Rock Hudson: Dietro la maschera

A not bad documentary about a major movie star primarily in the 1950s. He had some film success in the 60's as well proving adept at light comedy, but it was the 1950s that was his heyday. He began the 70's with a big budget Hollywood musical about WWI (?!) that turned out to be a disaster entitled Darling Lili and that was pretty much the nail in the coffin for him being offered major film parts. A major hunk at the time who happened to be gay, this is primarily about how that was both hidden and/or not discussed in more polite times. For anyone interested in film history this will be something they will probably appreciate seeing. I did, though I didn't really learn anything that I hadn't already heard about at some point in time, but I enjoyed the photos and especially the film clips. I don't believe all of it to be true, though I suspect a lot of it is. I didn't like the way it used cuts from various films to make it appear that the actors were responding to each other when the clips were actually from different movies and those interactions didn't exist. That fakeness makes one wary of other aspects of this documentary, which is a shame. Rock Hudson wasn't a great actor by any stretch of the imagination though he did have his moments in a number of films, but to me he was only truly very good in two of them. They would be Giant and Seconds, the latter a film that should have revived his then weakening film career in the latter 60's, but it was ahead of its time and not really what his fans expected of him as is discussed in this film. He did have one more film in the 60's that I believe was a box office hit, Ice Station Zebra, but that was it. The gay factor and his limitations as an actor eventually caught up with him causing a turn to a tv career, something that's held in higher regard today than it was then. This was a different time, that's for sure. There is no way on Earth he could have hidden his sexuality from the public today especially not in the brazen way he led his life back in the day when people respected privacy, something that just about doesn't exist today. This is interesting and I enjoyed it, but it's nothing particularly remarkable other than a peek into the past that thankfully no longer exists for most gay actors, though I'd be surprised if there wasn't some still holding that closet door tightly shut. This film tries to make him a hero of the AIDS epidemic, but I do not recall it that way as he did everything he could imaginable to hide it and only at the last moment of his life did he try to attempt to make his terrible situation to be admirable. However, one cannot really blame him given his mindset after a lifetime of secrecy, One thing seems to be clear though and that is this was truly a very nice person. I don't recall ever hearing a negative remark about him as a human being. That's mighty admirable! He died relatively young in a horrible way, but he had a pretty fantastic life before that.

As "Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed" (2023 release; 104 min) opens, we see a clip of the TV show "This Is Your Life" in 1952, where Rock Hudson, then a rapidly up-and-coming film star, is feted. We then go back to "Illinois, 1932" as the then 7 yo Roy Fitzgerald grows up without distinction. After WWII, Roy ends up in Hollywood... At that point we are less than 10 minutes into the documentary.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from director Stephen Kijak ("Shoplifters of the World"). Here he reassesses the legacy of Rock Hudson, one of Hollywood biggest matinee idols ever, and a child of Hollywood's "golden age" of the 1950s-60s. Alas, as we now know all too well, Hudson lived a secret life as a gay man in private, and utterly unable and/or unwilling to admit as much in public. It makes for a rather sad reminder of that era, to be honest. "Golden" era? I don't think so. The documentary uses tons of Hudson lovie clips, arranged in such a way as if Hudson os commenting on the various issues raided in this documentary. The documentary works best towards the end, as we witness how the AIDS crisis overwhelms the (mostly) gay population, while the Reagan administration brazenly stands by and does... absolutely nothing, year after year after year. For shame.

"Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed" recently premiered on HBO and is now streaming on Max, where I caught it the other evening. If you are a fan of Rock Hudson, or simply interested in learning how a man led separate public and private lives, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Roy "Rock Hudson" Fitzgerald is brought to life in the most nuanced, 'flesh-out' form possible after all these years.

Aimed to be non-exploitative, the docu lets us understand the paradox of life living behind the created facade of all-American straight stud that 'all women wanted' and all men 'wanted to be'.

He learned how to be a star. It took many more years to be comfortable winking at and living in both worlds. Not a fusion of both. Not a modern out life.

In an instant he could go from his gay circle and all those who 'knew', plus the times he was out around around in public with boyfriends etc. - and did not give a damn who saw what and knew (as long as no pics to publish, please) and kept the 'secret' to his public star personna.

Armistead Maupin was a confident and bud in later years and tried to persuade have RH toward a path toward coming out, years before RH and aids. That was one thing RH would not do.

There are significant new interviews presented with so many important persons in RH personal and professional life, whom were available when the film was made.

We have affection look at Elizabeth Taylor's close friendship from the time of "GIANT". And then what about James Dean ... frenemies with RH and that's all that can be gotten of Dean and Rock in those brief days before Dean died just before that film was finished.

Of course I was still quite interested about RH early days in Hollywood. That is brought to life well, as it follows toward RH breakout and as a big star, being pushed into having 'beard' stories let into the celeb gossip mags, and then into a marriage. Lots of a few intimate friends a few lovers or close buds who could be interviewed and were very candid. Much appreciated more of their stories could be told.

Questions about why, what of Phyllis Gates still float around. Robert Hofler, author of "The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson: The Pretty Boys and Dirty Deals of Henry Willson" made it clear that Phyllis Gates, to him, Gates was a 'blackmailer' and gay (he did not say bi). So the marriage arrangement crashed and burned. Never again for Rock. He forged his own life, a way to be comfortable in his own body, in his own circles and still deliver the goods to 'Hollywood. The dirt and inuendo stopped flowing on RH. The celeb. Gossip press (infamously to those who understood) before, were offered up dirt on more reclusive and not as big a star, Tab Hunter, for backing off on stories about Rock.

Archival materials are included which have never been seen by the public. Beyond expected articles and film, we see many personal pics of RH and friends and lovers at most relaxed, unguarded moments.

The most distinctive aspect of this documentary is the use of clips from so many of RH movies as prescient, revealing, biting commentary on RH's life. Funny, amazing lines, some dramatic commentary on his own life and fate (perhaps) and some so much like a little coming out. Stunning clips - they did their homework going thu RH films closely!

It just worked out that way somehow. Taken out of context of his films plots, they are amazingly autobiographic.

• at World Premiere, Tribeca Film Festival June 11.

There are so many documentaries out there about so many different kinds of well-known people, and this one is among the very best. It covers so much of the character and real life personality of a man who spent most of his life acting out a role that he (and others) had created for him, while actually living a life so different from that role. And yet, this doc does also show that the real Rock and the created Rock were the same person where it counts. By the time you are halfway through the film, your heart aches for those who had to live two separate lives just to survive, while also feeling such relief that the story is so different for those same people today. The best part of this film is hearing from so many folks who were there and knew firsthand what was really going on behind the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. I highly recommend this film to fans of Rock Hudson and/or show business. It is very enlightening.

It's certainly not news that Rock Hudson led a double life as a world renowned movie star adored by legions of his female fans and a closeted gay man who became the first prominent celebrity victim of AIDS in 1985. This sympathetic 2023 documentary, however, doesn't paint a dour portrait of a tortured soul but rather a self-reliant man who separated his public and private lives through personal finesse and the support of a close circle of friends. Director Stephen Kijak does a masterful job of melding archival footage and contextually relevant clips from Hudson's films to reveal the personal challenges he faced in navigating his carefully presented public image. At the same time, interviews with surviving friends and intimates highlight not only his voracious sexual appetite but his reputation for being a true professional and trustworthy friend. The last section effectively deals with his AIDS diagnosis and his very public physical deterioration including a heartbreaking betrayal from a longtime friend, First Lady Nancy Reagan. Even if you're familiar with his biography, you'll find new surprises here nearly four decades after his death.