Elizabeth and Monty, Charles Casillo
Elizabeth and Monty, Charles Casillo
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Elizabeth and Monty
The Untold Story of Their Intimate Friendship

Author: Charles Casillo

Narrator: Paul Heitsch

Unabridged: 11 hr 48 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/25/2021


Synopsis

When Elizabeth Taylor was cast opposite Montgomery Clift in A Place in the Sun, he was already a movie idol, with a natural sensitivity that set him apart. At seventeen, Elizabeth was known for her ravishing beauty rather than her talent. Directors treated her like a glamorous prop. But Monty took her seriously, inspiring and encouraging her. In her words, "That's when I began to act."

To Monty, she was "Bessie Mae," a name he coined for her earthy, private side. The press clamored for a wedding, convinced this was more than friendship. The truth was even more complex. Monty was drawn to women but sexually attracted to men—a fact that, if made public, would destroy his career. But he found acceptance with Elizabeth. Her devotion was never clearer than after his devastating car crash near her Hollywood home when she crawled into the wreckage and saved him from choking.

Monty's accident shattered his face and left him in constant pain. As he sank into alcoholism, Elizabeth used her power to keep him working. In turn, through scandals and multiple marriages, he was her constant. Their relationship endured until his death in 1966. Far more than the story of two icons, this is a unique and extraordinary love story that shines new light on both stars, revealing their triumphs, demons—and the loyalty that united them to the end.

About Charles Casillo

Charles Casillo is the author of Marilyn Monroe, The Marilyn Diaries, The Fame Game, Boys, Lost & Found, and Outlaw: The Lives and Careers of John Rechy. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and many others. His movies include "Let Me Die Quietly" and "Fetish."


Reviews

Goodreads review by Valerity (Val) on March 13, 2021

A wonderful biography of Old Hollywood stars Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. I’ve read several books on Taylor, but Clift is more elusive to know. So I was glad to read this and learn more about him and their strong friendship. They were so close, were they just friends? It was a time in the......more

Goodreads review by Michael on October 13, 2024

A very engaging book about old Hollywood and the lives of Elizabeth Taylor & Montgomery Clift plus their deep friendship. It’s not only a story about their relationship but it does give an overall biography of their entire lives. Fascinating with amazing Hollywood stories, very sad and even gross at......more

Goodreads review by Kevin on May 25, 2021

This dual biography of Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift by Charles Casillo ("Marilyn Monroe: The Private Life of a Public Icon") is so jammed packed with sex, pill-popping, alcoholism, affairs, breakdowns, suicide attempts and multiple brushes with death that most readers will want to read it i......more

Goodreads review by LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" on November 07, 2021

My thanks to Kensington books, Charles Casillo and Netgalley. I love old Hollywood. I prefer them to be dead awhile though, before I read anything about them. I still haven't read anything about Johnny Carson! "Love his late show, but I'm not ready to read about him being a complete jerkface yet!" H......more

Goodreads review by Dianne on May 19, 2021

I am adding to this review to mention that I did finally finish this book, it gets somewhat better in the middle. I am going to keep it at 2 stars because this was just a gossip re-hash. Nothing new here. Salacious is the word for this book. I learned more about the sex lives of these characters tha......more