because I am the most amazing loser in the history of ever, I stayed home last night and spent some quality time with my parents (HAPPY 34TH ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD) watching the BEST channel ever, TCM. seriously, every time I remember I get TCM, I pee a little. anywayyyy, I totally called the film, 1953's From Here to Eternity, based on the novel by James Jones. the choice (you know, it's set in Hawaii pre-Pearl Harbor) felt very appropriate for the sudden god-awful heat we're experiencing (I don't know how I'm tying this all together, but follow). classic alert! see this film- it's pretty riveting. and I was impressed with how realistic it seemed, a lot of films from that era strike me as not carrying an air of believability to them, but this was an exception. Frank Sinatra was a skinny bastard. not a fan! I was happy to see Ernest Borgnine pound the life out of him....whom IS STILL ALIVE (hi Ernest!!!) I spent ten minutes debating who played Elma with my mom (Donna Reed but I didn't think so, now I owe my mom a Peeble's coupon or something). Was unable to stay up to see the whole thing, because GOD it is long.
And of course there are the memorable scenes....see here, Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster in the water:
hot! (although I didn't think Lancaster or Kerr were either spectacular in other scenes, but that's just a personal preference matter. I'd take Montgomery Clift and Donna Reed over that anyday!)
anyway, the heart and soul of this post, however, is Montgomery Clift. I went on this Clift-binge last fall after watching the film adaptation of Tennessee Williams' Suddenly, Last Summer. And I started researching various facts about him, because there was something about him I found very intriguing.
I mean, damn. that guy's life - after a certain point, esp. after his car crash at Liz Taylor's - kind of was just a big ball of shit. when I read about him, and then I think about how tremendously talented he was and all the stuff he endured, I just get depressed. I mean, for God's sake, Marilyn Monroe called him "the only person I know that's in worst shape than I am." I'd also hate to be gay or bi in Hollywood at that point. or, you know, just in general. although I don't think covering up your sexuality (HEY JOHN TRAVOLTA!) is that much less common. it's just not as taboo as it was then. never mind.
He learned the bugle specifically for his role in From Here. There's some legend that a hotel in Hollywood (I forget which) is haunted by his spirit (he was purported to have stayed there during the filming). You can tell because you can hear him practicing the bugle. uh.
anyway, you should see the movie. and you should realize what a damn fine actor Clift was.
- Brittany
i love monty a lot <3 <3 <3 the misfits <3
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/buhhho
and what about poor rock hudson forced to play macho-man/happily-straightly-married-with-children all his life? :(
oh shit!!!
ReplyDeleteMontgomery CLift!!
you should write about my favorite gay in the paper. I think it's what eup needs.