#37. montgomery clift in from here to eternity

the ruggedly handsome and, unlike most heartthrobs, genuinely talented actor, montgomery clift was nominated for 4 oscars and never won once. if that isn't sad enough, his life changing car accident was to blame for his decline in hollywood popularity. nobody wanted to hire the former pretty-boy, with his new scars and sallow appearance due to his dependency on pain killers (to give you an idea of how bad the accident was, i read that elizabeth taylor rushed to the scene and pulled loose teeth out of his throat to keep him from choking to death -- he was drunk, behind the wheel at the time). it really was a long, drawn out suicide that ended his promising career as a leading man. in from here to eternity, clift plays robert prewitt, a military private / boxer who (most notably) avenges the death of his best friend angelo maggio (frank sinatra) at the hands of his bigoted staff sergeant fatso judson (ernest borgnine). there is a lot going on in this film, particularly the famous shoreside make-out session between burt lancaster and deborah kerr, but clift's performance is harrowing and heroic. the perfect leading man.

*nominated for 1953 best actor oscar;

lost to william holden in stalag 17

greatest moment: when prewitt avenges maggio's death, killing fatso in a knife-fight