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Making Montgomery Clift

Where to Watch Making Montgomery Clift

NR
2018

Making Montgomery Clift is a captivating documentary film from 2018 that takes a deep dive into the life and legacy of one of cinema's most celebrated actors, Montgomery Clift. Intimately produced by his nephew, Robert Clift, and co-directed with Hillary Demmon, the film reexamines and redefines Montgomery Clift's narrative, drawing from a treasure-trove of family archives, recorded phone conversations and personal interviews. While the overarching impression of Clift portrays him as a self-destructive man burdened by his homosexuality, Making Montgomery Clift sets out to challenge these assumptions, posing conversations about legacy shaping, identity, and sexuality within the context of Hollywood's golden ages, and hurdles that persist for actors even today.

A referential representation of Montgomery Clift's stardom, the documentary showcases his talent that was likened to that of Marlon Brando's and James Dean's in the 1950s. It narrates his critically acclaimed performances in films such as A Place in the Sun, From Here to Eternity, The Misfits, and Judgment at Nuremberg. However, the film does not solely focus on Clift's remarkable Hollywood career but also his personal struggles, personal relationships, and a reconstruction of his self-effacing personality that was not well-known.

Making Montgomery Clift gives voice to Brooks Clift, Montgomery's brother and Robert's father. Through extensive interviews, it shares his heartfelt insights and perspectives of his brother's life, their intricate relationship, and the influence that fame, the media, and societal norms had on Montgomery Clift's life. Brooks' wife (and Robert’s mother), Sunny Clift, also shares her experiences with Montgomery, providing a deeper understanding of the man behind the actor. Renowned biographer Patricia Bosworth, who wrote a biography on the actor in 1978, is also featured in the documentary, offering a more formal perspective on Clift's life and career.

While Montgomery Clift was undoubtedly one of the most groundbreaking actors of his generation—bringing a sense of emotional honesty and introspection to his roles that was rare at the time—the actor was also a deeply complicated figure off-screen. The documentary provides a broad view of Clift's personal life, delving into the complexity of his identity, his sexual orientation, seasoned alcoholism, and a debilitating car accident that significantly affected his looks and subsequently his career. This exploration is elegantly handled, providing audiences the reality of an era when homophobia was rampant and deeply ingrained in Hollywood and the society-at-large.

Rather than relying solely on traditional talking-head interviews and archival footage, Making Montgomery Clift also incorporates a wealth of personal materials. There are countless film reels, home video footage, previously unreleased photographs, and audio recordings that were maintained by the Clift family, allowing for an unfiltered and intimate exploration of Montgomery’s life. Featured prominently in the documentary are hours of recorded phone conversations between Brooks Clift and various individuals related to Montgomery's life and career. These conversations proved to be a goldmine, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of Montgomery's identity, his struggle with alcoholism, and his unfortunate descent in cinema due to the drastic alteration in his character's depictions post his accident, a theme that popular media capitalized on.

Lastly, Making Montgomery Clift does a magnificent job of demonstrating the power that narratives have when it comes to shaping legacies, exploring how Montgomery Clift's public image was carefully crafted by the media and Hollywood, often with a strong focus on the more sensational aspects of his personal life. It questions and challenges the 'tortured' and 'tragic' narrative that has been perpetuated about Clift, offering an alternative narrative that portrays him as a complex and multi-faceted individual who cannot be reduced to simple labels.

Making Montgomery Clift breaks the boundaries of traditional Hollywood biopics, offering a sympathetic yet critical look into one of the industry’s most talented and enigmatic figures. An insightful and enlightening watch, it provides an authentic and humanizing portrait of a man whose legacy, until now, has often been overshadowed by scandal and tragedy.

Making Montgomery Clift is a Documentary movie released in 2018. It has a runtime of 89 min. Critics and viewers have rated it moderate reviews, with an IMDb score of 7.1..

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Where can I stream Making Montgomery Clift movie online? Making Montgomery Clift is available to watch and stream, buy on demand, download at Amazon Prime, Crackle, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube VOD, Vudu. Some platforms allow you to rent Making Montgomery Clift for a limited time or purchase the movie for downloading.

7.1/10
Director
Robert Clift, Hillary Demmon
Stars
Montgomery Clift, Brooks Clift, Ethel