Im watching Montgomery Clift in his last film, The Defector (1966), on TCM, today on his birthday. Having read two of his biographies years ago, I know that he was frail and in a lot of pain while filming this movie on location. Im pleasantly surprised to see that it doesnt show in his performance. I wish that he had lived long enough to do Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967) with Elizabeth Taylor as planned. Ive always felt that Marlon Brando was miscast. From IMDb... The role of Maj. Penderton was extremely physically demanding, and the insurance company underwriting the production required proof that star Montgomery Clift was fit enough for the role, after his years of illness. Clifts long-time friend Elizabeth Taylor committed her large salary as insurance in order to secure Clift for the role. Clift subsequently died of a heart attack before filming began, and the role went to Marlon Brando.
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 22:56:00 +0000