley. Montgomery Clift Born: 1920-10-17, Omaha, Nebraska, USA Education: NA Ethnicity: Caucasian Death Date:-0001-11-30 Addition Websites. Montgomery Edward "Monty" Clift (October 17, 1920 - July 23, 1966) was an American movie, television, radio, and stage actor who is known for his roles in From Here to Eternity, A Place in the Sun, The Misfits, Red River, and in Judgement at Nuremberg.He was nominated four times for an Academy Award.His great-great-grandfather was politician Francis Preston Blair. After filming wrapped, she tracked him down and spat directly in his face. (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. Contact sheets from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpole's shoot on a Paramount lot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. 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. A Place In The Sun (1951) & From Here To Eternity (1953). In truth, his face wasnt truly disfigured. Free Postage. A portrait of Elizabeth Taylor And Montgomery Clift from the film "A Place In The Sun", 1951 | Photo: Getty Images. While they may not make old-timers forget the Greta Garbo-John Gilbert embraces of the 20s, Miss Taylor and Mr. Clift lose no chance to show why they are considered two of the hottest juveniles in Hollywood. Of course, Clift took one of his greatest secrets to his grave. I mean, he is a to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. But Clift knew the film would be a smash, if only because audiences would want to compare his long unseen face from before and after the accident. 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. He advanced a collaborative approach with his directors, working over scripts and making suggestions for edits. Clifts recuperation took months, and when he finally returned to set, there was more trouble afoot. While on his way back, he had an accident. 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.