Dazzling the Screen Montgomery Clift

American actor Montgomery Clift was known for his portrayal of "moody, sensitive young men" and was a four-time Academy Award nominee. He died at the age of 45 due to a heart attack.

Director William Wyler directed the 1949 American romantic drama “The Heiress”. The film was adapted from the 1947 stage play of the same name by Ruth and Augustus Goetz. The play was adapted from the 1880 novel “Washington Square”. The film starred Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, and Ralph Richardson. Olivia de Havilland won her second Best Actress Award for her portrayal of Catherine Sloper.

The storyline revolves around Catherine Sloper (Olivia de Havilland), a naive young woman who falls in love with a handsome young man, Morris Townsend (Montgomery Clift), despite the objections of her emotionally abusive father, Dr. Austin Sloper (Ralph Richardson), who suspects the man of being a fortune hunter.

Director Vittorio De Sica directed the romantic drama “Indiscretion of an American Wife”. In Europe, it was known as “Terminal Station,” referring to the Roma Termini Railway Station in Rome, Italy. It starred Jennifer Jones, Montgomery Clift, and Richard Beymer.

The storyline revolves around a housewife, Mary Forbes (Jennifer Jones), who falls in love with a dashing Italian, Giovanni Doria (Montgomery Clift) while vacationing abroad.

Director John Huston directed the 1961 American romantic drama film “The Misfits”. The film is based on the 1957 short story of the same name by Arthur Miller. The film starred Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, and Montgomery Clift. This film was the last completed film for both Gable (who died three months before the premiere) and Monroe (who died a year after its release). (pictured above)

The storyline revolves around a newly divorced woman, Roslyn Taber (Marilyn Monroe),, and her relationships with a friendly landlady, Isabelle Steers (Thelma Ritter), an old school cowboy, Gaylord Langland (Clark Gable), his tow-truck driving and plane-flying best friend, Guido (Eli Wallach), and their rodeo-riding, bronco-busting friend, Perce Howland (Montgomery Clift).

Director George Stevens directed the 1951 American tragedy film “A Place in the Sun”. The film was based on the 1925 novel “An American Tragedy” by Theodore Dreiser and a 1926 play of the same name. The story was inspired by the murder of Grace Brown by Chester Gillette in 1906, which resulted in Gillette’s conviction and execution by electric chair in 1908. The film starred Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters, and Keefe Brasselle. Impressed by the performance of Raymond Burr, TV producer Gail Patrick cast the actor as Perry Mason. This film won six Academy Awards and the very first Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama.

The storyline tells of George Eastman (Montgomery Clift) starting to work for his rich uncle Charles Eastman (Herbert Heyes). At work at the factory, George starts secretly dating factory worker Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters). At an Eastman social event, he meets the rich socialite, Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor). They have a mutual attraction and fall in love. But then Alice tells him she is pregnant and expects him to marry her.

Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz directed the 1959 American Southern Gothic psychological drama/mystery “Suddenly Last Summer.” The film was adapted from the 1958 play of the same name by Tennessee Williams. It starred Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Montgomery Clift, with Albert Dekker, Mercedes McCambridge, and Gary Raymond. Elizabeth Taylor became known for her great adaptations of plays by Tennessee Williams, with this film being the second out of three. Taylor received a Golden Globe Award for her portrayal.

The storyline centers on Catherine Holly (Elizabeth Taylor), a young woman who, at the insistence of her wealthy aunt Violet "Vi" Venable (Katharine Hepburn), is being evaluated by a psychiatrist, Dr. John Cukrowicz (Montgomery Clift) to receive a lobotomy after witnessing the death of her cousin Sebastian Venable while traveling with him on the fictional island Cabeza de Lobo, the previous summer.

Director Edward Dmytryk directed the 1958 American epic war drama “The Young Lions”. The film was based on the 1948 novel of the same name by Irwin Shaw. It starred Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, and Dean Martin.

The storyline revolves around three disparate soldiers during WWII. A German Christian Diestl (Marlon Brando), disillusioned with Nazism, a Jewish American Noah Ackerman (Montgomery Clift) who has to deal with antisemitism within his own ranks, and an entertainer Michael Whiteacre (Dean Martin) drafted into service just as his career is taking off.