Elizabeth and Monty

The Untold Story of Their Intimate Friendship

By: Charles Casillo

Narrated by: Paul Heitsch

Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

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 17, 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.

©2021 Charles Casillo (P)2021 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Worthwhile (with Warts)

The facts of Elizabeth Taylor’s and Montgomery Clift‘s lives are endlessly fascinating, and they are presented here in glimmering (and, at times, in gross) detail. The writing has several loose threads and, despite the narrator’s pleasant voice, there are oddities there too in his work (Get a dictionary! Take a class! Call a coach!). I was glad to listen and glad to be done with it.

Wonderful story

It started off slow for me but picked up tremendous speed and I couldn't put it down. I wasn't familiar with Monty before this and the book gave me excellent insights on his life, he was a very tortured soul. I'll certainly check out his movies now. Elizabeth led a very interesting life on her own terms. What a great read!

Wonderful book

So enjoyed this ‘spoken’ book. The reader has the most lovely timbre to his voice and I enjoyed every chapter learning about Elizabeth and Monty. What a great friendship they had

Excellent story

I loved the story and it’s narrator. I’d known only a few anecdotes. I also recommend seeing the documentary Making Montgomery Clift to sort out some of the distortions of his life as contrived by prior biographers. This book steers clear of most of those.

Palpably Heartbreaking, Heartwarming, and Heartfelt

It’s beautiful to experience and explore the purity of this friendship. Rest in peace both of you, you beautiful souls 💗

Very interesting, albeit slightly demeaning

I loved so much about this book. I didn't know nearly so much about just how far the relationship/friendship between Liz and Monty went. For all the gossip about how flawed of a person Elizabeth Taylor was, she shone through in the myriad of ways she fought for her friends, particularly for Montgomery Clift. Clift had an immediately recognisable charm in his movie roles, though it was attached to a certain indescribable mystique. This book expresses just how hard it was to pin down his personal character, in all of it's stories about his escapades, struggles, and quirky behaviors. I would've given it five stars, but there were times that I felt the book robbed itself of some dignity by including, for example, multiple comments about Monty's genitals. I could've lived without knowing, in vulgar detail, that a beloved actor of mine had an apparently small and ugly genitalia. Barring this, the book was an excellent listen, with an engaging narrator, that I recommend to any fans of classic Hollywood.

GOOD READ FOR FANS

ENTERTAINING AND SAD VERY GOOD READS FOR FANS OF BOTH ACTORS AND ALL HUSBANDS OF TAYLOR

Extraordinary relationship

Love the path of their relationship and how it changed and shaped their lives together.

Brilliant! Need more Montgomery Clift biographies

I recently finished Elizabeth and Monty: The Untold Story of Their Intimate Friendship by Charles Casillo, and I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed by this book. The writing was engaging and well-researched, and the author did an excellent job of bringing to life the complex relationship between Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.

One of the things that sets this book apart from other biographies of Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift is the way that it focuses specifically on the close friendship between these two iconic figures. While there have been many books written about Elizabeth and Monty individually, this is one of the first to really delve into the details of their friendship and the ways in which it shaped their lives and careers. Casillo does an excellent job of weaving together their personal and professional experiences in a way that really brings their bond to life.

The way that Casillo was able to convey the breadth and intensity of the friendship between Elizabeth and Monty was one of the aspects of this book that I liked the best. From the beginning of their friendship, it was clear that these two had a special connection that went beyond the typical Hollywood friendship. Casillo does an excellent job of exploring this relationship in a nuanced and sensitive way, and I found myself completely immersed in the story as I listened.

In addition to the compelling narrative, I also appreciated the way that Casillo was able to shed light on some of the lesser-known aspects of Elizabeth and Monty's lives. The book is filled with fascinating anecdotes and insights that really helped to bring the two of them to life in a way that I had never seen before. One example of this is the way that Casillo writes about the impact that Monty had on Elizabeth's career. Many people are familiar with the fact that the two of them worked together on the film A Place in the Sun, but this book goes much deeper, exploring the ways in which Monty's influence extended beyond that one film. For instance, Casillo writes about how Monty helped to shape Elizabeth's approach to acting, encouraging her to take on more challenging and complex roles. This is just one example of the many insights that make this book such a unique and valuable resource for fans of Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.

Overall, I would highly recommend Elizabeth and Monty: The Untold Story of Their Intimate Friendship to anyone with an interest in Hollywood history or the lives of these two iconic figures. It is a beautifully written and deeply moving tribute to the enduring bond between Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. So, it's a must-read for all the fans out there.



I only wish and hope that more books about Montgomery Clift become available on Audible.

Loved Everything About This Book

Riveting. Captivating. Narrator Was Excellent. Could Not Stop Listening. Kept Me Interested From Start To Finish.