Montgomery Clift: A Biography

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful But Tragic Star
Review: If ever anyone fit the idea of a beautiful but tragic star, it was Montgomery Clift. Talented yet insecure, generous yet selfish, caring yet self-centered, secretive yet outgoing, Clift was a bundle of contradictions. His private agony over his apparent bisexuality is depicted so well, one can feel his pain. Conflicted all his life, he yearned to marry and have a family, yet when given the chance to do so, he was never able to bring himself to commit to anyone. He seems to have loved women and adored their company, yet even when having intimate affairs with them, he was still compelled to seek out men for sex. It was a secret that ate at him all his life. While his childhood was far from ideal, it still doesn't explain all the torture and pain. And while he had many friends and relationships, all of them were compartmentalized in his mind and often his life, so that no one ever really knew him fully. If ever there was a story to illustrate the point that fame and fortune do not equal happiness, it is the story of Clift. The author did very thorough research, interviewing both family and friends of Clift. One wonders what might have been had he been given the proper phsychiatric care. Illuminating but ultimatly sad, this biography will probably give fans of Monty the best glimpses into his tortured soul and life they are ever likely to find.

Rating:
Summary: Brutally honest, Compasionate, and Engulfing.
Review: Montgomery Clift. It evokes such powerful images and connotations. The name itself sounds like royalty. The man it belonged to in many ways lived up to such regal ideals. Part of a midwestern family like so many famous actors, his childhood was quite exotic; traveling abroad and learning the ways of the world. The rest of his life only got more exciting. Up to the very minute of his death, Monty was a source of intrigue and respect. Paving the way bravely for Brando and Dean, Clift came first with an honesty that riveted onlookers of all kinds. His strength and helplessness, rebelious yet ingratiating, awoke the world around him to a new kind of man, and a new way of life. Patricia Bosworth does a splendid job in making every moment of Clift's life easily accesible to the reader. The book begins with a hearty(but pleasant) family history going back two generations. For those who've found other star bios uneventful and boring during the "growing up" chapters (namely because the actor was an ordinary kid), here you will find the opposite. Almost from birth Monty's days were unpredictable and full of travel and minor adventure. His acting ability was recognized early and a career followed quickly. The book itself is large indeed-some might find it excessive. But considering this will be most readers first look into Monty's life (their first bio on him), it comes across moreso as just very thorough. Ms. Bosworth's literary craft is quite exquisite, thus making the already fascinating story a joy to read. Following his every triumph and failure with equal attention, one gets a sense of who the man was-not just the celebrity. In fact his personal life makes up 85-90% of the book; as it should! Of course there is more than enough time devoted to the events during his Plays and Films-but it's not simply a shooting schedule pasted into the book. The process of Monty's growth personally and professionaly-and the connection between both-is painted beautifully in the words. One sees also the source and always present fuel of his trademark "turmoil"-that wounded sense that drew audiences and still does. There are no cliche`s to find-no tabloid generated fallacies in the telling of this life. Only a full circle understanding of not only the subject's life, but how to tell it rightly. There are always those readers wanting little more than a brief overview of someone-'was he gay, was he strait, how much money, who'd he know,when'd he die'. But even those readers should surrender some time for this book and let it engulf you. Naturally all those highlighted points are covered-but in a surprisingly respectful and yet also brutally honest portrayal. This book is a quinessential addition to any personal library-especially one containing biographies-and is a masterful collection of one man's life's events. Truly a great book.

Rating:
Summary: MONTGOMERY CLIFT...the saddest star
Review: when i purchased this book i was beyond excited, already being a fan of clift's, but after reading it the way i look at Montgomery Clift will never be the same. this book was insightful, truthful and most of all SAD. i have never cried after reading a book but i did after reading this one. he lived such a tragic life and this book in no way hides or covers that up. i always saw clift as an attractive and extremely well-gifted actor and he is all of those things but i also see him as as a man who hid and faught with a lot of pain and heartache(drugs, homosexuality, his looks, women, and his career). patricia bosworth has done an excellent job telling the story of his life and she also did a great job touching mine.