The Passion of Montgomery Clift

From his 1948 film debut in Red River through such classics as The Heiress, A Place in the Sun, and From Here to Eternity, Montgomery Clift exemplified a new masculinity andand#151;leading the way for a generation of actors, including Marlon Brando and James Deanand#151;epitomized the new naturalistic style of acting. Cliftand#8217;s impact was such that, both during his troubled life and after his untimely death, fans described the actor in religious terms, characterizing Clift as a vision, acolyte, and martyr. In The Passion of Montgomery Clift, Amy Lawrence challenges the myth of Clift as tragic victim by examining Cliftand#8217;s participation in the manipulation of his image, his collaborations with directors, his relationships with costars, and his interactions with writers.

and#8220;This book makes a valuable contribution to star studies as well as enhancing our understanding of Cliftand#8217;s work.and#8221;

From his 1948 film debut in Red River through such classics as The Heiress, A Place in the Sun, and From Here to Eternity, Montgomery Clift exemplified a new masculinity and--leading the way for a generation of actors, including Marlon Brando and James Dean--epitomized the new naturalistic style of acting. Clift's impact was such that, both during his troubled life and after his untimely death, fans described the actor in religious terms, characterizing Clift as a vision, acolyte, and martyr. In The Passion of Montgomery Clift, Amy Lawrence challenges the myth of Clift as tragic victim by examining Clift's participation in the manipulation of his image, his collaborations with directors, his relationships with costars, and his interactions with writers.

"The art and legend of Montgomery Clift, tortured soul and triumphant talent, is brought into extraordinarily sharp focus in Amy Lawrence's discerning, sympathetic and highly readable examination of a brilliant, beautiful, haunted performer."and#151;Lee Server, author of Robert Mitchum: Baby, I Don't Care

Amy Lawrence is Professor of Film and Television Studies at Dartmouth College and is the author of Echo and Narcissus: Women's Voices in Classical Hollywood Cinema (UC Press), and The Films of Peter Greenaway.