Podcast – Hollywood Declassified

In May 1956 the cast of Raintree County was due to head off for location shooting. Before the trip Elizabeth Taylor hosted a small dinner party and included Monty as one of her guests. The evening would have tragic consequences after Monty crashed his car on the drive home.

Raintree County would be one of three films starring Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. The epic was intended to be MGM’s second Gone with the Wind starring Hollywood’s most glamorous duo. The feature would be marred with issues, but the friendship of its stars would stand the test of time.

The movie Raintree County had a tragic backstory even before Montgomery Clift became associated with the picture. The author’s suicide and issues in bringing the book to the big screen marred the movie. For Clift, the highlight of the picture would be the chance to work with his friend Elizabeth Taylor, but the teaming would … Continue reading "Raintree County"

With a new book out, this series of Hollywood Declassified goes back to the 1950s and 1960 to look at the later years of actor Montgomery Clift. With a focus on Raintree County, a horrific car crash, and the tragic decline of one of Hollywood’s brightest stars, this series of episodes promote the new book … Continue reading "Montgomery Clift – The Longest Suicide in Hollywood"

As we wrap up the Bond series we look at some of the other Bonds that got away and the legacy of the series. We also offer a little background on what is in store for Series 6 of Hollywood Declassified. (Note: ‘No Time To Die’, the next Bond film has again been delayed until … Continue reading "Series 5: Episode 6"

Sean Connery’s association with Bond defined him and still does, though the actor had many more great roles. Bond was a character that made him famous, made him rich and one he despised at times. He would return to the role in the 198o as Bond looked to the future and the past. (Note: ‘No … Continue reading "Series 5: Episode 5"

We’re back in 2021 with a new episode of Behind the Screen with The Movie Files. This time we go back to 1957 for the courtroom drama 12 Angry Men. Starring Henry Fonda and a collection of amazing supporting actors, the film was directed by Sidney Lumet and is based on a 1954 teleplay. There’s … Continue reading "12 Angry Men"

Longitude 78 West, Thunderball and Never Say Never Again are all based on an original idea inspired by Ian Fleming’s legendary James Bond character. All the stories are based on the same idea and story and hold many similarities. We take a look behind them all. (Note: ‘No Time To Die’, the next Bond film … Continue reading "Series 5: Episode 4"

Thunderball would be the biggest and best Bond of the 1960s, but the film had a legal and challenging path to the big screen. Originally a concept called Longitude 78 West, the book and film rights would become a decades long battle. (Note: ‘No Time To Die’, the next Bond film has again been delayed … Continue reading "Series 5: Episode 3"

Alfred Hitchcock was a prolific and successful filmmaker. His love of suspense lead him to become a reader of Ian Fleming’s pulp fiction novels on James Bond. When Fleming wanted to bring Bond to the big screen he wanted Hitchcock to be in the director’s chair. (Note: ‘No Time To Die’, the next Bond film … Continue reading "Series 5: Episode 2"