Raintree County 1957 Apr 2026

Raintree County (1957) is a massive, three-hour Civil War epic that attempted to capture the lightning-in-a-bottle success of Gone with the Wind . While it is celebrated for its visual grandeur and the chemistry of its leads, it is perhaps most famous for the harrowing off-screen tragedy involving its star, Montgomery Clift.

Midway through filming in 1956, Clift was involved in a near-fatal car crash after leaving a party at Elizabeth Taylor’s home. Taylor famously saved his life by pulling dislodged teeth from his throat to keep him from choking. Clift returned to finish the film after weeks of surgery, leaving a visible "before and after" difference in his appearance between scenes. Plot Summary Raintree County 1957

Susanna tricks John into marriage by falsely claiming she is pregnant. As they move between Indiana and New Orleans, Susanna’s mental health deteriorates, haunted by secrets regarding her family and a tragic fire from her childhood. Raintree County (1957) is a massive, three-hour Civil