Comments on: It’s not the years

By: Harvey F Chartrand

Harvey F Chartrand — Fri, 11 May 2007 19:50:48 +0000

And then there's the sad case of Montgomery Clift (whose Prewitt character killed Ernest Borgnine's Fatso Judson in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY 54 years ago!). Anyone who has seen Clift's final film – THE DEFECTOR, made in Germany in 1966 – will be shocked by the actor's skeletal appearance, deeply etched wrinkles and total lack of zip at the youngish age of 45… the end result of 15 years of alcohol and drug abuse – not such a long time, compared to some addicts. But Clift went at it hammer and tongs, destroying his face in a drunken auto smash-up in 1956. From then on, he was a twisted, pained wreck. Apparently, Clift only drank milk until he was 30, and then, after A PLACE IN THE SUN, drank nothing but hard liquor. I wonder what set him off. I can't bear to watch Clift's hunched, sweaty and scowling brain surgeon in SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER….

By: Medusa

Medusa — Fri, 11 May 2007 15:05:30 +0000

I was a little depressed to read the other day that genetics has perhaps not so much to do with longevity as other things, since my Mom is still going very strong at 88 — riding her bike, etc. — and my Dad was 88 and a half when he passed away, but if sense of humor is anything, I could see it working with Borgnine, who always has seemed to have a hearty joie de vivre. I guess 60 is the new eighty! Or ninety!I also offer Errol Flynn as an example of sad deterioration. He was just fifty when he passed away, but looked, as did Ladd, much older than his chronological age. The not smoking and not killing yourself with drink would seem to be two very good rules to follow.

By: MDR

MDR — Fri, 11 May 2007 11:49:01 +0000

I saw ninety year old Ernest Borgnine on television not too long ago and he looked great. He said the secret to staying young is keeping busy, having an active mind, etc.. After seeing the deterioration, and the longevity, of others in my life, I know that what he says is true.