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 industry where it was forbidden to openly be gay, if you wanted a career anyway. Clift had an affinity for women, he loved being in their company, and was very close to several, which really kept people guessing. When Clift met the actress Elizabeth Taylor, she was still a minor. Yet when they began acting together, they really bonded and found they liked being around one another.

The older, more experienced actor from the stage in New York, Clift even began coaching Taylor, helping her with her acting. They had similar mothers who were stage mothers in the worst sense. This cemented their friendship for the remainder of Clift’s life. I got a lot from this book and enjoyed it as well. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Charles Castillo, and the publisher.

Charles Castillo’s has authored a beautifully written story about the strength of friendship and love.
Elizabeth (Bessie Mae) and Monty met when she was selected to be his ‘date’ at the premiere of ‘The Heiress. Their friendship developed in 1951 when they worked together on the film ‘A Place in the Sun’ and led to a lifetime of unconditional loyalty, acceptance and devotion.
In May 1956 after leaving a dinner party at Elizabeth’s home, Monty was involved in a serious automobile crash hitting a telephone pole suffering multiple facial fractures and lacerations. Elizabeth’s dedication was exemplified when arriving at the scene, she crawled into the wreckage to comfort Monty and ultimately saved him from choking on his broken teeth.
Forever faithful to one another throughout times of triumphs and disappointments, they remained one another’s advocates. Monty, left scarred and in chronic pain from accident related injuries became dependent on narcotics, alcohol and a self-destructive lifestyle. Elizabeth consoled and stood by him determined to keep his acting career alive. In turn, Monty remained her constant during failed marriages, heartache, illness and loss. They were simply, soul mates.
Elizabeth’s love for Monty lasted beyond his death in 1966 at the age of 45. Her involvement and support in the gay community and fight for AIDS was influential and yet another sign of her love for Monty as well as her ‘East of Eden’ co-star Rock Hudson.
I loved this book. It did much more than shine a spotlight on Hollywood and stardom but cast a brilliant light on this glorious friendship.
Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Charles Casillo for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.

The story of the unique friendship between screen legends Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery cliff. You won't be able to put it Dow I highly recommend.

Elizabeth and Monty presents an interesting biographical study of two intertwined lives that will hold any Hollywood biography buff, but it will not take long for the latter to realize that Casillo was in love with Montgomery Clift at least for the duration of writing the book. Casillo's sympathy and admiration is always for Monty while of Elizabeth, admiration for her beauty aside, Castillo sometimes writes in an almost condescending manner. I agree that it is sad that homosexual men in the 20th century felt compelled to marry so as to be considered socially acceptable. However, Castillo does not mention the sacrifice demanded of the women who got into such marriages and stayed in them, forfeiting a true romantic partner. Overall this is a good story, but the author sometimes lets his emotions run amuck, which results in jarring the reader from the story itself and turning our attention to the writer's feelings.

I love old Hollywood stars and I love biographies, so this was for me the perfect match.
A deep look into these two legends'friendship and the story of lifetime loyalty.
Beautiful book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Angela amazingly full account read on the life, loves, and friendship between two of Hollywood's biggest stars. As a fan of Ms. Taylor's I devoured these pages and found new stories as well as ones I knew about. We should all be so lucky to find a friend that will protect you at all costs and save your life.

Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, how can anyone resist them on-screen? The magic they showed in their films didn't always find its way into their off-screen lives. One magical thing that did was their friendship. It started when they worked together in the fabulous film A Place in the Sun, and only ended in the early death of Monty at the age of 45. They were both complicated, and at times, difficult people to know, yet they found a solace in one another. One thing that never changed for them was their friendship. Casillo explores their lives, both together and separately, in this wonderful read.

Beautiful book of old Hollywood and the system. Deep look at the relationship between these 2 legends and how their loyalty to each other lasted a lifetime. Great for movie fan.

I was not much of a Montgomery Clift fan but i did like movie The Heiress and loved him as the tortured Pruitt in From Here to Eternity. Elizabeth was always very interesting. As with most Hollywood biographies nowdays almost all of the main stars are long dead, so who can say what is real. This book didn't make me admire Monty any better, he was a drunk, an addict, & odd duck. The author spends so much time repeatedly telling us Monty was gay, describing his uncircumcised 'ugly' small penis and hairy coated body and a who's who of whom Monty slept with that the book comes off as another sleazy Hollywood Babylon. As for Elizabeth, she too had a dominating mother who pushed her young daughter into pictures and when Elizabeth fell hard for Monty ,she could relate as Taylor's father was bisexual. Years of drug & alcohol abuse took their toll on both actors lives. Later Monty's car accident just makes the book harder to read. Thanks NetGalkey for the ARC.

A beautiful and heartbreaking biography of a Hollywood "Friendship" and/or (the reader will decide) of a love story that remained sadly & tragically unfulfilled...Elegantly written without too much of a gossipy slant, it will (without any doubt) highly satisfy people interested in the Hollywood Golden Era and be also a worthy addition to any collection on 20th century American film studies overhere in Europe & in North America.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to discover this great title before its scheduled publication date.

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!"
However, I've seen quite a few Montgomery "Monty" Clift movies. I always thought he was fantastic. I suppose I thought he was a good looking man, but he never hit that googah status. For me anyways. I just liked his acting.
I've seen most of his movies, and I was never appalled or really even noticed his facial or body difference. That's probably because he died before I was born. Maybe I would have noticed the changes. I'm trying to think of an actor I love. One I may have seen changes in, but..I don't give a poop about any! I loved Gene Kelly, Dean Martin and Clift. But, because I loved these actors, I've never read about them. Until now. Monty and his story made me heartsick. He was a fantastic actor, and his last year's must have been hell. A hell of his own making, but still.
Elizabeth Taylor. That's somebody I never thought I'd read about! I'm not an Elizabeth Taylor fan. But, that movie "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof?" That's some good stuff! I watched for Paul Newman. I stayed for Taylor! Truth is I always thought Liz wore too much make-up. I can't hate her because of the jewelry. That would make me a hypocrite! I adore jewelry. I've quite a bit myself! I never quite understood how someone could marry so many times! I guess that made her seem a bit shallow to me. After reading this though, I've changed my mind. Yes, I still believe she was shallow. But, she also had great depths. She loved being in love. I agree! I'm the same. I love the new. Tingles, chills and all! I just never married everyone I felt that with. "Thank my lucky stars!" But, I get how Liz was like that. Her childhood and upbringing in Hollywood tells a million tales! I especially liked her heart. She seems to have had a lot of it. "Except for that whole Michael Jackson thing." Still, what do I know?
I ended up loving this book. I'm happy to have read it. I will probably end up watching more Taylor movies. Of course Clift is always watchable!

I have read articles and books that have touched on this, but this book gave me a fresh and interesting perspective on their relationship.
Well written and I highly recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

This was interesting. I don’t know if it was all true but it was interesting. Elizabeth Taylor seemed to take on the hardship type friends and Monty had hardships. I was glad to read it and if you are interested in star type people or stories then this book is for you