Elvis Mitchell and Richard Gere was talking about him on TCM. I made a mental note to check a movie he is in. To my good fortune the next week, From Here to Eternity came on. I never saw it before and decided to watch. I always liked Burt Lancaster. I figured for him alone it would be good. Poor Burt got pushed to the side when I saw him:
Montgomery Clift.As soon as he walked on the screen, I was transfixed. He is beautiful to me. It wasn’t just his looks that captured me. There was an energy to him that radiated on the screen. I literary felt his presence reach across time and space to touch me all the way in 2009. By the end of the movie, I had lost my heart.
His birthday was on the 17th which was the day of the blog party. I wanted to at least dedicate a post to him even it’s a few days later. I’m sure he won’t mind.
What is my favorite Monty film so far? Oh, that is hard to pick. From over the half of his movies I have seen, there are scenes and moments which stick into my head. My goal is to finish all his movies this year.
If you have never seen any of his films..well I recommend to start with:
From Here to Eternity
A Place in The Sun
The Heiress
These three are all radically different characters and Monty fully inhabits each one. I finally finished the trilogy of films he made with Elizabeth Taylor: A Place in The Sun, Raintree County and Suddenly, Last Summer.
Monty and Liz have to be one of my favorite on screen couples. When they are on screen together, everyone else fades in the background.Montgomery Clift inspires me with his commitment and passion to acting. Something that can erode as an actor when you are exhausted from auditioning, networking and doing all the business of actor. He reminded me that pouring myself into acting is one of the reason I wanted to be an actor in the first place. I want to burn up the screen like Monty does.
I wish you Happy Birthday Monty. Thank you for all these wonderful movies you have left behind. Thank you for reminding me why I love acting.
PS. Before I go, I want to give out big hugs for all the love for my faerie story on Saturday. Also a big thank you to Anakin who took the pictures of me. Without you, it would never have gotten done. Also to Marcus Patrick for being the gorgeous muse for my Raven. I don't know Marcus personally, if he ever reads this thank you, too.
I know I have posted this before. I can never get tired of this scene. I like to imagine he is saying this to me.
17 comments:
Oh yes he was something wasn't he? I loved him in the Heiress with Olivia de Havilland (I think). Suddenly Last Summer I thought was a bit disturbing. I also liked The Misfits with Marilyn Monroe. He was born on the 17th? That's my son's birthday.
I think Montgomery led a rather sad life and died too young.
I love it when you post about these old movies and actors.
I have had a crush on Cary Grant forever. My daughter as well. She refers to him as her "favorite old dead guy."
Hello Dear Shell,
I love when you share all these old vintage movies with us. He was quite the handsome one for sure.:o) Hope your week is going absolutely wonderful. Enjoy a beautiful day.
Smiles...
Beverly
I always thought he was gorgeous and had such great intensity - much like another favorite of mine, Gregory Peck. this scene is absolutely swoony - what a beautiful couple!
I am so glad I know you - this is a wonderful and poetic tribute to my all time favorite actor and movie. The clip made me teary- so beautiful .
I can't believe my good fortune - getting to know a creative sprit like you has brightened my path on so many levels. I know you will be mentioned in this same light for your acting . You really will. I just know it.
Love and hugs to you and Happy Birthday Monty - you are loved.
Ps- I did a post one time about my kids all being named after favorite past actors and Ella Fitzgerald I wish I had a montgomery:)
When I was younger I had a crush on Elvis Presley! Every saturday afternoon I was in front of the t.v. watching his movies. I wanted to be the girl he fell in love with in the movie! Thank you for your visit to GirlWhimsy, today, Have a lovely evening!
http://girlwhimsy.blogspot.com
I haven't seen a Montgomery Clift movie since I was a young girl; I need to go back and watch again! Movies of that period were just so wonderful. Less graphic violence and language; the movies would lead our imaginations along instead of clobbering us with CGI. Thanks, Shell!
He was touching, removed yet instantly familiar. I really recommend "Judgement at Nuremburg" and "Wild River" with Lee Remick. Beyond his beauty, his sensitivity was unique and these roles proved that.
I found this lovely quote a Hollywood press agent who knew him in the 40's stated which I thought you might like,
"Right off he was labeled an outsider. The minute you refuse to play the game in Hollywood exactly as they want it, and that means totally giving up your body and your soul and your guts to becoming a STAR, you become an outsider. The minute you have integrity - which is what Monty had - you are an outsider. The minute you refuse to sell yourself as a commodity, a product, the agent and producers and directors who literally feed off talent call you an outsider, and it is much harder to survive. Hollywood couldn't have cared less that Monty preferred to live in New York and disapproved of the pap about himself in fan magazines. To survive being a star in Hollywood like Humphrey Bogart or Gary Cooper, you have to be sensitive and ruthless, humble and arrogant. Monty was sensitive. Period."
And here's a picture for you,
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3884292096/nm0001050
Very handsome, I can see why you might be swept away. Kevin Costner does that for me, it's not his looks really or even his acting its just... well... he's so dreamy!
Happy friday, my dear
xo-jj
Montgomery Clift was a most extraordinary specimen. His eyes and the near perfect symmetry of his face made him the perfect leading man.
He was one of my mother's favorites too.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend, dear one, and thanks for dropping by my blog. I'm glad it made you smile.
Oh wow, you have made my day. I just stumbled onto your blog and found this lovely post about Monty. As you can see from my blog...Monty is quite the addiction for me. Truly a painfully gorgeous man. What a special being he was.
Hi Shell....ooooh...A Place In The Sun is one of my favorite movies...love Monty with Elizabeth Taylor together too. ~ xo Joy
"Tell mama." Ohhh he is dreamy. Wouldn't it be swell to have someone say that they loved us like this...before they had even met us. {swoon}
Oh, that scene from "A Place in the Sun"!! Lovely, sweet post, Shell... I've long had crushes on long gone Hollywood stars--Gregory Peck, Van Johnson, Cary Grant...so many--LOL!...*swoon*... I'm thinking I need a classic film night again very soon! Happy Week, Shell :o) ((HUGS))
Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post "No teme" in your blog with the link to you?
Hi Russia,
If you want to link this post to your blog. that is fine by me. Hope you come again.
Best wishes,
Shell
This is wonderful!!!! He was soooo handsome! Thanks so much for stopping by babygirl! kiss the men folk for me!
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