Name: Operation Raintree
Genre: Documentary
Released: 1957-08-31
Duration: 5 min
Rating: 7
Cast: Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift, Eva Marie Saint, Agnes Moorehead

5 minutes with Liz Taylor & a traumatized Montgomery Clift? Hollywood archaeology.

Studio PR fluffTime capsuleAccidentally haunting

Overview

Documentary

MGM short that looks at the behind the scenes production of Raintree County.

Content warning

Celebrity mythologyThe cost of ambitionHollywood's manufactured dreams

Standout Aspects

Acting

Clift's pained smile post-car crash — performance of survival.

Production

MGM's propaganda machine in full glossy overdrive.

Best for:Rewatch·Solo

Heads up:Triggers

ReleasedAug 31, 1957

Runtime5m

StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacefast

Intensitymedium

Tonemixed

Feelmedium

Top Cast

Elizabeth Taylor

Self

Montgomery Clift

Self

Eva Marie Saint

Self

Agnes Moorehead

Self

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Cultural

This short accidentally documents the moment Montgomery Clift's face — and career — changed forever. The studio's desperate attempt to control the narrative makes it a chilling artifact of image management before TMZ existed.

Trivia

Raintree County's production was so troubled and overbudget it nearly bankrupted MGM — making this cheery promotional short almost grotesque in hindsight. Clift would never fully recover physically or professionally.

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