Montgomery Clift Turned Down 'Rio Bravo' and 'High Noon,' Two of the Best Westerns of All Time
Some actors just have a magnetic on-screen presence that you cannot ignore. It's impossible to look away, even in the age of incessant scrolling. Old Hollywood icon Montgomery Clift fit that bill. Though relatively short-lived compared to his contemporaries, Clift's career was full of interesting roles. He specialized in the "sensitive, brooding" archetype, veering away from the "macho" portrayals of masculinity that ruled the roost during that time. Shockingly, for a career spanning three decades, Clift only had 18 film credits. The actor was known for rejecting his fair share of roles throughout his tenure, notably critical darlings like Sunset Boulevard and On the Waterfront . He was incredibly selective in that regard and negotiated autonomy over his projects in his contract with Paramount . However, did you know that Clift also turned down two of the greatest Westerns of all time? Clift's first major Hollywood role was in Howard Hawks ' 1948 We...
