SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE The definitive biography of the
deeply complex and widely misunderstood matinee idol of Hollywood's
Golden Age. Devastatingly handsome, broad-shouldered and clean-cut,
Rock Hudson was the ultimate movie star. The embodiment of romantic
masculinity in American film throughout the '50s and '60s, Hudson
reigned supreme as the king of Hollywood. As an Oscar-nominated
leading man, Hudson won acclaim for his performances in glossy
melodramas (Magnificent Obsession), western epics (Giant) and
blockbuster bedroom farces (Pillow Talk). In the '70s and '80s,
Hudson successfully transitioned to television; his long-running
series McMillan & Wife and a recurring role on Dynasty
introduced him to a whole new generation of fans. The icon
worshipped by moviegoers and beloved by his colleagues appeared to
have it all. Yet beneath the suave and commanding star persona,
there was an insecure, deeply conflicted, and all too vulnerable
human being. Growing up poor in Winnetka, Illinois, Hudson was
abandoned by his biological father, abused by an alcoholic
stepfather, and controlled by his domineering mother. Despite
seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Hudson was determined to become
an actor at all costs. After signing with the powerful but
predatory agent Henry Willson, the young hopeful was transformed
from a clumsy, tongue-tied truck driver into Universal Studio's
resident Adonis. In a more conservative era, Hudson's wholesome,
straight arrow screen image was at odds with his closeted
homosexuality. As a result of his gay relationships and clandestine
affairs, Hudson was continually threatened with public exposure,
not only by scandal sheets like Confidential but by a number of his
own partners. For years, Hudson dodged questions concerning his
private life, but in 1985 the public learned that the actor was
battling AIDS. The disclosure that such a revered public figure had
contracted the illness focused worldwide attention on the epidemic.
Drawing on more than 100 interviews with co-stars, family members
and former companions, All That Heaven Allows finally delivers a
complete and nuanced portrait of one of the most fascinating stars
in cinema history. Author Mark Griffin provides new details
concerning Hudson's troubled relationships with wife Phyllis Gates
and boyfriend Marc Christian. And here, for the first time, is an
in-depth exploration of Hudson's classic films, including Written
on the Wind, A Farewell to Arms, and the cult favorite Seconds.
With unprecedented access to private journals, personal
correspondence, and production files, Griffin pays homage to the
idol whose life and death had a lasting impact on American culture.
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