Recommended Reading: Montgomery Clift: A Biography by Patricia Bosworth

Undoubtedly, Montgomery Clift was one of the most talented actors of his generation. He was, however, one of the most troubled. His early life was defined by his mother’s quest to be accepted by her wealthy birth family. She prepared her sons and daughter for the life she dreamed of by sequestering them from the outside world and ensuring that they were only exposed to the things that she thought were the rightful stuff of a noble birth.


Montgomery Clift was a man who was always torn in many directions. The result was a fragmented person--an assemblage of pieces. This chaos afforded his work with a unique brilliance, but dulled his personal life in a haze of prescription drugs and alcohol which climaxed in a horrific car accident.

Patricia Bosworth’s biography of Clift is by far the superior of the few that have been written. She chronicles his life from birth until his too-early death and includes the most intimate details of a man who yearned for success as an actor, but loathed the public eye. While we’ll never understand this complicated man, Bosworth manages to shed some light into the darker corners of his existence by talking with those with whom he was closest. Her writing is honest, clear and unbiased.

If you’re a fan of Montgomery Clift, I would recommend reading this book. However, if you aren’t familiar with Mr. Clift, this is an excellent introduction to an astonishingly talented and deeply complex man.