| Rock Hudson | |
|---|---|
&sq=Google&lang=en&file=File:Rock_hudson_tv_movie.jpg) VHS cover | |
| Genre | Biographical drama |
| Based on | My Husband, Rock Hudson by Phyllis Gates |
| Written by | Dennis Turner |
| Directed by | John Nicolella |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Paul Chihara |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Larry Sanitsky Frank Konigsberg |
| Producers |
|
| Cinematography | Newton Thomas Sigel |
| Editor | Peter Parasheles |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Production company | Revue Studios |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | January 8, 1990[1] |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
Rock Hudson is a 1990 American biographical drama television film directed by John Nicolella and written by Dennis Turner. The film is based on My Husband, Rock Hudson, a 1987 autobiography by Phyllis Gates, actor Rock Hudson's wife (1955–1958). It is the story of their marriage, written after Hudson's 1985 death from AIDS.[2] In the book Gates wrote that she was in love with Hudson and that she did not know Hudson was gay when they married, and was not complicit in his deception.[3][4] The movie is also based on magazine articles, interviews and court records,[1] including transcripts of the Los Angeles Superior Court trial after which Marc Christian won a large settlement ($21.75 million) from the actor's estate because Hudson had hidden from him the fact that he was suffering from AIDS.[5] Later, Marc Miller (Hudson's secretary) accused the movie of malicious lies.[6] In April 1989, the court award to Christian was reduced to $5.5 million.[7]
In 1989, both ABC and NBC started developing plans for a biography of Hudson, NBC had announced it had commissioned a script, but ABC had already completed a movie.[5] It aired on ABC on January 8, 1990.[1] NBC later decided not to complete its four-hour miniseries.[6]
A relative unknown, Thomas Ian Griffith, was chosen to portray the actor; he is 6 feet 5 inches tall and Hudson was 6 feet 4 inches. He had to spend up to four hours in makeup to portray the older Hudson.[5]
The movie was reviewed badly by many critics, attracted only 24% of the viewing audience and suffered some advertiser defections because of concern over the depiction of Hudson's homosexuality.[6] It placed 29th in the Nielsen ratings for the week ending January 14, 1990.[8]
Robert Iger claimed that research showed that ABC lost $1 million in advertising due to the broadcast of the film.[9]
- ^ a b c O'Connor, John J. (1 August 1990). "Review/Television; The Life, Death and Secrets of Rock Hudson". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ Stephen Tropiano The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV, p. 149, at Google Books
- ^ "Phyllis Gates, 80; Former Talent Agency Secretary Was Briefly Married to Rock Hudson in '50s". Los Angeles Times. August 9, 1987. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
- ^ Diana Fuss (editor) Inside/Out: Lesbian Theories, Gay Theories, p. 287, at Google Books
- ^ a b c Farber, Stephen (7 January 1990). "The Rock Hudson Story Gets Told. And Perhaps Retold". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ a b c Letofsky, Irv (20 March 1990). "NBC Drops Rock Hudson Miniseries : Television: Producers and writer of 'authorized' story say the network is basing its decision on lackluster ratings from an earlier ABC movie". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ "Harold Rhoden Is Dead; in Crash at 66". The New York Times. 24 June 1989. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ "'Roseanne' Tops 'Cosby'". The Washington Post. 17 January 1990. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ Roxanne Hovland, Joyce M. Wolburg and Eric E. Haley Readings in Advertising, Society, and Consumer Culture, p. 153, at Google Books