Not only did he rarely go out in public, but he also didnt date. He also helped bring a more natural acting style to film. ), Elizabeth Taylor, Roddy McDowell, Dean Martin, Kevin McCarthy, Marilyn Monroe, Jennifer Jones, Libby Holman, Thornton Wilder, Salka Viertel, Stewart Granger, Jack Larson, Oscar Levant, Pilar Levi, Giuseppe Perrone, Fred Zinnemann, Frank Sinatra, Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Abigail Tommye Adams. Until it sinks into a sentimental quagmire the end, the second movie excels first in being remarkably faithful to Dreisers tale of three pitiful youngsters and in telling the story with the same earnestness and breadth that have made the novel survive as a classic. 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. Nope. I am not one of Americas Angry Young Men. Whisked away to the morgue, Clifts body underwent an autopsy that shed some light on his sudden demise. He was the son of Ethel "Sunny" Anderson (Fogg; 1888-1988) and William Brooks Clift (1886-1964). Jack Larson, famous for playing Jimmy Olsen in the hit 1950s TV series Adventures of Superman, recalled how Clift gave him a full mouth kiss the first time they casually met. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. A bout five years ago, filmmaking duo Robert Clift and Hillary Demmon Clift decided to make a documentary about Robert's long-dead uncle. He wasnt solely an actor, she said. The results were not pretty. Born in 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska, Clift was raised like an aristocrat, with a private tutor and frequent trips to Europe. Clift cared nothing for appearances: the Los Angeles Times called him the Rumpled Movie Idol; he infamously owned only one suit. Contact sheet from LIFE photographer Peter Stackpoles shoot on a Paramount lot with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in 1950. Montgomery Clift Hid His Sexuality for Years but Elizabeth - AmoMama 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. 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. Whatever relationships Clift may have had, he was circumspect. Montgomery Clift - Biography - IMDb He got him going again. Of course, Clift took one of his greatest secrets to his grave. When The Heiresscame out, Clifts loyal fanatics came with their claws out and wrote vicious letters to Olivia de Havilland for rejecting Clifts character in the film. Indiscrecin de una esposa (1953) - IMDb He served in the Lincoln administration cabinet as Postmaster-General from 1861 to 1864, during the Civil War. 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. Picture 1 of 12 . (The director himself never met his famous uncle, having been born eight years after his death). It left him with chronic health issues for the rest of his life. He summoned a doctor, but it was already too late. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Their claims were deemed reliable because one of the biographers was certified by one of Clift's confidants. Montgomery Clift, Nando Bruno. Clift asserts that the actors use of alcohol and prescription drugs stemmed, primarily, from a near-fatal car accident in 1956. Follow her on Twitter @lizabethronk. Soon, Montgomery Clift became almost impossible to work with. Montgomery Clift as the confused, likable, rather stupid social climber; Shelley Winters as the dowdy working girl; Elizabeth Taylor as the dazzling rich girl. 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. In 1929, the Wall Street Crash hit Clifts father like a ton of bricks, and his mothers dreams disappeared in an instant. The true story of Montgomery Clift, as told by his youngest nephew Making Montgomery Clift explodes the myths surrounding the Hollywood star and queer icon. The pieces of the puzzle dont quite fit. ': 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. He looked about ten years older than the Montgomery Clift audiences remembered and adored. Finally, Clift had a chance to climb out of his slumpbut before he made it over the top, tragedy struck. At the end of the day, Clifts private nurse Lorenzo James checked in on him just after midnight. But the press will always be the press, and no amount of Montgomery Clifts ire could change that. . An inside look at the actors secretive love life. The truth didnt come out until the 70s. Lessons from the Lives of Celebrities: Actor, Montgomery (Monty) Clift There were even speculations that he was warned about being gay. She wouldnt die for another year and a half, but Misfits would be her last completed film. (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. 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. 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!. Montgomery Clift spent a miserly 10 dollars a month on what his friends referred to as a beat up apartment. An interviewer once asked him what his hobbies were, Clift replied, "women. He also didnt want to sign a contract with a studio, then the only viable way into the business. More, it analyzes the new view of masculine beauty he helped introduce to the screen. Contemporaries like James Dean and Marlon Brando also did. "Monty," as his family called him, was the son of William Clift, a. Clift simply wasnt cut out for school, and unlike his siblings, turned his back on higher education. True or not, the resilience of the story is a testimony to what people wanted to believe about the bond between the two stars. While on his way back, he had an accident. It turned into John Cassavetes' "Too Late Blues," with Bobby Darrin. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. Fed up with the script, Clift desperately wanted to change her lines, saying, She isnt giving me enough to respond [to]. Of course, poor de Havilland soon had more than just her prickly love interest to contend with. Montgomery Clift had an encounter with Marlon Brando. While filmingThe Search,he asked the director to reshoot a scene for one baffling reason: He called a boy dear. But that wasnt all. Suddenly, Last Summer (1959), Columbia Pictures, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Larger Than Life Facts About Milton Berle, The King Of TV, Vulgar Facts About Lenny Bruce, Stand-Up Comedys Virtuous Villain, Daring Facts About Gina Lollobrigida, Golden Hollywoods Last Survivor, Stunning Facts About Yvonne De Carlo, The Technicolor Queen. "Bobby was a very fine actor, but as you can imagine, he was no Montgomery Clift," she said. Montgomery Clift was in relationships with Sal Mineo, Paul Newman, Henry Willson, Jack Larson, William LeMassena, Libby Holman, Maurice Leonard and Arnold Saint Subber. In his words, I learned that most writers dont need interviews to write about me. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. . Clift gained actual scars from some filming mishaps. Teach, I loved the way how he played in A Place in the Sun. Montgomery Clift - Biography As he lay wounded in the arms of his dear friend, Clift began choking and pointing to his throat. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? American Actor Montgomery Clift was born Edward Montgomery Clift on 17th October, 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA and passed away on 23rd Jul 1966 Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA aged 45. Soon, the washed-up actor was completely out of work. Peace. Monroe and Taylor are shadowed by Montgomery. While he never excelled at school, his extraordinary abilities as an actor. 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. 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. So the fan magazines got creative: the August 1949 cover of Movieland, for example, featured a grinning, suited, respectable-looking Clift paired with the tantalizing headline Making Love the Clift Way. But when readers looked inside the magazine, all they found was a two-page spread of stills from The Heiress, featuring Clift in various stages of flirtation with Olivia de Havilland, extrapolating that Clifts kissing style was soft yet possessively brutal; pleading, but demanding all. . However, he became more comfortable with her and eventually found it easy to open up about his sexuality. Clift, of course, knew better. 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. He spent a great deal of time and money on psychiatry.In 1956, during filming of Raintree County (1957), he ran his Chevrolet into a tree after leaving a party at Elizabeth Taylor's; it was she who saved him from choking by pulling out two teeth lodged in his throat. . 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. In this exclusive excerpt from her forthcoming book, Anne. 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. In The Young Lions (1958), released just two years after the accident, the pain and resentment seem almost visible. (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. He was only 15 years old, but this wasnt just a fun pastimeit was serious business. 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. Indiscretion of An American Wife - amazon.com 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. But this was only the beginning. RIP GEORGOUS MONTY. Montgomery Clift's full name is Edward Montgomery Clift and his nickname is Montgomery Clift. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. A four-time Oscar nominee who died at 45, Montgomery Clift was a bright young talent, a tabloid fixture, and a posthumous gay icon. 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. Regardless of the veracity of this story, one thing remains true: theres not a single picture of Clifts broken face. Although he may not have realized it, Clifts horrific accident sparked the beginning of the end, intensifying his preexisting ailments and sending him down a dark path from which he could never return. Montgomery Clift Born: 1920-10-17, Omaha, Nebraska, USA Education: NA Ethnicity: Caucasian Death Date:-0001-11-30 Addition Websites. Montgomery Clift (1920-1966) is one of the most tragic figures in Hollywood history. He worked on a summer production where his talents blossomed and it opened an auspicious doorone that would seal his fate forever. 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. In this exclusive excerpt from her forthcoming book, Anne Helen Petersen recounts the actors lonely life, ferocious talent, and tragic decline. I am not one of Americas Angry Young Men. (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 an undeniably attractive man, and before long, he'd cultivated a rather passionate female fan base. Indiscrecin de una esposa: Dirigido por Vittorio De Sica. A seeming exception was one in his final years with a man named Lorenzo who had been hired to help him. 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. Yet, according to a new documentary, titled Making Montgomery Clift, the stars substance abuse had nothing at all to do with his sexuality. 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. There are a few versions that detail the aftermath of Clifts accident, but one has all the drama of a motion picture itself. "Indiscretion of an American Wife" romance and drama movie produced in Italy and USA and released in 1953. Her interests include the European Renaissance, popular culture, and Internet history. Taylor talked about the need for staunch support for gay people and their rights. 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. Because of the accident, the studio worried about the success of Raintree County. For somewhat mysterious reasons, Robert Clifts father Brooks taped endless conversations with his famous brother, as well as with their mother and other figures relevant to the story. MONTY YOU WERE THE BEST!!! Taylor, caught up in filming with Richard Burton in Paris, sent flowers to the funeral. But even the troubled blonde bombshell recognized that her co-star was in dire straits. As such, Taylors intervention only enhances the very real love story that existed between her and Clift. Clifts recuperation took months, and when he finally returned to set, there was more trouble afoot. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Thats not what people would expect from a mother in that period.. The next morning, James returned to Clifts room to rouse him but found the door locked. Clift detested Waynes antiquated male constraints. 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! Next came "The Nutty Professor" as Lewis' student, Stella Purdy, who he is infatuated with. You`ve being alwasy an inspiration for me. Apparently, one of Clifts tooths had pierced his tongue, causing him to choke. 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. But right as filming began, he realized that hed made a terrible mistake. But the troubled star. In a new documentary, myths and assumptions about the Oscar-nominated heartthrob who struggled with his sexuality are replaced with the little-known truth. In Clifts eyes, de Havilland imparted nothing of herself into the role. 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. While filmingRaintree County, Clift attended a dinner party at Taylors housebut sadly, he didnt make it home in one piece. There were questions about the woman in his life and why he was single. . Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hitchcock's I CONFESS (DVD, 1953); M CLIFT, A BAXTER. 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. The subject matter, which involved him assisting in the cover-up of a dead mans apparent homosexuality, must have sparked mixed emotions. About a month afterThe Misfitswrapped, Gable suffered a heart attack and passed. Years before, Clift had battled dysentery, which introduced him to the sinister side effects of pain management. The film went on to win six Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Screenplay, and is now hailed as a (flawed) classic. The long suicide was complete. Production resumed on Raintree County, which the studio feared would fail following Clifts accident. Months of surgeries, rebuilding, and physical therapy followed. 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. Lancaster's first wife, June Ernst, was, like her mother before her, a renowned acrobat. While she sounds apologetic, the changes were never made. (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. said: Oh. His decline was never explicitly evoked, but with his visage in Raintree County, it was there for all to see. Who is Montgomery Clift dating? Montgomery Clift girlfriend, wife 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. Clift had a rather negative notion about Taylor even before meeting her. He called it as he saw it, describing himself as an ordinary, second-class wolf.. By 15, Clift made his Broadway debut in Cole Porters Jubilee. Realizing that Clift was in mortal danger, McCarthy raced to the scene of the accident. 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. Taylor immediately stuck her delicate, little hand down his throat and removed the obstruction. yo tambien hubiera tenido algo con el claro que si, Monty, I love you. So finely Charles Castillo, author of "Elizabeth & Monty: The Untold Story," shared that the actress tried to seduce Clift. However, one salient fact remains: Clifts ruined face never made it to the papersIn fact, not one photograph of that night exists. He died. Were not trying to give a definitive version of who Monty was, added Clift. What a pity hes a The Search _ 1948 DVD Montgomery Clift Aline MacMahon Wendell Corey V Montgomery Clift's nephew, co-directing 'Making Montgomery Clift,' an eye-opening documentary about the great movie actor, excavates a treasure trove of family archives. They took a risk on the troubled actorand it endedbadly. He started out in films in the late 1940's and immediately made a name for himself with his good looks and emotionally raw performances. Universal Studios actuallysued him for the losses they incurred because of his troublesome behavior. Who is Montgomery Clift dating? 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. He didnt want the studios to dictate the kinds of roles he would play, his nephew said. 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. Sensitive. It was unheard of, especially for a young star, but it was a sellers market. Hollywood began to see him as hostile and messy and frugal, and Clift wasnt having it. But when he climbed into the room, he discovered something absolutely gut-wrenching. Can he still feel?). Making Montgomery Clift - Wikipedia He has a ghastly, shattered expression. And it wasnt just in private record: in October 1956, Louella Parsons reported on Clifts very bad health and Holmans attempts to clean him up. . Oh dear. However, Clift's sexuality was not much of a secret within the movie industry. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. A four-time Academy Award nominee, The New York Times said he was known for his portrayal of "moody, sensitive young men". Tom Sizemore's acting dreams and troubled journey began in Detroit ), 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. He pointed out that she just let the director determine her every move. Some sources have the crash occurring when Clift was leaving the event, while others state he was on his way there. The script wasnt necessarily that special, but it would give him a chance to re-unite with Elizabeth Taylor, and that, it seemed, was enough to pull him out of semi-retirement. 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. She noted that they needed to live a life of equality while being able to get married and adopt kids. Director: William Wyler | Stars: Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson, Miriam Hopkins Votes: 16,212 4. She made it known that it all boiled down to love. Indeed, it was his apparent lack of romantic attachments that confounded the gossip press the most. It has a good rating on IMDb: 6.2 stars out of 10. Beautiful man. She would wield considerable influence over the early part of his film career, advising him in decisions to decline lead roles in Sunset Blvd. It was reported that Taylor even tried to help him find a partner. Montgomery Clift girlfriend, wife list. 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 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. Even the press seemed to unintentionally hit upon the one thing he wanted to keep hidden, with titles like Two Loves Has Monty and Monty Clift: Woman Hater or Free Soul?. July 22, 1966, was a sweltering day in New York City, and Montgomery Clift had been languishing in his townhouse on 61st Street. 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. Firstly, he didnt even like Hollywood, preferring to stay in New York as much as he could. Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor in A Place in the Sun. Whether platonic or not, these two actors shared an undeniable bond that was undeniably strengthened by this one unfortunate event. Watch 'Indiscretion of an American Wife' Online Streaming (Full Movie But 1961 audiences were too close to the day-to-day deterioration of its stars to see the meditative genius of The Misfits. You couldn't help but come. Edward Montgomery Clift (; October 17, 1920 July 23, 1966) was an American actor. Of course, Clifts words had always been futile in the face of Hollywood.