Raintree County 1957 May 2026

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

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

The film was the first ever shot using the MGM Camera 65 process (later renamed Ultra Panavision 70 ), which provided an extremely wide 2.76:1 aspect ratio. It was the same tech later used for the legendary Ben-Hur (1959). Midway through filming in 1956, Clift was involved

John is torn between his childhood sweetheart, Nell Gaither (Eva Marie Saint), and Susanna Drake (Elizabeth Taylor), a wealthy, captivating Southern belle from New Orleans. Plot Summary Susanna tricks John into marriage by