Post World War II America saw a return to prosperity and the rise of a significant youth-culture. Television began to replace movies as the chief source of entertainment for the general public, and adolescents and single young adults began to constitute the largest portion of the audience for movies. With his youthful appearance, Montgomery Clift held special appeal to this new market, and he became one of the foremost American actors of his time. This book details his many performances.

The introductory biography offers a succinct summary of Clift's life and the forces that shaped his work. The chapters that follow contain annotated entries for all of his work in plays, films, radio, and television. Entries present plot summaries, cast and credit information, critical analyses, and excerpts from reviews. The book gives equal attention to his lesser-known films and stage career, as to his most memorable performances. An extensive annotated bibliography cites and evaluates books, articles, and miscellaneous sources of information about Clift and includes fictional works in which he appears as a character.