1 00:00:12,513 --> 00:00:18,519 (ethereal music) 2 00:00:18,561 --> 00:00:20,188 Peter Kevoian: We were sitting at the pool 3 00:00:20,229 --> 00:00:22,899 just sunbathing and talking. 4 00:00:22,982 --> 00:00:25,818 I was a young gay man who was 5 00:00:25,902 --> 00:00:28,946 questioning all kinds of things. 6 00:00:29,697 --> 00:00:31,991 We talked about being gay in Hollywood 7 00:00:32,033 --> 00:00:35,369 and how difficult it was to have a career. 8 00:00:35,411 --> 00:00:40,208 And I asked him how he knew that he was gonna make it, 9 00:00:40,249 --> 00:00:43,544 because I wasn't sure that I ever would. 10 00:00:43,586 --> 00:00:46,547 And he told me about a dream that he had. 11 00:00:46,631 --> 00:00:50,718 He dreamt that there was a perfectly cut diamond 12 00:00:50,802 --> 00:00:54,222 sitting on velvet 13 00:00:54,263 --> 00:01:01,187 in a room that was lit with pin spots. 14 00:01:01,229 --> 00:01:03,272 And every one of the lights 15 00:01:03,356 --> 00:01:07,902 were pointed into the center of the diamond. 16 00:01:07,944 --> 00:01:09,862 ♪♪ 17 00:01:09,904 --> 00:01:12,407 He thought he was the diamond. 18 00:01:12,490 --> 00:01:15,701 He said, "That's the dream 19 00:01:15,743 --> 00:01:20,248 "that made me believe that I could do this. 20 00:01:20,289 --> 00:01:24,001 That's how I knew I was gonna be a star." 21 00:01:24,085 --> 00:01:27,255 (dramatic music) 22 00:01:31,592 --> 00:01:33,927 -Your name is Roy Fitzgerald? -That's right. 23 00:01:34,011 --> 00:01:36,264 Well, come up on our stage, young man. 24 00:01:36,347 --> 00:01:38,975 This is your life! 25 00:01:39,058 --> 00:01:40,308 Come along here. 26 00:01:40,393 --> 00:01:42,854 -(laughing) -♪ fanfare playing ♪ 27 00:01:42,937 --> 00:01:44,647 Hey! 28 00:01:47,150 --> 00:01:48,484 You see, folks, this young man, 29 00:01:48,568 --> 00:01:50,653 whose name really is Roy Fitzgerald, 30 00:01:50,737 --> 00:01:54,282 is known to you and to movie fans all over the world as... 31 00:01:54,365 --> 00:01:57,368 Narrator: Rock Hudson. Was he the cat's pajamas! 32 00:01:57,451 --> 00:01:59,245 Pleased to make your acquaintance, ma'am. 33 00:01:59,287 --> 00:02:00,705 Kevoian: Well, Rock was an icon. 34 00:02:00,788 --> 00:02:02,373 Alan Shayne: You couldn't take your eyes 35 00:02:02,457 --> 00:02:04,167 off Rock on the screen, you really couldn't. 36 00:02:04,250 --> 00:02:05,626 Robert Hofler: Not only was he 37 00:02:05,710 --> 00:02:07,211 the biggest star at Universal, 38 00:02:07,253 --> 00:02:08,795 he was by far the biggest star in Hollywood. 39 00:02:08,879 --> 00:02:13,134 Ken Maley: There was that period where he was the king. 40 00:02:13,217 --> 00:02:14,802 Carole Cook: The Tom Cruise of his day. 41 00:02:14,844 --> 00:02:17,305 Maley: Women were swooning, men were swooning. 42 00:02:17,388 --> 00:02:18,973 Armistead Maupin: Rock was everybody's type. 43 00:02:19,057 --> 00:02:21,642 Howard McGillin: (laughing) You couldn't invent a name 44 00:02:21,726 --> 00:02:26,355 that was better for a heterosexual leading man than Rock Hudson. 45 00:02:26,439 --> 00:02:27,482 Maley: Not only did women say, 46 00:02:27,565 --> 00:02:29,317 "That's the man I want to marry," 47 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,819 many men said, "That's the man I'd like to be." 48 00:02:31,861 --> 00:02:35,156 McGillin: He was like a granite facade, 49 00:02:35,239 --> 00:02:36,532 just impenetrable. 50 00:02:36,616 --> 00:02:39,327 Alice Waier: He was a great performer, 51 00:02:39,368 --> 00:02:42,288 not only in acting, but in life. 52 00:02:42,330 --> 00:02:44,582 Why aren't you married, Jordan? 53 00:02:44,665 --> 00:02:46,459 Maley: He had more than one world. 54 00:02:46,501 --> 00:02:48,378 He had the studio world. 55 00:02:48,461 --> 00:02:50,463 He had this gay world. 56 00:02:50,505 --> 00:02:52,340 -You'll come? -I'd be delighted. 57 00:02:52,382 --> 00:02:54,008 Well, good-o, sport! 58 00:02:54,050 --> 00:02:56,344 Maupin: I thought I was the last man in California 59 00:02:56,427 --> 00:02:58,388 to go to bed with Rock Hudson when I finally did. 60 00:02:58,471 --> 00:03:00,681 He was a sort of sexual gladiator. 61 00:03:00,765 --> 00:03:04,018 The lash for you, betrayer of women. 62 00:03:04,102 --> 00:03:05,686 David Thomson: He was closeted, 63 00:03:05,770 --> 00:03:08,189 but there was every reason to be closeted back then. 64 00:03:08,271 --> 00:03:11,734 If the truth had come out, that would've been the end of his career. 65 00:03:11,818 --> 00:03:13,778 It's as simple as that. 66 00:03:13,861 --> 00:03:16,697 Kevoian: The public perception of Rock 67 00:03:16,739 --> 00:03:20,034 was so very masculine and straight. 68 00:03:20,118 --> 00:03:22,120 Privately, he was very free. 69 00:03:22,203 --> 00:03:25,747 Carol Burnett: He loved to laugh. He was also a bit of a devil. 70 00:03:25,832 --> 00:03:28,876 Ken Jillson: The people that he had around him 71 00:03:28,918 --> 00:03:31,254 were very trusted friends. 72 00:03:31,337 --> 00:03:33,506 I think maybe that's the key. 73 00:03:33,548 --> 00:03:35,091 Shayne: People loved him, you know? 74 00:03:35,174 --> 00:03:38,553 He was just a decent, wonderful guy. 75 00:03:38,636 --> 00:03:40,805 And that's unusual in Hollywood. 76 00:03:40,888 --> 00:03:44,058 I hate to say that, but it's true. 77 00:03:48,187 --> 00:03:50,106 He was a quiet man. 78 00:03:50,189 --> 00:03:53,735 I think the thing I most remember him for were his silences. 79 00:03:53,818 --> 00:03:54,860 It was... 80 00:03:54,902 --> 00:03:56,779 (contemplative music) 81 00:03:56,863 --> 00:04:00,032 ...as if he were always listening to something inside. 82 00:04:01,033 --> 00:04:02,744 Some voice. 83 00:04:04,162 --> 00:04:06,873 He never talked about it, so... 84 00:04:06,914 --> 00:04:09,417 I never knew what it was. 85 00:04:09,459 --> 00:04:11,419 Oh, he was a good man. 86 00:04:12,420 --> 00:04:14,589 He lived as if he were a stranger here. 87 00:04:14,672 --> 00:04:16,757 I mean, he never let anything touch him. 88 00:04:16,841 --> 00:04:20,928 Became absorbed in things. His job mostly. 89 00:04:22,096 --> 00:04:24,640 He worked hard, he... 90 00:04:24,724 --> 00:04:27,810 always a look around his eyes as if he were 91 00:04:27,894 --> 00:04:30,938 trying to say something. 92 00:04:30,980 --> 00:04:32,148 ♪♪ 93 00:04:32,231 --> 00:04:33,649 I don't know what... 94 00:04:33,733 --> 00:04:37,570 protest against what he'd surrendered his life to. 95 00:04:37,612 --> 00:04:39,739 ♪♪ 96 00:04:39,781 --> 00:04:41,699 I never knew what he wanted... 97 00:04:41,783 --> 00:04:44,869 -(distant clatter) -...and I don't think he ever knew. 98 00:04:44,952 --> 00:04:46,079 ♪♪ 99 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,289 Well, I... 100 00:04:48,331 --> 00:04:51,042 guess I can't tell you much more. Enough? 101 00:04:51,125 --> 00:04:52,960 (contemplative music continues) 102 00:04:54,796 --> 00:04:56,631 Rock Hudson: Should be going. 103 00:04:58,883 --> 00:05:02,720 Reporter 1: Rock Hudson died peacefully in his sleep from AIDS, 104 00:05:02,804 --> 00:05:05,223 the first well-known person to publicly acknowledge 105 00:05:05,306 --> 00:05:07,016 his struggle with that fatal disease. 106 00:05:07,100 --> 00:05:10,895 Norman Sunshine: He signaled this catastrophe called AIDS, 107 00:05:10,978 --> 00:05:13,606 but Rock was an activist without knowing it. 108 00:05:13,648 --> 00:05:16,401 Reporter 2: Since AIDS is primarily a disease 109 00:05:16,484 --> 00:05:17,902 associated with homosexuals, 110 00:05:17,985 --> 00:05:20,738 talk of Hudson's lifestyle has surfaced. 111 00:05:20,822 --> 00:05:23,658 Maupin: They needed someone to say that he was gay, 112 00:05:23,741 --> 00:05:27,036 and the story would be told, and I didn't want it to be told 113 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,998 in the way that the people in Hollywood wanted it told. 114 00:05:36,212 --> 00:05:38,840 Ronald L. Davis: This is an interview with actor Rock Hudson 115 00:05:38,923 --> 00:05:42,218 taped in his home in Beverly Hills, California, 116 00:05:42,301 --> 00:05:46,681 on August 24th, 1983. 117 00:05:46,723 --> 00:05:48,808 Well, I'm wondering, first of all, 118 00:05:48,850 --> 00:05:50,476 how an Illinois boy like yourself 119 00:05:50,518 --> 00:05:52,520 became interested in acting. 120 00:05:52,603 --> 00:05:54,647 Hudson: I wanted to be an actor all my life. 121 00:05:54,689 --> 00:05:57,984 That has always hypnotized me. 122 00:05:58,025 --> 00:06:00,278 Davis: Did you have acting training as a boy? 123 00:06:00,361 --> 00:06:03,781 Hudson: No. I could never freely say, 124 00:06:03,865 --> 00:06:05,867 "I'm going to be an actor when I grow up." 125 00:06:05,908 --> 00:06:06,868 Davis: Yeah. 126 00:06:06,951 --> 00:06:08,536 Hudson: Because that's sissy stuff. 127 00:06:08,578 --> 00:06:10,496 You oughta be a policeman or a fireman. 128 00:06:10,538 --> 00:06:12,790 So I never said anything. Kept my mouth shut. 129 00:06:12,874 --> 00:06:15,543 Nor did I enter in the drama society or anything like that. 130 00:06:15,585 --> 00:06:17,378 I had to work all the time, so I couldn't do 131 00:06:17,462 --> 00:06:19,839 any form of extracurricular activity. 132 00:06:19,881 --> 00:06:21,632 I had to make a living for myself. 133 00:06:21,716 --> 00:06:23,760 And then I went in the Navy in World War II 134 00:06:23,843 --> 00:06:25,636 and went back home for a summer, 135 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,389 and I thought, "This place is not for me. 136 00:06:28,473 --> 00:06:31,225 Now is the time to do what I want to do." 137 00:06:31,309 --> 00:06:33,728 (mellow jazz music) 138 00:06:33,770 --> 00:06:37,732 I did know one person in Los Angeles, 139 00:06:37,815 --> 00:06:38,649 my father. 140 00:06:38,733 --> 00:06:39,734 My parents divorced, 141 00:06:39,776 --> 00:06:41,819 and so he was living out here. 142 00:06:41,861 --> 00:06:43,321 So I came out 143 00:06:43,404 --> 00:06:44,781 and stayed with him. 144 00:06:44,864 --> 00:06:47,617 It was very difficult for me to make friends out here. 145 00:06:47,700 --> 00:06:48,826 Then I got to know 146 00:06:48,910 --> 00:06:51,454 a guy who was an older brother 147 00:06:51,537 --> 00:06:54,290 of a guy I was overseas with. 148 00:06:54,373 --> 00:06:55,708 And it was one of those things, 149 00:06:55,750 --> 00:06:57,835 "If you're ever in Los Angeles, look me up." 150 00:06:57,919 --> 00:06:59,504 So I called him and he said, 151 00:06:59,587 --> 00:07:00,922 "Come on up for Sunday dinner." 152 00:07:00,963 --> 00:07:03,841 So I did, met his brother, who lived in Long Beach, 153 00:07:03,925 --> 00:07:06,761 who used to be a radio producer. 154 00:07:06,803 --> 00:07:08,262 He began inviting me down 155 00:07:08,346 --> 00:07:10,098 to his place down in Long Beach. 156 00:07:10,181 --> 00:07:12,392 We became best friends. 157 00:07:12,433 --> 00:07:15,019 Richard Hodge: Kenneth Hodge was my uncle. 158 00:07:15,103 --> 00:07:16,562 A man of the arts. 159 00:07:16,604 --> 00:07:20,066 Somebody that really loved to help people. 160 00:07:20,149 --> 00:07:22,568 It was never, ever spoken of 161 00:07:22,610 --> 00:07:24,612 that, you know, he might be gay. 162 00:07:24,654 --> 00:07:27,824 I'd never heard that word at that point in time. 163 00:07:27,907 --> 00:07:31,202 Being gay was considered, you know, a neurosis. 164 00:07:31,285 --> 00:07:35,581 It was just a subject that, uh, that was off the table. 165 00:07:36,958 --> 00:07:39,419 Rock was just getting out of the Navy 166 00:07:39,460 --> 00:07:42,130 and hadn't been into the pictures yet. 167 00:07:42,171 --> 00:07:44,173 So Kenneth was really enthralled with him 168 00:07:44,257 --> 00:07:49,095 and was sort of "love at first sight," I think for, for Ken. 169 00:07:49,178 --> 00:07:52,432 They were very much lovers. 170 00:07:52,473 --> 00:07:54,851 Kenneth had a big Hollywood job. 171 00:07:54,934 --> 00:07:57,478 He was a director in radio, and he had a good network. 172 00:07:57,562 --> 00:08:00,982 He had plenty of people to introduce Rock to, 173 00:08:01,065 --> 00:08:06,154 and he helped facilitate some of Rock's early career. 174 00:08:06,821 --> 00:08:09,782 Hudson: He suggested that I get some pictures taken 175 00:08:09,824 --> 00:08:11,659 and send them around to agents. 176 00:08:11,743 --> 00:08:12,994 I said, "What's an agent?" 177 00:08:13,035 --> 00:08:16,289 Now I'm Midwestern hick. Please understand. 178 00:08:16,330 --> 00:08:18,124 Not knowing anything at all. 179 00:08:18,166 --> 00:08:22,253 Anyway, I had one response, that's all. 180 00:08:22,336 --> 00:08:23,838 And that was Henry Willson. 181 00:08:23,921 --> 00:08:25,506 Davis: Is that right? 182 00:08:25,590 --> 00:08:28,009 Hodge: Rock was very ambitious. 183 00:08:28,051 --> 00:08:30,970 He got scooped up with a big-time agent 184 00:08:31,012 --> 00:08:34,807 who really accelerated Rock's career. 185 00:08:34,849 --> 00:08:37,018 And from what I know is, 186 00:08:37,060 --> 00:08:40,270 he kind of dropped Ken on the spot. 187 00:08:40,313 --> 00:08:43,733 I think it ended really abruptly. 188 00:08:46,277 --> 00:08:50,239 I never really saw my uncle in love again. 189 00:08:51,741 --> 00:08:54,410 And I think Rock broke his heart. 190 00:08:54,494 --> 00:08:56,704 (audience applauding) 191 00:08:56,746 --> 00:08:59,415 (indistinct chatter) 192 00:08:59,499 --> 00:09:02,960 And the fella sitting next to you in the audience down there, 193 00:09:03,044 --> 00:09:04,879 there's the man who gave you that name, 194 00:09:04,962 --> 00:09:07,590 your good friend and personal manager, Mr. Henry Willson. 195 00:09:07,673 --> 00:09:10,343 Henry, stand up, please, let the folks see you. 196 00:09:10,385 --> 00:09:12,220 (Rock laughing) 197 00:09:12,303 --> 00:09:15,223 Matter of fact, uh, Henry discovered Rock 198 00:09:15,264 --> 00:09:18,017 and fostered his rapid rise in pictures. 199 00:09:18,059 --> 00:09:19,227 Hudson: Mm-hmm. 200 00:09:19,310 --> 00:09:21,979 Hofler: In the '40s, Henry Willson went to work 201 00:09:22,063 --> 00:09:24,607 for David O. Selznick right after David O. Selznick 202 00:09:24,690 --> 00:09:26,734 finished "Gone With the Wind." 203 00:09:26,776 --> 00:09:29,237 Henry and Rock met at a party 204 00:09:29,278 --> 00:09:34,575 that this boyfriend-agent of Rock's took him to. 205 00:09:34,617 --> 00:09:37,203 Rock realized, "I'm going with the guy 206 00:09:37,245 --> 00:09:40,706 who's the head of talent for Selznick Studios!" 207 00:09:40,748 --> 00:09:43,583 So Rock was one of his first clients, 208 00:09:43,626 --> 00:09:46,254 and there were dozens of other men 209 00:09:46,295 --> 00:09:48,923 who have been completely forgotten, 210 00:09:48,965 --> 00:09:52,802 who had crazy names like "Race Gentry." 211 00:09:52,885 --> 00:09:55,263 You only have to look at the silent movies, 212 00:09:55,346 --> 00:09:58,850 where you would have these men like Ramon Novarro 213 00:09:58,933 --> 00:10:00,810 or Rudolph Valentino. 214 00:10:00,893 --> 00:10:03,438 And they were considered way too effeminate 215 00:10:03,521 --> 00:10:05,440 by the late '30s. 216 00:10:06,149 --> 00:10:08,609 As we come out of World War II, 217 00:10:08,693 --> 00:10:11,654 our icons, particularly in the movies, 218 00:10:11,738 --> 00:10:13,865 become more butch. 219 00:10:13,948 --> 00:10:16,200 A more masculine man 220 00:10:16,284 --> 00:10:19,412 in the stereotypical way took over. 221 00:10:19,454 --> 00:10:23,249 There were all these photographs of soldiers and sailors. 222 00:10:23,291 --> 00:10:27,503 And so that kind of upped the ante of 223 00:10:27,587 --> 00:10:32,133 this macho quality that people wanted in a movie star. 224 00:10:32,175 --> 00:10:36,679 And so the physique became more important 225 00:10:36,763 --> 00:10:41,184 and you had more taking off of the shirt. 226 00:10:42,185 --> 00:10:45,438 And that's where Henry Willson really came in. 227 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,524 He groomed the male stars 228 00:10:48,608 --> 00:10:51,819 to be more butch, frankly. 229 00:10:51,861 --> 00:10:53,529 And he did it with, 230 00:10:53,613 --> 00:10:55,031 you know, a number of these guys 231 00:10:55,114 --> 00:10:56,866 who were ex-soldiers and sailors, 232 00:10:56,949 --> 00:10:58,993 and Rock Hudson was one of them. 233 00:10:59,077 --> 00:11:01,662 -Actress: You are divine. -I know, but I'm in training. 234 00:11:01,704 --> 00:11:03,706 (women laughing) 235 00:11:03,790 --> 00:11:05,166 Hudson: So then I started 236 00:11:05,249 --> 00:11:07,001 going to class and going to diction lessons, 237 00:11:07,043 --> 00:11:08,544 learning how to lower my voice, 238 00:11:08,628 --> 00:11:09,962 learning how to horseback ride, 239 00:11:10,004 --> 00:11:11,672 learning anything I could, 240 00:11:11,756 --> 00:11:16,844 'cause something within this Midwestern hick stupidity of mine 241 00:11:16,886 --> 00:11:19,597 told me that if you're gonna do something, do it, 242 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:21,391 and do it the best you can and learn. 243 00:11:21,474 --> 00:11:23,476 I knew that, at least. 244 00:11:23,518 --> 00:11:27,397 Mark Griffin: Henry Willson was very shrewd in knowing 245 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,316 that if there is even a trace of effeminacy, 246 00:11:30,358 --> 00:11:32,860 whether it's a giggle or a flutter, 247 00:11:32,944 --> 00:11:34,987 that that's going to read on screen. 248 00:11:35,029 --> 00:11:37,907 Hofler: He showed them how to do their hair, 249 00:11:37,990 --> 00:11:39,700 what to wear, all of that. 250 00:11:39,742 --> 00:11:42,703 You know, he was a real grooming school. 251 00:11:42,745 --> 00:11:46,749 He taught them how to be heterosexual. 252 00:11:46,833 --> 00:11:51,087 (jazz singer vocalizing) 253 00:11:53,881 --> 00:11:56,592 Griffin: So, Kathleen, I wanted to begin by asking 254 00:11:56,676 --> 00:11:59,637 about the screen test that you appeared in with Rock. 255 00:11:59,721 --> 00:12:01,222 -Kathleen Hughes: Oh, yes. -(knocking) 256 00:12:01,264 --> 00:12:03,349 Griffin: I was just wondering, had you met Rock 257 00:12:03,391 --> 00:12:05,601 prior to appearing in the test with him? 258 00:12:05,685 --> 00:12:07,228 Hughes: No, I hadn't. 259 00:12:07,270 --> 00:12:09,522 Griffin: What was your initial impression of him? 260 00:12:09,564 --> 00:12:12,233 Hughes: Well, he was certainly very handsome... 261 00:12:12,275 --> 00:12:14,736 (laughs) ...no question of that. 262 00:12:14,819 --> 00:12:17,864 And he was very pleasant, very nice. 263 00:12:17,905 --> 00:12:19,574 Honey, I'm gonna tell you something. 264 00:12:19,615 --> 00:12:22,076 You can believe it or not, but it's the truth. 265 00:12:22,118 --> 00:12:24,954 The last winter of the war over in Germany... 266 00:12:25,037 --> 00:12:31,085 Hughes: He did not appeal to me as a man or as a date. 267 00:12:31,127 --> 00:12:36,090 He was very nice, but I... there was no spark. 268 00:12:36,174 --> 00:12:39,135 -(peaceful piano music) -Director: Cut! 269 00:12:39,218 --> 00:12:42,430 Hudson: I was under contract with Universal Pictures. 270 00:12:42,472 --> 00:12:44,849 And then I was with them 17, 18 years. 271 00:12:44,891 --> 00:12:47,268 Universal in those days, it was a wonderful studio. 272 00:12:47,310 --> 00:12:50,438 They took care of everything for the actor. 273 00:12:50,521 --> 00:12:52,190 The house you live in, 274 00:12:52,273 --> 00:12:53,816 the shopping, your meals, a cook. 275 00:12:53,900 --> 00:12:56,611 It was all done for you. 276 00:12:56,694 --> 00:13:02,283 So that the only thing you had to be concerned about was your performance. 277 00:13:02,366 --> 00:13:03,826 ♪♪ 278 00:13:03,910 --> 00:13:06,079 Piper Laurie: See that little glint of fear 279 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,748 in his eyes, the insecurity? 280 00:13:08,790 --> 00:13:11,209 Rock and I had both been signed 281 00:13:11,292 --> 00:13:14,045 to be under contract to Universal. 282 00:13:14,128 --> 00:13:16,255 One of the things that we had to do 283 00:13:16,297 --> 00:13:18,341 after we were all under contract was 284 00:13:18,424 --> 00:13:21,302 be a part of a theatrical presentation 285 00:13:21,386 --> 00:13:26,307 for all the studio heads and producers and agents. 286 00:13:27,141 --> 00:13:30,436 And he'd never been on the stage before. 287 00:13:30,478 --> 00:13:35,400 And, and I saw that he was physically out of control. 288 00:13:35,483 --> 00:13:38,361 He was just, he was very much like a child 289 00:13:38,444 --> 00:13:42,156 and just shaking visibly and perspiring 290 00:13:42,198 --> 00:13:45,535 and looked like he couldn't stand on his feet. 291 00:13:45,618 --> 00:13:49,539 And I embraced him, and I held him like I was his mother 292 00:13:49,622 --> 00:13:55,002 and tried to infuse some strength in him, courage. 293 00:13:55,086 --> 00:13:57,171 But he was so frightened. 294 00:13:58,715 --> 00:14:01,467 Hughes: My best friend at the time, 295 00:14:01,509 --> 00:14:04,679 who was also under contract, Susan Cabot. 296 00:14:04,762 --> 00:14:07,098 Well, she was always telling me 297 00:14:07,181 --> 00:14:09,267 how madly in love with him she was. 298 00:14:09,350 --> 00:14:14,397 And she told me that he took her home to meet his mother once. 299 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:18,401 She was really hoping to end up with him. 300 00:14:18,484 --> 00:14:22,530 And I had already heard that he was gay. 301 00:14:22,613 --> 00:14:27,452 And I said, "Um, I don't think it's gonna happen." 302 00:14:27,535 --> 00:14:31,038 "Oh, yes, yes. It's just got to happen." 303 00:14:31,122 --> 00:14:34,000 Well, it didn't happen. 304 00:14:34,041 --> 00:14:36,002 I can't marry you. 305 00:14:36,044 --> 00:14:38,921 Why not, darling? Why not? 306 00:14:42,967 --> 00:14:46,429 For a moment, I, I forgot what I am. 307 00:14:48,139 --> 00:14:50,224 (mellow jazz music) 308 00:14:50,308 --> 00:14:52,060 Hofler: There's a womanizer 309 00:14:52,143 --> 00:14:54,020 and Henry Willson was a manizer. 310 00:14:54,062 --> 00:14:57,982 And he was pretty straightforward about, 311 00:14:58,066 --> 00:15:01,235 "Well, I'll sign you and you'll sleep with me," 312 00:15:01,277 --> 00:15:04,572 and there was even kind of negotiations that went on, 313 00:15:04,655 --> 00:15:08,326 and he quickly gained a reputation for it. 314 00:15:08,409 --> 00:15:12,497 And young, good-looking men went to him 315 00:15:12,580 --> 00:15:16,751 using their sex to be signed by him. 316 00:15:16,793 --> 00:15:18,419 They knew what they were doing. 317 00:15:18,503 --> 00:15:21,506 I don't think, when it came to sex, 318 00:15:21,589 --> 00:15:26,344 Rock was ever innocent by the time he arrived in Hollywood. 319 00:15:26,427 --> 00:15:29,597 Actress: The next time we saw Roy was over a week later, 320 00:15:29,639 --> 00:15:31,599 only you wouldn't know it was the same man. 321 00:15:31,641 --> 00:15:32,934 Hello. 322 00:15:33,017 --> 00:15:35,269 Griffin: In 1951, Henry Willson 323 00:15:35,353 --> 00:15:38,147 introduces his most promising client, Rock Hudson, 324 00:15:38,231 --> 00:15:41,692 to an aspiring actor named Bob Preble. 325 00:15:42,568 --> 00:15:45,613 Soon these two eligible bachelors are living together 326 00:15:45,696 --> 00:15:50,410 in a one-bedroom house off Mulholland Drive. 327 00:15:50,451 --> 00:15:52,245 (cool jazz music) 328 00:15:52,286 --> 00:15:55,581 "Photoplay" magazine publishes this article, 329 00:15:55,623 --> 00:15:58,208 and we're allowed to peek through the window, 330 00:15:58,292 --> 00:16:02,964 as it were, into Rock and Bob's private sanctuary. 331 00:16:03,047 --> 00:16:04,966 ♪♪ 332 00:16:05,049 --> 00:16:10,638 What's being depicted is almost sort of like this marital intimacy. 333 00:16:10,722 --> 00:16:15,059 And yet every effort is made to portray Rock and Bob as like 334 00:16:15,143 --> 00:16:17,395 wholesome all-American boys. 335 00:16:17,478 --> 00:16:20,314 Preble later admitted to some quote, unquote, 336 00:16:20,356 --> 00:16:21,983 "experimenting" with Rock 337 00:16:22,024 --> 00:16:24,110 when they were roommates. 338 00:16:24,152 --> 00:16:25,695 But "Photoplay" magazine would have us believe 339 00:16:25,778 --> 00:16:28,781 that the only reason these two hunks are living together 340 00:16:28,823 --> 00:16:30,658 is to save a buck. 341 00:16:31,659 --> 00:16:35,037 Look, baby, there's no strings on me. 342 00:16:35,121 --> 00:16:36,956 I do what I like. 343 00:16:36,998 --> 00:16:39,292 And the same thing goes for you. 344 00:16:42,003 --> 00:16:43,671 And we got music. 345 00:16:43,713 --> 00:16:47,717 (contemplative music) 346 00:16:52,513 --> 00:16:57,018 Griffin: In 1951, Rock meets fellow actor George Nader 347 00:16:57,101 --> 00:17:02,732 and Nader's long-term partner, Mark Miller. 348 00:17:02,815 --> 00:17:04,441 And for the next 34 years, 349 00:17:04,525 --> 00:17:07,652 this trio is virtually inseparable. 350 00:17:08,279 --> 00:17:11,239 The bond is forged through, you know, things like 351 00:17:11,324 --> 00:17:13,409 a similar sense of humor 352 00:17:13,493 --> 00:17:16,329 and this tendency towards mischief. 353 00:17:16,370 --> 00:17:20,666 There's also this shared misery of the closet. 354 00:17:20,708 --> 00:17:25,380 There are countless lovers, short-term boyfriends, 355 00:17:25,463 --> 00:17:30,718 and weekend flings that pass through Rock Hudson's life. 356 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:35,181 But the friendship with Nader and Miller endured. 357 00:17:37,558 --> 00:17:39,560 Ain't he the sweetest player you ever saw? 358 00:17:39,602 --> 00:17:41,396 He is not. 359 00:17:42,063 --> 00:17:45,525 Thomson: I think that Hudson was regarded 360 00:17:45,566 --> 00:17:49,529 as a big, strong, handsome guy. 361 00:17:49,570 --> 00:17:53,241 And the natural instinct was to put him 362 00:17:53,324 --> 00:17:56,994 in a lot of cheap adventure films. 363 00:17:57,078 --> 00:18:00,706 It took time for the studio to see 364 00:18:00,790 --> 00:18:04,252 that what they really had there 365 00:18:04,293 --> 00:18:06,003 was a subtler actor 366 00:18:06,087 --> 00:18:07,588 than they ever guessed. 367 00:18:08,005 --> 00:18:09,966 Johash! The horses! 368 00:18:10,049 --> 00:18:14,011 (band playing "Has Anybody Seen My Gal") 369 00:18:14,095 --> 00:18:15,430 Narrator: Yes, here they are, 370 00:18:15,471 --> 00:18:17,432 those wild and wonderful '20s, 371 00:18:17,515 --> 00:18:19,600 the years of speakeasies and hot jazz. 372 00:18:19,684 --> 00:18:23,312 (upbeat jazz music) 373 00:18:23,396 --> 00:18:25,606 (speaking German) 374 00:18:38,286 --> 00:18:40,663 -Will I see you tonight? -You bet, Millie, 8 o'clock. 375 00:18:40,747 --> 00:18:42,665 -There's a good-- Yes, sir. -A double bromo. 376 00:18:42,749 --> 00:18:44,792 One double bromo. There's a good movie... 377 00:18:44,834 --> 00:18:47,462 Laurie: I personally felt that part was beneath him. 378 00:18:47,545 --> 00:18:49,630 I thought he was miscast. 379 00:18:49,672 --> 00:18:53,134 You know, he was a 6'4" hunk, 380 00:18:53,217 --> 00:18:56,012 and to be playing lines 381 00:18:56,095 --> 00:18:58,598 that belonged in a teenager's mouth. 382 00:18:58,639 --> 00:19:01,142 Watch me! One strawberry surprise. 383 00:19:01,809 --> 00:19:05,980 Laurie: I just thought it was beneath him, and he was a good sport. 384 00:19:06,481 --> 00:19:09,609 Did you know that in the drugstore scenes, uh... 385 00:19:09,650 --> 00:19:11,486 Griffin: Is it the young Jimmy Dean? 386 00:19:11,527 --> 00:19:13,321 Laurie: Yeah, yeah. He was sitting at the counter. 387 00:19:13,404 --> 00:19:15,907 Nobody paid any attention, nobody knew him then. 388 00:19:15,990 --> 00:19:18,659 Two scoops of vanilla ice cream, one mixed up with the rest. 389 00:19:18,743 --> 00:19:20,244 And, uh, one floating. 390 00:19:20,328 --> 00:19:22,205 (moody jazz music) 391 00:19:22,288 --> 00:19:24,499 (Sirk speaking German) 392 00:19:57,115 --> 00:19:58,991 Announcer: Film producer Ross Hunter, 393 00:19:59,033 --> 00:20:01,869 who not only is one of the most successful producers in town, 394 00:20:01,911 --> 00:20:03,830 but one of the best liked. 395 00:20:03,871 --> 00:20:07,083 I believe in, you know, authenticity, real flowers and real paintings. 396 00:20:07,166 --> 00:20:10,253 And there's a million dollars' worth of jewels here tonight. 397 00:20:10,878 --> 00:20:13,548 Ross Hunter: The studio asked, "What would you like to do?" 398 00:20:13,589 --> 00:20:15,758 And I said, "Well, I would like to do something 399 00:20:15,842 --> 00:20:18,344 "that I believe is very much needed in this industry, 400 00:20:18,386 --> 00:20:19,679 and that is to bring back glamor." 401 00:20:19,721 --> 00:20:22,390 So I said, "Let's do some love stories." 402 00:20:22,432 --> 00:20:25,393 (expansive symphonic music) 403 00:20:31,649 --> 00:20:35,278 Douglas Sirk: I only can say I smelled something 404 00:20:35,361 --> 00:20:37,739 interesting in the film. 405 00:20:37,780 --> 00:20:41,826 Something which I would call metaphysical. 406 00:20:41,909 --> 00:20:45,246 You know, it's very strange knowing you only like this. 407 00:20:45,288 --> 00:20:47,623 So well, it seems, and... 408 00:20:47,707 --> 00:20:49,500 and yet... 409 00:20:50,418 --> 00:20:52,462 I've never seen your face. 410 00:20:52,545 --> 00:20:55,339 Hunter: The studio thought my ideas were crazy. 411 00:20:55,423 --> 00:20:57,383 I told them that I believe strongly 412 00:20:57,425 --> 00:20:59,218 in a man called Rock Hudson. 413 00:20:59,260 --> 00:21:01,929 And I would like to be able 414 00:21:01,971 --> 00:21:05,725 to use him as the young man in "Magnificent Obsession." 415 00:21:05,767 --> 00:21:09,145 He's a good-looking, clean-cut man 416 00:21:09,228 --> 00:21:11,522 that young people all over the world 417 00:21:11,606 --> 00:21:13,399 will fantasize about. 418 00:21:14,692 --> 00:21:17,445 Oh, I'm so glad you're here. 419 00:21:17,487 --> 00:21:19,739 You must have known how much I need you now. 420 00:21:19,781 --> 00:21:21,074 Darling. 421 00:21:21,115 --> 00:21:22,533 Griffin: Ross Hunter is kind of 422 00:21:22,617 --> 00:21:24,452 the one that clues into the fact 423 00:21:24,494 --> 00:21:27,413 that Rock is Prince Charming. 424 00:21:27,455 --> 00:21:30,166 You know, let's put him in some 425 00:21:30,249 --> 00:21:32,919 glossy romantic melodramas. 426 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:35,421 That proved to be the winning formula 427 00:21:35,463 --> 00:21:37,590 for the beginning of Rock's career. 428 00:21:37,632 --> 00:21:41,260 I love you, and I wanna marry you. 429 00:21:41,302 --> 00:21:43,304 Hunter: Oh, the picture was probably 430 00:21:43,388 --> 00:21:44,931 one of the biggest moneymakers 431 00:21:45,014 --> 00:21:46,474 that Universal had ever had. 432 00:21:46,557 --> 00:21:49,477 Sirk: Rock Hudson became a star, 433 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:52,814 just on account of this film. 434 00:21:52,897 --> 00:21:57,151 Announcer: Based on votes of moviegoers all over the nation, 435 00:21:57,235 --> 00:21:58,736 most popular actor of the year. 436 00:21:58,820 --> 00:22:00,571 (fans chanting "We want Rock!") 437 00:22:00,655 --> 00:22:03,241 Rock, take another bow. Take another bow. 438 00:22:03,324 --> 00:22:05,993 Take a bow, just take a bow. 439 00:22:06,077 --> 00:22:09,247 (Latin jazz music) 440 00:22:09,288 --> 00:22:12,166 -Aren't you Mrs. Ricky Ricardo? -Yeah-- Yes. 441 00:22:12,250 --> 00:22:13,960 -Well, I'm Rock Hudson. -Oh, yeah. 442 00:22:14,001 --> 00:22:16,587 -Well, I know that. -(audience laughing) 443 00:22:16,671 --> 00:22:19,132 Announcer: W ell, this is the second year in a row 444 00:22:19,173 --> 00:22:21,509 that Mr. Hudson has been picked by "Modern Screen" 445 00:22:21,592 --> 00:22:23,636 as most popular actor. 446 00:22:23,678 --> 00:22:25,680 Top honors for a top star. 447 00:22:25,763 --> 00:22:28,933 (spirited jazz music concludes) 448 00:22:28,975 --> 00:22:31,060 (sweeping romantic music) 449 00:22:39,360 --> 00:22:42,572 But I'd be running away if I turn my back on everything I've known. 450 00:22:42,655 --> 00:22:45,742 Ron. Isn't it enough that we love each other? 451 00:22:48,035 --> 00:22:51,622 No, Cary, it isn't. 452 00:23:00,548 --> 00:23:02,383 Illeana Douglas: Sirk is German. 453 00:23:02,425 --> 00:23:04,343 He's making these movies 454 00:23:04,385 --> 00:23:10,558 as an outsider about our American values 455 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:13,061 and kind of poking holes in them. 456 00:23:13,144 --> 00:23:15,730 Narrator: Their lives were worlds apart. 457 00:23:15,813 --> 00:23:18,775 Cary's world was bound by the country club set, 458 00:23:18,858 --> 00:23:21,652 their smug pretensions and their spiteful gossip. 459 00:23:21,736 --> 00:23:23,738 Ron's world was boundless. 460 00:23:23,780 --> 00:23:26,282 The great outdoors, the things that grow 461 00:23:26,365 --> 00:23:28,451 and real people who give and take 462 00:23:28,534 --> 00:23:29,702 all that heaven allows 463 00:23:29,744 --> 00:23:31,662 of love and happiness. 464 00:23:31,746 --> 00:23:35,374 (upbeat piano and accordion music) 465 00:23:35,416 --> 00:23:39,128 Douglas: Sirk created a signature style, 466 00:23:39,212 --> 00:23:41,422 which is, it's so beautiful, 467 00:23:41,464 --> 00:23:44,592 but if you look underneath the surface, 468 00:23:44,675 --> 00:23:46,844 under the white picket fences, 469 00:23:46,928 --> 00:23:51,933 you're gonna see how torrid and ugly everything is. 470 00:23:52,016 --> 00:23:54,102 -Howard, you're drunk. -Why, Cary! 471 00:23:54,143 --> 00:23:56,646 -(glass shatters) -Isn't one man enough for you? 472 00:23:56,729 --> 00:23:59,273 Maybe you'd better stay right where you are. 473 00:23:59,649 --> 00:24:01,776 Douglas: Rock Hudson is just a... 474 00:24:01,859 --> 00:24:06,572 a perfect example of a male Adonis, 475 00:24:06,614 --> 00:24:11,285 but he's also sensitive, well-rounded guy. 476 00:24:11,327 --> 00:24:16,124 You know, he's not strictly a sex object for Jane Wyman. 477 00:24:16,833 --> 00:24:22,547 He was the perfect man for women of that era 478 00:24:22,630 --> 00:24:26,467 that maybe were trapped in lonely marriages 479 00:24:26,509 --> 00:24:30,346 with insensitive, unfeeling men. 480 00:24:30,805 --> 00:24:33,641 Look, Mick, I told her that I love her. 481 00:24:33,725 --> 00:24:35,685 I asked her to marry me. I can't force her. 482 00:24:35,768 --> 00:24:37,186 She has to make up her own mind. 483 00:24:37,270 --> 00:24:40,440 She doesn't wanna make up her own mind, no girl does. 484 00:24:40,481 --> 00:24:42,150 She wants you to make it up for her. 485 00:24:42,191 --> 00:24:43,860 Come on, let's go. 486 00:24:44,318 --> 00:24:51,075 Douglas: Rock Hudson is playing a man called Rock Hudson, 487 00:24:51,159 --> 00:24:57,331 who is the personification of Americana. 488 00:24:57,415 --> 00:25:01,502 (contemplative music) 489 00:25:01,586 --> 00:25:04,297 The identity was given to him... 490 00:25:04,338 --> 00:25:06,424 ♪♪ 491 00:25:06,507 --> 00:25:10,845 ...and he slipped into it and he played it for the rest of his life. 492 00:25:10,887 --> 00:25:13,056 (contemplative music continues) 493 00:25:20,188 --> 00:25:22,690 Actor: This is the biggest thing that's ever happened to you. 494 00:25:22,774 --> 00:25:24,317 -Yeah? -Yeah. 495 00:25:24,358 --> 00:25:26,652 That's why it was such a hurry for me to get over here 496 00:25:26,694 --> 00:25:27,820 and clean up your image. 497 00:25:27,862 --> 00:25:29,864 What's wrong with my image? 498 00:25:29,906 --> 00:25:32,533 You make it sound like I've just been named Leper of the Year. 499 00:25:32,617 --> 00:25:34,160 Well, you know the mentality of that board, 500 00:25:34,202 --> 00:25:36,037 they're hipped on the idea of a corporate image, 501 00:25:36,079 --> 00:25:38,956 solid American gentry, family respectability. 502 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:41,793 For their top executives, there are not 10 commandments, only one: 503 00:25:41,876 --> 00:25:44,670 "Thou shalt be married, happily and respectably married." 504 00:25:44,712 --> 00:25:46,714 -Whether you like it or not. -That's right. 505 00:25:46,756 --> 00:25:48,383 From now on you're gonna have a new look. 506 00:25:48,424 --> 00:25:50,051 No more gay married bachelor. 507 00:25:50,134 --> 00:25:52,720 It's got to be Carter Harrison, family man. 508 00:25:53,513 --> 00:25:55,723 Male Chorus: ♪ Maybe I'm right ♪ 509 00:25:55,765 --> 00:25:59,394 ♪ And maybe I'm wrong ♪ 510 00:25:59,477 --> 00:26:01,854 ♪ Maybe I'm weak ♪ 511 00:26:01,896 --> 00:26:04,482 ♪ And maybe I'm strong ♪ 512 00:26:04,565 --> 00:26:06,776 ♪ But nevertheless ♪ 513 00:26:06,859 --> 00:26:09,904 ♪ I'm in love... ♪ 514 00:26:09,946 --> 00:26:12,365 Griffin: By the late 1950s, 515 00:26:12,448 --> 00:26:14,784 Rock Hudson had really arrived. 516 00:26:14,867 --> 00:26:17,912 Rock's great popularity as a matinee idol 517 00:26:17,995 --> 00:26:20,248 poses this significant problem 518 00:26:20,289 --> 00:26:22,750 for his handlers and studio executives. 519 00:26:22,834 --> 00:26:25,378 On the screen, he's wooing women 520 00:26:25,420 --> 00:26:27,213 like Jane Wyman and Piper Laurie 521 00:26:27,255 --> 00:26:29,882 and the fans are really eating it up. 522 00:26:29,924 --> 00:26:32,093 But he's nearly 30 years old 523 00:26:32,176 --> 00:26:34,846 and he's sort of suspiciously unmarried. 524 00:26:34,929 --> 00:26:36,764 ♪ ...with you ♪ 525 00:26:36,848 --> 00:26:39,267 Griffin: In the days when you were working with Rock, 526 00:26:39,350 --> 00:26:41,561 the fan magazines like "Photoplay" and "Modern Screen" 527 00:26:41,602 --> 00:26:42,770 started to print articles 528 00:26:42,854 --> 00:26:44,772 in which Betty Abbott was described 529 00:26:44,856 --> 00:26:46,524 as "Rock Hudson's best girl." 530 00:26:46,607 --> 00:26:47,734 Betty Abbott Griffin: Oh, I know. 531 00:26:47,775 --> 00:26:49,444 We would laugh our heads off. 532 00:26:49,485 --> 00:26:51,946 -(Griffin laughs) - Abbott Griffin : I mean, it was publicity. 533 00:26:52,029 --> 00:26:55,241 I mean, we knew what they were trying to do 534 00:26:55,283 --> 00:26:57,034 and we'd sit there and laugh it off. 535 00:26:57,118 --> 00:26:59,120 ♪ A life of regret... ♪ 536 00:26:59,162 --> 00:27:02,623 Hofler: No one cared what you really did in Hollywood. 537 00:27:02,665 --> 00:27:05,960 It's just as long as you played along 538 00:27:06,002 --> 00:27:09,964 and you presented a facade to the public. 539 00:27:10,048 --> 00:27:14,927 So living with another man is not kind of playing the game. 540 00:27:14,969 --> 00:27:18,264 Playing the game is getting married. 541 00:27:18,306 --> 00:27:20,767 ♪ But nevertheless ♪ 542 00:27:20,808 --> 00:27:23,519 ♪ I'm in love ♪ 543 00:27:23,603 --> 00:27:25,313 ♪ With ♪ 544 00:27:25,396 --> 00:27:29,150 ♪ You ♪ 545 00:27:29,192 --> 00:27:31,152 It's about time you got hitched, isn't it? 546 00:27:33,279 --> 00:27:34,655 No, I... 547 00:27:34,697 --> 00:27:36,949 I have trouble enough finding oil. 548 00:27:37,033 --> 00:27:37,950 (chuckles) 549 00:27:37,992 --> 00:27:40,745 Griffin: Enter Phyllis Gates. 550 00:27:40,828 --> 00:27:43,664 Not only is she Henry Willson's secretary, 551 00:27:43,748 --> 00:27:46,000 but she's really heaven sent. 552 00:27:46,084 --> 00:27:48,503 It's like direct from central casting 553 00:27:48,586 --> 00:27:50,505 to play Mrs. Rock Hudson. 554 00:27:50,588 --> 00:27:53,466 In November of 1955, 555 00:27:53,508 --> 00:27:55,093 Rock and Phyllis are married 556 00:27:55,176 --> 00:27:57,845 at the Biltmore Hotel in Santa Barbara. 557 00:27:57,929 --> 00:28:00,807 The ceremony took place only eight days 558 00:28:00,848 --> 00:28:03,351 before Hudson's 30th birthday. 559 00:28:03,393 --> 00:28:05,978 And not surprisingly, Henry Willson, 560 00:28:06,020 --> 00:28:09,023 the omnipresent, tended to every detail. 561 00:28:09,065 --> 00:28:11,692 Though he does stop short of joining the newlyweds 562 00:28:11,734 --> 00:28:13,986 when they honeymoon in the Caribbean. 563 00:28:14,028 --> 00:28:16,823 I tend to believe that it was arranged, 564 00:28:16,906 --> 00:28:20,201 that Henry Willson paired off an essentially gay man 565 00:28:20,243 --> 00:28:24,038 and a woman rumored to be bi or gay herself. 566 00:28:24,122 --> 00:28:26,499 Both participants may have agreed to play house 567 00:28:26,541 --> 00:28:30,294 in the name of keeping Hudson's career blazing. 568 00:28:30,378 --> 00:28:32,964 Hofler: Oh, it was totally engineered by Henry. 569 00:28:33,005 --> 00:28:38,010 You know, and the, the thing that was such a joke about it 570 00:28:38,052 --> 00:28:41,139 is that Rock didn't look any further 571 00:28:41,222 --> 00:28:43,182 than his agent's secretary. 572 00:28:44,225 --> 00:28:48,730 Griffin: In some ways, Rock is the most successful creation 573 00:28:48,813 --> 00:28:50,982 of that golden age of Hollywood, 574 00:28:51,065 --> 00:28:54,902 the last of those really manufactured stars 575 00:28:54,986 --> 00:28:56,112 where every aspect 576 00:28:56,195 --> 00:28:59,782 of what we think to be their private life 577 00:28:59,866 --> 00:29:03,411 has been built by other people. 578 00:29:09,751 --> 00:29:11,085 (crowd cheering) 579 00:29:11,127 --> 00:29:13,796 Hudson: I like to lean upon a director, 580 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:17,884 and if I can't lean on him, I'm rather lost. 581 00:29:17,925 --> 00:29:20,011 And I am forced to rely on myself. 582 00:29:20,094 --> 00:29:22,889 And that's not a comfortable feeling. 583 00:29:22,930 --> 00:29:25,349 (expansive orchestral theme) 584 00:29:29,562 --> 00:29:32,273 Interviewer: When the opportunity came for you to work 585 00:29:32,315 --> 00:29:33,941 with George Stevens, what was your...? 586 00:29:33,983 --> 00:29:36,235 Hudson: Oh, well, scrape me off the ceiling. 587 00:29:36,277 --> 00:29:38,446 I mean, the thrill of a lifetime for me. 588 00:29:38,529 --> 00:29:40,656 But it was really true what everybody said, 589 00:29:40,740 --> 00:29:43,618 make yourself a piece of putty and put yourself in his hands 590 00:29:43,659 --> 00:29:45,244 and rely on him. 591 00:29:46,162 --> 00:29:49,457 Allison Anders: George Stevens is one of those classic 592 00:29:49,540 --> 00:29:51,292 American filmmakers, 593 00:29:51,375 --> 00:29:54,045 and no story I know is as big as "Giant." 594 00:29:54,128 --> 00:29:56,214 It spans so many decades. 595 00:29:56,297 --> 00:29:59,342 It spans so many sensibilities. 596 00:29:59,425 --> 00:30:05,014 Just the photography alone is so magnificent. 597 00:30:05,098 --> 00:30:08,935 I've probably seen "Giant" hundreds of times. 598 00:30:09,477 --> 00:30:11,479 I lost one friend I had in this place 599 00:30:11,562 --> 00:30:13,147 and I know it too. 600 00:30:13,231 --> 00:30:15,358 So I quit. I'm dead quit. 601 00:30:15,441 --> 00:30:17,151 Don't have to say another word to me. 602 00:30:17,193 --> 00:30:18,778 Nobody's firing you, Jett. 603 00:30:18,820 --> 00:30:21,489 Davis: What kind of memories do you have of James Dean? 604 00:30:21,531 --> 00:30:25,326 Hudson: George used Jimmy because Jimmy was new and hot. 605 00:30:25,410 --> 00:30:27,537 -Davis: Mm-hmm. Yes. -Hudson: Hot-hot. 606 00:30:27,620 --> 00:30:30,790 I didn't particularly like him, personally. 607 00:30:30,832 --> 00:30:32,166 -Would you excuse me? -Davis: Sure. 608 00:30:32,250 --> 00:30:34,001 Hudson: I'm wanna go get a pack of cigarettes. 609 00:30:35,795 --> 00:30:37,004 (men clamoring) 610 00:30:37,046 --> 00:30:38,548 Griffin: According to some accounts, 611 00:30:38,631 --> 00:30:42,385 James Dean was rather disdainful of Hudson. 612 00:30:42,927 --> 00:30:45,096 Dean considered it hypocritical 613 00:30:45,179 --> 00:30:48,683 that Rock was maintaining this hetero facade in public 614 00:30:48,766 --> 00:30:51,102 while privately hitting on Dean, 615 00:30:51,185 --> 00:30:53,062 if we're to believe the rumor mill. 616 00:30:53,146 --> 00:30:56,733 Some might say that that's a case of the pot calling the kettle black. 617 00:30:56,816 --> 00:31:00,445 You know, it's pretty well documented that early in his career, 618 00:31:00,528 --> 00:31:04,073 James Dean was kept by a gay radio executive 619 00:31:04,157 --> 00:31:07,618 who was indeed friends with Rock's agent, Henry Willson. 620 00:31:07,702 --> 00:31:10,371 If you're talking about shrouded sexuality, 621 00:31:10,455 --> 00:31:12,373 they weren't all that different. 622 00:31:12,415 --> 00:31:14,459 Davis: While we're talking about James Dean, 623 00:31:14,542 --> 00:31:16,711 I don't know whether you had anything else you wanted to... 624 00:31:16,753 --> 00:31:19,756 Hudson: As I say, I didn't like the fella too much. 625 00:31:19,839 --> 00:31:22,175 I don't know as I should say any more. 626 00:31:22,216 --> 00:31:24,385 Uh, Jimmy was dead before the picture was over. 627 00:31:24,427 --> 00:31:27,305 -Davis: Yes. -Hudson: I don't like to talk against anybody. 628 00:31:27,388 --> 00:31:29,348 And I don't like to talk against the dead. 629 00:31:29,390 --> 00:31:31,559 -Davis: Mm-hmm. -Hudson: So I think I should shut up. 630 00:31:31,642 --> 00:31:33,394 -Davis: Yeah, all right. Okay. -(Rock laughs) 631 00:31:33,478 --> 00:31:36,022 Hudson: Where do you think you're going with my automobile? 632 00:31:36,064 --> 00:31:37,899 -(engine stops) -Just hold on. 633 00:31:37,982 --> 00:31:42,487 Griffin: Hudson has definite negative feelings about James Dean, 634 00:31:42,570 --> 00:31:45,406 but those feelings are sharply contrasted 635 00:31:45,490 --> 00:31:49,702 with how much he loved and cherished leading lady Elizabeth Taylor. 636 00:31:49,744 --> 00:31:51,370 I'm a tough Texian. 637 00:31:51,412 --> 00:31:54,082 Anders: It never ceases to amaze me about Rock Hudson, 638 00:31:54,165 --> 00:31:56,084 how fully he gives himself 639 00:31:56,125 --> 00:31:58,836 to these heterosexual romances. 640 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:00,630 (cattle bellowing) 641 00:32:00,713 --> 00:32:04,175 I mean, that scene when they wake up on the train, 642 00:32:04,258 --> 00:32:07,261 they've been fucking from Maryland all the way, you know, 643 00:32:07,345 --> 00:32:10,556 to Texas, and I believe it! 644 00:32:11,224 --> 00:32:13,017 What's that? A wolf? 645 00:32:13,559 --> 00:32:17,772 No, honey, just a little old coyote. 646 00:32:17,855 --> 00:32:19,565 (sighs) 647 00:32:19,607 --> 00:32:21,109 (contemplative music) 648 00:32:21,192 --> 00:32:23,903 Griffin: It's no secret that throughout her whole life, 649 00:32:23,945 --> 00:32:28,533 Elizabeth Taylor had many close friendships with gay men. 650 00:32:29,283 --> 00:32:32,453 Echoing her role in "Giant," Taylor often gravitated 651 00:32:32,495 --> 00:32:35,915 toward social outcasts or misfits. 652 00:32:35,957 --> 00:32:38,126 Hudson: We became close friends. 653 00:32:38,167 --> 00:32:39,627 We are close friends today, 654 00:32:39,669 --> 00:32:42,088 and I think she is one of the best people. 655 00:32:42,755 --> 00:32:45,425 Griffin: That kind of loving bond between them, 656 00:32:45,466 --> 00:32:47,260 the soulmate connection, if you will, 657 00:32:47,301 --> 00:32:50,638 becomes all the more important later in life. 658 00:32:51,597 --> 00:32:55,601 Anders: George Stevens had complicated characters 659 00:32:55,643 --> 00:33:00,189 and he cared about those characters within society 660 00:33:00,273 --> 00:33:03,025 in a way that's different from how Sirk did. 661 00:33:03,943 --> 00:33:05,737 Now look here, Sarge. 662 00:33:05,820 --> 00:33:09,282 I'd sure appreciate it if you were a little more polite to these people. 663 00:33:09,323 --> 00:33:11,242 Oh, you would, would you? 664 00:33:11,325 --> 00:33:12,994 Anders: By the end of that movie, 665 00:33:13,077 --> 00:33:15,079 Rock Hudson is our American hero 666 00:33:15,163 --> 00:33:19,333 because he's inclusive and he's a feminist, 667 00:33:19,375 --> 00:33:22,170 and then he's got grandkids that are mixed. 668 00:33:22,253 --> 00:33:24,922 Hudson: Those kids in their infinite wisdom 669 00:33:25,006 --> 00:33:26,340 are smarter than we are. 670 00:33:26,424 --> 00:33:28,217 Anders: That's America, you know, to me. 671 00:33:28,301 --> 00:33:30,261 So he is America. 672 00:33:30,303 --> 00:33:31,345 (lowing) 673 00:33:31,387 --> 00:33:33,848 Sure, even the calf's got my number. 674 00:33:33,890 --> 00:33:35,683 (cool jazz music) 675 00:33:35,767 --> 00:33:38,478 Narrator: In Hollywood, a new high for glamor is reached 676 00:33:38,519 --> 00:33:42,607 as Warner Bros. premieres George Stevens' production, "Giant." 677 00:33:42,690 --> 00:33:44,692 Rock Hudson and his charming wife Phyllis 678 00:33:44,776 --> 00:33:47,820 expressed their happiness about the brilliant premiere. 679 00:33:47,862 --> 00:33:49,405 -Hey, Sugar! -Yes? 680 00:33:49,489 --> 00:33:51,616 Here is a guy that's as big as Texas in "Giant." 681 00:33:51,699 --> 00:33:53,993 -It's such a performance. -Host: Rock Hudson. 682 00:33:54,035 --> 00:33:55,787 Hello. How are you? Nice to see you again. 683 00:33:55,870 --> 00:33:58,539 -Nice to see you again. -I wanna meet your wife. Hello. 684 00:33:58,581 --> 00:34:02,126 So nice to meet you, Phyllis. You wanna step in here? 685 00:34:02,210 --> 00:34:04,003 I never heard such screams in my life 686 00:34:04,045 --> 00:34:05,880 as when you got outta the car tonight. 687 00:34:05,922 --> 00:34:07,465 Davis: Well, you received 688 00:34:07,548 --> 00:34:09,425 an Academy Award nomination for the film. 689 00:34:09,509 --> 00:34:11,052 Hudson: Mm-hmm, so did Jimmy. 690 00:34:11,094 --> 00:34:13,012 Davis: Is that right? I'd forgotten. 691 00:34:13,054 --> 00:34:15,597 The nominees for best actor are: 692 00:34:15,681 --> 00:34:18,184 Yul Brynner in "The King and I," 693 00:34:18,226 --> 00:34:20,353 Rock Hudson in "Giant," 694 00:34:20,394 --> 00:34:22,480 James Dean in "Giant," 695 00:34:22,563 --> 00:34:24,731 Kirk Douglas in "Lust for life," 696 00:34:24,774 --> 00:34:28,778 and Sir Laurence Olivier in "Richard III." 697 00:34:28,861 --> 00:34:32,740 The winner is Yul Brynner. 698 00:34:34,909 --> 00:34:40,914 Anders: Boy, it is really sad to me that he lost 699 00:34:40,957 --> 00:34:45,086 because it's such a tour de force performance. 700 00:34:45,670 --> 00:34:49,715 When do you get that chance again? 701 00:34:49,757 --> 00:34:51,592 He did not. 702 00:34:52,885 --> 00:34:55,512 (contemplative music) 703 00:34:55,596 --> 00:34:58,099 Lee Garlington: I wanted to be a Western movie actor. 704 00:34:58,182 --> 00:35:03,354 So I landed in Hollywood in 1961 705 00:35:03,438 --> 00:35:07,066 and realized that I was kind of pretty, 706 00:35:07,108 --> 00:35:09,402 but, uh, what I didn't realize was 707 00:35:09,444 --> 00:35:11,279 I didn't have any talent. 708 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:15,408 Fortunately, when I finally got with Rock, 709 00:35:15,450 --> 00:35:17,577 I realized I really didn't want to be an actor. 710 00:35:17,618 --> 00:35:19,954 I didn't want any part of that business. 711 00:35:19,996 --> 00:35:21,998 ♪♪ 712 00:35:22,081 --> 00:35:24,709 (Stephen Kijak speaking) 713 00:35:26,127 --> 00:35:27,420 (Garlington laughs) 714 00:35:27,462 --> 00:35:30,256 Uh, yes. I remember very well. 715 00:35:30,298 --> 00:35:31,632 (Kijak chuckles) 716 00:35:31,674 --> 00:35:35,136 Garlington: I got a job at Universal Studios, 717 00:35:35,219 --> 00:35:37,764 and I wanted to see what he looked like. 718 00:35:37,805 --> 00:35:41,434 So I went over beside his cottage, 719 00:35:41,476 --> 00:35:45,480 and he walked out and walked down the street, 720 00:35:45,521 --> 00:35:48,066 and he turned and looked back. 721 00:35:48,149 --> 00:35:50,568 And, of course, I was... whew! 722 00:35:51,861 --> 00:35:53,654 He was incredible. 723 00:35:53,738 --> 00:35:58,201 He made a big splash, let's put it that way. 724 00:35:58,826 --> 00:36:03,831 And I got a phone call from someone on his staff. 725 00:36:03,873 --> 00:36:07,877 Did I want to come up and visit with Rock Hudson? 726 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:09,587 And... 727 00:36:10,421 --> 00:36:13,299 I wasn't gonna say no. 728 00:36:13,341 --> 00:36:15,426 (cool jazz music) 729 00:36:19,472 --> 00:36:21,808 What is there to talk about, my dear husband? 730 00:36:21,849 --> 00:36:23,684 Judith, please. You're in no condition... 731 00:36:23,726 --> 00:36:26,646 Divorce. That's what you wanna talk about, isn't it? 732 00:36:26,687 --> 00:36:28,689 Well, let me tell you right now, 733 00:36:28,731 --> 00:36:32,026 my gallant, silent suffering spouse, you'll never get one! 734 00:36:32,068 --> 00:36:35,154 Our marriage was a mistake. Yours as well as mine. 735 00:36:35,196 --> 00:36:38,783 Was it? You didn't think so when you thought I could make a gentleman out of you. 736 00:36:38,866 --> 00:36:42,829 Well, you married me and you're going to stay married to me. 737 00:36:42,870 --> 00:36:46,040 So sneak around back alleys if that's the kind of man you are. 738 00:36:46,082 --> 00:36:47,875 I doubt that I could stop you. 739 00:36:47,959 --> 00:36:50,545 (somber music) 740 00:36:50,628 --> 00:36:52,505 Griffin: When he was on location 741 00:36:52,547 --> 00:36:56,217 for the epic remake of "A Farewell to Arms," 742 00:36:56,300 --> 00:36:59,554 Rock's marriage to Phyllis began to fall apart. 743 00:37:02,724 --> 00:37:04,517 You're going down to town tomorrow 744 00:37:04,559 --> 00:37:06,602 and find yourself some gay young playmate. 745 00:37:06,686 --> 00:37:09,731 -I don't wanna be with anybody else, I tell you. -Yes, you do. 746 00:37:10,398 --> 00:37:12,400 Griffin: Three years after she exchanged 747 00:37:12,483 --> 00:37:14,235 marriage vows with Rock, 748 00:37:14,318 --> 00:37:16,571 Phyllis files for divorce. 749 00:37:16,612 --> 00:37:18,698 Phyllis complained that he was always away. 750 00:37:18,740 --> 00:37:20,908 Well, hello. You're married to a major movie star 751 00:37:20,992 --> 00:37:24,162 who's shooting films in exotic locations. 752 00:37:24,245 --> 00:37:27,582 Garlington: She really took him to the cleaners when she divorced him. 753 00:37:27,665 --> 00:37:29,417 He lost practically everything. 754 00:37:29,459 --> 00:37:32,587 He had a sailboat that was his pride and joy, 755 00:37:32,628 --> 00:37:34,922 and he had to sell that to pay her off. 756 00:37:34,964 --> 00:37:37,675 And, uh, he was really angry about that. 757 00:37:37,759 --> 00:37:41,429 Griffin: In a memoir published two years after Rock's death, 758 00:37:41,512 --> 00:37:43,264 Phyllis claimed that 759 00:37:43,347 --> 00:37:45,266 she was entirely duped, 760 00:37:45,349 --> 00:37:47,393 manipulated into participating 761 00:37:47,435 --> 00:37:49,479 in this sham marriage with Rock. 762 00:37:49,562 --> 00:37:53,524 And she claims she had no idea that Hudson is gay, 763 00:37:53,608 --> 00:37:56,110 which is really hard to swallow, 764 00:37:56,152 --> 00:38:00,114 given the fact that virtually every bit player, makeup man, 765 00:38:00,156 --> 00:38:02,241 assistant gofer at Universal, 766 00:38:02,283 --> 00:38:05,411 knew the score about Rock Hudson. 767 00:38:05,453 --> 00:38:07,747 How did she possibly miss the memo? 768 00:38:07,789 --> 00:38:10,958 It's just kind of inconceivable. 769 00:38:11,042 --> 00:38:13,461 (mellow jazz music) 770 00:38:13,544 --> 00:38:16,422 (telephone ringing) 771 00:38:22,261 --> 00:38:23,638 Colonel Farr. 772 00:38:23,679 --> 00:38:25,556 I thought we could get together, 773 00:38:25,640 --> 00:38:27,558 have a cup of coffee, maybe, 774 00:38:27,642 --> 00:38:29,227 uh, get acquainted. 775 00:38:29,310 --> 00:38:32,021 We might find we have a lot in common. 776 00:38:32,105 --> 00:38:33,481 I'm on my way. 777 00:38:37,568 --> 00:38:40,071 Doris Day: ♪ Pillow talk ♪ 778 00:38:40,154 --> 00:38:41,864 ♪ Pillow talk ♪ 779 00:38:41,948 --> 00:38:44,242 ♪ Another night I hear myself ♪ 780 00:38:44,325 --> 00:38:45,576 ♪ Talk, talk, talk, talk ♪ 781 00:38:45,660 --> 00:38:47,745 Look, I don't know what's bothering you, 782 00:38:47,829 --> 00:38:50,164 but don't take your bedroom problems out on me. 783 00:38:50,206 --> 00:38:51,707 I have no bedroom problems. 784 00:38:51,791 --> 00:38:54,168 There's nothing in my bedroom that bothers me. 785 00:38:54,210 --> 00:38:56,295 Oh, that's too bad. 786 00:38:56,337 --> 00:38:57,922 "Pillow Talk" seems very tame now 787 00:38:58,005 --> 00:39:02,510 by comparison with, um, today's more explicit standards. 788 00:39:02,552 --> 00:39:05,930 We almost didn't do it because it was too dirty. 789 00:39:06,013 --> 00:39:09,183 (cool jazz music) 790 00:39:09,225 --> 00:39:12,520 Hudson: So that's the other end of your party line. 791 00:39:12,979 --> 00:39:15,857 Hunter: It was fun and, and, and it was fluff, 792 00:39:15,940 --> 00:39:19,318 and it was wonderful to look at, and you laughed. 793 00:39:19,360 --> 00:39:21,487 I'm so sick of seeing the ugliness. 794 00:39:21,529 --> 00:39:22,905 We all know it's there. 795 00:39:22,989 --> 00:39:24,490 I don't hide my head in the sand 796 00:39:24,532 --> 00:39:25,992 and say that it's not there. 797 00:39:26,033 --> 00:39:29,495 But I believe that motion pictures are an escape. 798 00:39:29,537 --> 00:39:32,373 (couple laughing) 799 00:39:32,457 --> 00:39:35,043 Day: What a marvelous-looking man. 800 00:39:35,126 --> 00:39:37,837 I wonder if he's single. 801 00:39:39,464 --> 00:39:43,217 Hudson: I don't know how long I can get away with this act. 802 00:39:44,927 --> 00:39:45,928 (chuckles) 803 00:39:46,012 --> 00:39:48,514 Tom Santopietro: You know, the deception 804 00:39:48,556 --> 00:39:51,517 is an interesting artifact of the times. 805 00:39:51,559 --> 00:39:55,897 You have a gay actor playing a straight man 806 00:39:55,938 --> 00:39:58,524 impersonating a possibly gay man. 807 00:39:58,566 --> 00:39:59,692 It's a house of mirrors. 808 00:39:59,734 --> 00:40:01,903 Tell me about your job. 809 00:40:01,944 --> 00:40:04,405 Must be very exciting working with 810 00:40:04,447 --> 00:40:07,408 all them colors and fabrics and all. 811 00:40:07,492 --> 00:40:09,577 (cool jazz continues) 812 00:40:09,660 --> 00:40:11,662 Maupin: In those Doris Day movies, 813 00:40:11,746 --> 00:40:13,748 he's always pretending to be gay 814 00:40:13,831 --> 00:40:16,250 in order to get Doris into bed. 815 00:40:16,292 --> 00:40:18,503 That's the joke always. 816 00:40:18,586 --> 00:40:20,963 Why can't you get married? 817 00:40:21,798 --> 00:40:23,257 That's the sort of thing a man 818 00:40:23,299 --> 00:40:25,510 doesn't discuss with a nice woman. 819 00:40:25,593 --> 00:40:27,136 Maupin: That was almost a device 820 00:40:27,220 --> 00:40:29,263 to keep anybody from asking questions about him. 821 00:40:29,347 --> 00:40:31,557 Ye gods, you've got cold feet! 822 00:40:31,599 --> 00:40:33,810 Complaints, complaints, nothing but complaints! 823 00:40:33,893 --> 00:40:36,062 Maupin: It was kind of an evil gag, actually. 824 00:40:36,104 --> 00:40:39,857 And I hold Ross Hunter largely responsible for that, 825 00:40:39,941 --> 00:40:41,442 the producer of those films. 826 00:40:41,526 --> 00:40:44,112 I know for a fact that Ross Hunter was gay. 827 00:40:44,153 --> 00:40:46,697 (dramatic jazz music) 828 00:40:46,739 --> 00:40:48,366 Linus! 829 00:40:48,449 --> 00:40:50,618 What are you doing here? 830 00:40:51,119 --> 00:40:53,621 Where am I? 831 00:40:54,705 --> 00:40:57,750 Why, this is Jerry Webster's apartment! 832 00:40:57,792 --> 00:41:00,294 Day: Nothing was ever talked about 833 00:41:00,378 --> 00:41:02,130 as far as his private life. 834 00:41:02,213 --> 00:41:03,589 (groans) 835 00:41:03,631 --> 00:41:06,509 Day: Many, many people would ask me, 836 00:41:06,592 --> 00:41:08,970 you know, "Is Rock Hudson really gay?" 837 00:41:09,011 --> 00:41:13,599 And I said, "It's something that I will not discuss." 838 00:41:13,641 --> 00:41:17,854 I mean, first of all, I know nothing about his private life. 839 00:41:17,937 --> 00:41:20,064 And if I did, I wouldn't discuss it. 840 00:41:20,148 --> 00:41:21,274 Look at me. 841 00:41:21,315 --> 00:41:25,027 I can't. I'm too ashamed. 842 00:41:25,111 --> 00:41:26,696 Forget me, Carol. 843 00:41:26,779 --> 00:41:30,742 You deserve a man, not a mass of neurotic doubts. 844 00:41:31,367 --> 00:41:35,371 Day: So I can't tell you one thing about him except that he is a nice man. 845 00:41:35,830 --> 00:41:37,623 You're tearing yourself apart! 846 00:41:37,665 --> 00:41:39,083 Mr. Allen. 847 00:41:39,167 --> 00:41:42,170 Let's try to be adult about this and work out 848 00:41:42,211 --> 00:41:43,921 some sort of schedule where I can... 849 00:41:44,005 --> 00:41:46,215 Jillson: It's funny when I see him 850 00:41:46,299 --> 00:41:47,550 smoking in that movie, 851 00:41:47,633 --> 00:41:49,844 it was so him, because he chain smoked. 852 00:41:49,886 --> 00:41:52,513 It's like he's not even acting. 853 00:41:52,555 --> 00:41:55,767 (perky jazz music) 854 00:41:55,850 --> 00:41:57,518 Jillson: Mark and George were 855 00:41:57,602 --> 00:41:59,353 really good friends with me 856 00:41:59,437 --> 00:42:01,147 and my partner, Al Roberts, 857 00:42:01,189 --> 00:42:02,648 and that's how I met Rock. 858 00:42:02,690 --> 00:42:05,234 And we, we just really 859 00:42:05,318 --> 00:42:06,778 hit it off because 860 00:42:06,861 --> 00:42:09,238 I didn't treat him like a movie star. 861 00:42:09,322 --> 00:42:11,949 I-- We were just cool friends. 862 00:42:12,867 --> 00:42:15,703 Our social life with him was very private. 863 00:42:15,787 --> 00:42:18,706 I mean, we didn't go out to restaurants. 864 00:42:18,748 --> 00:42:20,875 We would go to Rock's house. 865 00:42:20,958 --> 00:42:23,461 It was called "The Castle." 866 00:42:23,544 --> 00:42:24,796 It was breathtaking. 867 00:42:24,879 --> 00:42:27,340 It looked like a hacienda. 868 00:42:27,382 --> 00:42:31,677 You just felt so welcome when you came to that home. 869 00:42:31,719 --> 00:42:34,764 The house was very casual. 870 00:42:34,847 --> 00:42:38,351 It wasn't stiff. And that's how he was. 871 00:42:38,393 --> 00:42:40,395 He was very, very casual. 872 00:42:40,478 --> 00:42:44,399 And then, of course, when he'd come to Laguna, it was really, really fun too. 873 00:42:45,149 --> 00:42:48,569 I think he could breathe a lot easier in Laguna. 874 00:42:48,653 --> 00:42:53,408 And because Mark and George had a home here, he did come down a lot. 875 00:42:54,200 --> 00:42:58,121 The gay beach was to the left of the lifeguard tower. 876 00:42:58,204 --> 00:43:02,834 And it was magical because you could play volleyball on the beach 877 00:43:02,917 --> 00:43:04,460 and just without a shirt on, 878 00:43:04,544 --> 00:43:06,212 just step up into the bar 879 00:43:06,254 --> 00:43:08,256 on a hot summer Sunday 880 00:43:08,297 --> 00:43:09,757 and have a beer, 881 00:43:09,799 --> 00:43:12,760 and it was very erotic. 882 00:43:12,844 --> 00:43:15,555 Yeah, I mean, like big time. 883 00:43:15,596 --> 00:43:16,681 Yeah. 884 00:43:16,764 --> 00:43:20,143 (relaxing jazz music) 885 00:43:20,226 --> 00:43:21,728 Do you love me, Mitch? 886 00:43:21,769 --> 00:43:23,312 Like a brother. 887 00:43:25,606 --> 00:43:27,483 I don't want you as a brother. 888 00:43:27,567 --> 00:43:29,944 Can't be any other way, Marylee. 889 00:43:32,447 --> 00:43:34,991 Don't... please don't... 890 00:43:35,074 --> 00:43:38,453 waste your life away waiting for me. 891 00:43:42,915 --> 00:43:45,168 Griffin: You have the movie magazines 892 00:43:45,251 --> 00:43:46,794 propping up this fantasy 893 00:43:46,836 --> 00:43:50,006 that everyone is straight and looking for love and marriage, 894 00:43:50,089 --> 00:43:53,760 while the tabloids are obsessed with homosexuals 895 00:43:53,801 --> 00:43:57,346 and trying to dig up as much dirt as they can. 896 00:43:57,430 --> 00:44:00,683 This, of course, was during the era of J. Edgar Hoover. 897 00:44:00,767 --> 00:44:04,645 So there's an obsessive interest in anything homosexual. 898 00:44:04,687 --> 00:44:06,647 Policy of the department is 899 00:44:06,731 --> 00:44:09,192 that we do not employ homosexuals knowingly. 900 00:44:09,275 --> 00:44:12,779 And that if we discover homosexuals in our department, we discharge them. 901 00:44:13,946 --> 00:44:17,533 Griffin: Given all that was going on in Rock Hudson's private life, 902 00:44:17,617 --> 00:44:22,413 it's not surprising that the FBI was keeping a close watch. 903 00:44:22,497 --> 00:44:25,666 The lieutenant wants to ask you some questions. 904 00:44:26,501 --> 00:44:29,128 Like where you've been spending your evenings lately, 905 00:44:29,170 --> 00:44:31,214 staying out till three and four in the morning. 906 00:44:33,674 --> 00:44:35,176 Griffin: There was this catchphrase 907 00:44:35,259 --> 00:44:36,886 about "Confidential" magazine: 908 00:44:36,969 --> 00:44:40,765 "They trade in nymphos, pinkos, winos and homos." 909 00:44:40,848 --> 00:44:42,642 And it's got a subscription base 910 00:44:42,683 --> 00:44:44,394 of three million at that point. 911 00:44:44,477 --> 00:44:46,270 It's got a huge readership. 912 00:44:46,354 --> 00:44:50,775 "Confidential" started to move in on Rock Hudson 913 00:44:50,858 --> 00:44:53,861 and Henry Willson certainly did not wanna lose 914 00:44:53,903 --> 00:44:55,154 this golden goose. 915 00:44:55,196 --> 00:44:57,281 They say that there was this tradeoff 916 00:44:57,365 --> 00:44:59,075 where Tab Hunter, who was indeed 917 00:44:59,158 --> 00:45:01,536 a Henry Willson client, was offered up 918 00:45:01,577 --> 00:45:02,912 sacrificially 919 00:45:02,995 --> 00:45:04,872 to save Rock Hudson. 920 00:45:04,956 --> 00:45:07,166 "Confidential" printed a story 921 00:45:07,208 --> 00:45:08,876 about Tab Hunter being arrested 922 00:45:08,918 --> 00:45:12,171 at what was called an "all-male pajama party." 923 00:45:12,213 --> 00:45:14,257 That kind of salacious exposé 924 00:45:14,340 --> 00:45:17,135 could wipe out an entire career. 925 00:45:17,927 --> 00:45:19,721 We being followed? 926 00:45:19,762 --> 00:45:21,013 Probably not, 927 00:45:21,055 --> 00:45:23,391 but the general always goes on that assumption. 928 00:45:24,100 --> 00:45:27,145 Griffin: It really is a miracle that Rock Hudson 929 00:45:27,228 --> 00:45:30,523 never got caught by the tabloids. 930 00:45:33,609 --> 00:45:35,653 Well, you know, I never met Rock. 931 00:45:35,737 --> 00:45:38,030 Uh, he died in October of '85, 932 00:45:38,072 --> 00:45:41,284 and I came into Lee's life in May of '86. 933 00:45:41,367 --> 00:45:45,163 Lee Garlington: Rock took that photo in the early '70s. 934 00:45:45,246 --> 00:45:47,999 That's completely in a different era. 935 00:45:48,082 --> 00:45:51,919 We enjoyed traveling together. 936 00:45:51,961 --> 00:45:55,423 (Latin jazz music) 937 00:45:55,506 --> 00:45:59,469 He drove the management at Universal crazy 938 00:45:59,552 --> 00:46:02,472 by taking off, he and I, 939 00:46:02,555 --> 00:46:05,600 without telling them where he was going. 940 00:46:05,683 --> 00:46:08,227 And they really got upset, 941 00:46:08,269 --> 00:46:11,898 and he just said, "Screw it, I'm gonna do what I'm gonna do." 942 00:46:11,939 --> 00:46:15,443 (Latin jazz continues) 943 00:46:20,823 --> 00:46:24,118 We spent some time in New Orleans 944 00:46:24,202 --> 00:46:27,080 and the Ford Motor Company lent him 945 00:46:27,121 --> 00:46:29,999 a brand-new convertible. 946 00:46:30,083 --> 00:46:32,460 And we had a blast in that car. 947 00:46:32,543 --> 00:46:35,171 ♪♪ 948 00:46:37,673 --> 00:46:40,051 We were in Pat O'Brien's 949 00:46:40,134 --> 00:46:43,346 where they have a special drink, the Hurricane, 950 00:46:43,429 --> 00:46:48,142 and somebody came by and snapped a picture of us. 951 00:46:49,644 --> 00:46:52,814 Then they offered the picture for sale, of course, 952 00:46:52,855 --> 00:46:59,862 and we got it because this was the only picture of both of us together. 953 00:46:59,946 --> 00:47:02,365 We were ordered by Henry Willson, 954 00:47:02,448 --> 00:47:04,826 that evil agent of his, 955 00:47:04,867 --> 00:47:07,995 never to have our picture taken together 956 00:47:08,079 --> 00:47:10,665 because somebody would see it 957 00:47:10,706 --> 00:47:14,377 and know that we were gay. 958 00:47:15,753 --> 00:47:18,089 (Kijak speaking) 959 00:47:24,178 --> 00:47:26,514 Yes, that was a lot of sneaking around. 960 00:47:26,556 --> 00:47:28,349 We'd drive up to a motel. 961 00:47:28,391 --> 00:47:31,060 I would go in and ask if there was any rooms. 962 00:47:31,144 --> 00:47:34,272 Paul Garlington: Did you get, let's say, two single beds 963 00:47:34,355 --> 00:47:37,692 or one... queen-size bed, pardon the pun? 964 00:47:37,734 --> 00:47:39,277 Or... 965 00:47:39,360 --> 00:47:40,987 Don't remember. 966 00:47:41,028 --> 00:47:42,780 Uh, but, uh... 967 00:47:42,864 --> 00:47:46,117 it ended up by being one bed. 968 00:47:47,577 --> 00:47:49,078 (Kijak speaking) 969 00:47:59,213 --> 00:48:03,259 There should have been, but there wasn't. 970 00:48:03,342 --> 00:48:07,180 There was a part of him that was very straitlaced 971 00:48:07,221 --> 00:48:11,225 and understanding of the previous generation. 972 00:48:11,309 --> 00:48:13,895 He never mentioned, "Gee, wouldn't it be nice 973 00:48:13,978 --> 00:48:17,023 if we could just hold hands in public?" 974 00:48:17,065 --> 00:48:21,819 He was so inured of, uh... 975 00:48:21,903 --> 00:48:24,030 being closeted 976 00:48:24,072 --> 00:48:26,741 that he never mentioned it. 977 00:48:29,619 --> 00:48:31,913 Forget for a moment that I'm your doctor 978 00:48:31,954 --> 00:48:34,832 and, uh, let me give you some advice as a friend. 979 00:48:34,916 --> 00:48:36,709 Marry him. 980 00:48:37,251 --> 00:48:40,588 So, what good was your noble sacrifice? 981 00:48:40,630 --> 00:48:43,424 If you'd loved him, you'd have gone to him. 982 00:48:43,508 --> 00:48:46,719 Let's face it, you were ready for a love affair, 983 00:48:46,761 --> 00:48:48,596 but not for love. 984 00:48:48,679 --> 00:48:50,640 (romantic piano music) 985 00:49:01,943 --> 00:49:04,904 Oh, my darling! Oh, my darling. 986 00:49:04,946 --> 00:49:06,531 Are you having another nightmare? 987 00:49:06,614 --> 00:49:07,865 Uh, no, I, I... 988 00:49:07,949 --> 00:49:09,492 Hudson: I'm sort of, I don't know. 989 00:49:09,575 --> 00:49:12,286 We have to talk about that thing called image, uh, 990 00:49:12,328 --> 00:49:14,247 whatever that is, uh... 991 00:49:14,288 --> 00:49:15,873 and I sort of represent 992 00:49:15,957 --> 00:49:17,542 a comedy image 993 00:49:17,625 --> 00:49:20,128 in dinner jacket or something, you know? 994 00:49:20,169 --> 00:49:21,963 It might be a lot of fun to do a horror story. 995 00:49:22,046 --> 00:49:23,548 I'd love to. 996 00:49:23,631 --> 00:49:25,091 (eerie organ music) 997 00:49:25,133 --> 00:49:27,176 Narrator: Bold. 998 00:49:27,802 --> 00:49:30,096 Bizarre. 999 00:49:31,180 --> 00:49:33,516 Terrifying. 1000 00:49:35,351 --> 00:49:38,646 Rock Hudson, in an astonishing change of pace, 1001 00:49:38,688 --> 00:49:41,607 stars in "Seconds." 1002 00:49:42,358 --> 00:49:46,320 Hudson: It's certainly, uh, a different type of picture 1003 00:49:46,362 --> 00:49:49,699 and certainly a different role for me. 1004 00:49:49,782 --> 00:49:52,076 It's almost a horror movie, 1005 00:49:52,160 --> 00:49:54,245 certainly a suspenseful movie, 1006 00:49:54,328 --> 00:49:56,622 and certainly very dramatic. 1007 00:49:56,664 --> 00:50:01,127 Narrator: Rock Hudson as a man who buys for himself a totally new life, 1008 00:50:01,169 --> 00:50:03,379 a chance to begin again. 1009 00:50:03,463 --> 00:50:07,133 Every man's dream since time began. 1010 00:50:07,175 --> 00:50:09,510 Doctor: Bandages are removed. 1011 00:50:09,552 --> 00:50:12,138 I think you'll be more than pleased. 1012 00:50:12,180 --> 00:50:17,060 In fact, I expect you to be prancing around here like a stud bull. 1013 00:50:18,519 --> 00:50:19,937 Good work. 1014 00:50:20,021 --> 00:50:22,607 Griffin: Well, I tend to think that Rock Hudson understood 1015 00:50:22,690 --> 00:50:27,195 that in some ways this film was reflecting the whole Hollywood star trip 1016 00:50:27,278 --> 00:50:29,363 and how he had been completely transformed 1017 00:50:29,447 --> 00:50:31,532 and marketed for the public. 1018 00:50:31,616 --> 00:50:34,243 Uh, that couldn't have been lost on him. 1019 00:50:34,327 --> 00:50:38,539 Anders: There's never a time that I don't feel at home 1020 00:50:38,623 --> 00:50:43,711 in a performance by Rock Hudson except "Seconds." (laughs) 1021 00:50:43,753 --> 00:50:45,380 Doctor: All right, son. 1022 00:50:45,421 --> 00:50:47,548 Anders: He's so uncomfortable. 1023 00:50:47,632 --> 00:50:52,387 There is a real shadow side here that he's playing. 1024 00:50:53,012 --> 00:50:54,680 (inhales sharply) 1025 00:50:54,722 --> 00:50:56,724 The years I've spent 1026 00:50:56,808 --> 00:50:58,726 trying to get all the things 1027 00:50:58,768 --> 00:51:01,938 I was told were important, 1028 00:51:02,021 --> 00:51:05,983 that I was supposed to want... 1029 00:51:06,067 --> 00:51:09,070 and California was the same. 1030 00:51:09,153 --> 00:51:10,446 They... 1031 00:51:10,530 --> 00:51:12,740 made the same decisions for me 1032 00:51:12,824 --> 00:51:13,991 all over again. 1033 00:51:14,075 --> 00:51:16,869 And they were the same things, really. 1034 00:51:18,204 --> 00:51:21,999 Hey, John, why are they staring at me like that? 1035 00:51:22,083 --> 00:51:23,543 They know. 1036 00:51:23,584 --> 00:51:27,380 Hudson: (laughing, slurring) They know what? 1037 00:51:27,422 --> 00:51:30,049 John: They're like you. 1038 00:51:30,091 --> 00:51:32,760 (screaming) Oh, Nora! 1039 00:51:33,386 --> 00:51:35,847 Douglas: Hudson's performance is astonishing. 1040 00:51:35,930 --> 00:51:40,059 Is Rock Hudson kind of decoding himself on screen? 1041 00:51:40,101 --> 00:51:42,228 Yeah, it certainly looks like it. 1042 00:51:42,270 --> 00:51:46,607 Anders: It's a weird thing to make your living 1043 00:51:46,691 --> 00:51:48,443 creating characters. 1044 00:51:48,484 --> 00:51:51,779 It's weird from my side of the camera 1045 00:51:51,863 --> 00:51:54,866 and it must be even weirder on the other side 1046 00:51:54,949 --> 00:51:57,952 because I think there is always a sense of like, 1047 00:51:58,035 --> 00:51:59,954 "Who am I really?" You know? 1048 00:51:59,996 --> 00:52:01,664 (rain falling) 1049 00:52:01,748 --> 00:52:03,958 Somewhere in the man, 1050 00:52:04,000 --> 00:52:07,503 there is still a key unturned. 1051 00:52:08,087 --> 00:52:10,673 Griffin: In order to become Rock Hudson, 1052 00:52:10,757 --> 00:52:15,344 he really had to destroy Roy Fitzgerald, 1053 00:52:15,428 --> 00:52:19,807 the gay boy with an inferiority complex from Winnetka. 1054 00:52:19,849 --> 00:52:23,811 But even if millions of fans are believing the lie, 1055 00:52:23,895 --> 00:52:28,649 Roy Fitzgerald still knows the truth about Rock Hudson. 1056 00:52:28,733 --> 00:52:32,653 Wait a minute, what's happening? 1057 00:52:32,695 --> 00:52:36,491 Douglas: When "Seconds" first came out, it was trashed. 1058 00:52:36,574 --> 00:52:40,036 Nobody wanted to see Rock Hudson depressed. (laughs) 1059 00:52:40,119 --> 00:52:42,330 Griffin: What's really sad to me about Rock's career 1060 00:52:42,371 --> 00:52:43,623 is that the audiences 1061 00:52:43,664 --> 00:52:46,292 don't like it when Rock Hudson steps out of, 1062 00:52:46,334 --> 00:52:48,961 kind of, the way that they prefer to see him. 1063 00:52:49,003 --> 00:52:52,799 They don't want to see him do anything radically different. 1064 00:52:52,840 --> 00:52:55,718 (Rock screaming) 1065 00:52:56,344 --> 00:52:59,013 (somber music) 1066 00:52:59,055 --> 00:53:00,681 Hudson: Being an actor, 1067 00:53:00,723 --> 00:53:04,018 there are so many disappointments and frustrations, 1068 00:53:04,102 --> 00:53:06,938 and you think, "Hell, what am I doing all this for? 1069 00:53:07,021 --> 00:53:09,357 I'm gonna hop the next freight out of town," or whatever. 1070 00:53:09,399 --> 00:53:12,193 You get blue and you get whatever. 1071 00:53:12,276 --> 00:53:14,237 And I think that because of that, 1072 00:53:14,320 --> 00:53:17,490 I think "this too shall pass" works for me. 1073 00:53:18,116 --> 00:53:21,661 Host: "This too shall pass" is a great consolation, 1074 00:53:21,702 --> 00:53:26,040 I mean, in terms of what, crises or adverse reviews or anything? 1075 00:53:26,124 --> 00:53:29,502 Yes, anything negative. Any, you know... 1076 00:53:30,920 --> 00:53:33,131 (upbeat jazz music) 1077 00:53:33,214 --> 00:53:35,550 Joe Carberry: I was born in Iowa, 1078 00:53:35,591 --> 00:53:38,720 and then I came to Los Angeles and never left. 1079 00:53:38,761 --> 00:53:40,012 Why? 1080 00:53:40,054 --> 00:53:42,598 Well, I went to my first gay bar. 1081 00:53:42,682 --> 00:53:46,436 It was in, uh, Long Beach at a drag bar. 1082 00:53:46,519 --> 00:53:49,188 I didn't particularly like the drag queens, 1083 00:53:49,230 --> 00:53:53,943 but I sure liked the fact that there was somebody in this world 1084 00:53:54,026 --> 00:53:55,403 that was gay besides me . 1085 00:53:55,445 --> 00:53:57,405 (jazz music continues) 1086 00:53:57,488 --> 00:54:00,241 Kijak: How did you meet Rock Hudson? 1087 00:54:00,324 --> 00:54:01,951 Carberry: I don't know what year it was, 1088 00:54:02,034 --> 00:54:06,247 but one of my best friends brought him over for dinner. 1089 00:54:06,289 --> 00:54:09,625 We played bridge all the time. 1090 00:54:09,709 --> 00:54:12,754 We, uh, did a lot of things together. 1091 00:54:12,837 --> 00:54:16,841 I took trips with him and we went skiing. 1092 00:54:16,924 --> 00:54:21,262 I watched "Giant" more times than I care to remember. 1093 00:54:21,304 --> 00:54:22,597 (Turner chuckles) 1094 00:54:22,680 --> 00:54:26,392 Those were good times that can't be repeated. 1095 00:54:26,434 --> 00:54:29,604 I felt closer to him than anybody else. 1096 00:54:29,687 --> 00:54:31,606 If you say, "Who's your closest friend?" 1097 00:54:31,689 --> 00:54:34,984 I mean, his name would come out first, I think. 1098 00:54:35,610 --> 00:54:37,945 Tab Hunter was a good friend of mine, 1099 00:54:37,987 --> 00:54:39,530 but he wasn't very social. 1100 00:54:39,614 --> 00:54:41,616 He didn't like a crowd, 1101 00:54:41,657 --> 00:54:43,951 but it didn't bother Rock. 1102 00:54:44,619 --> 00:54:47,330 At that time, nobody lived openly. 1103 00:54:47,413 --> 00:54:49,248 He wanted to. 1104 00:54:49,290 --> 00:54:52,460 I ran a hospital laboratory, you know. 1105 00:54:52,502 --> 00:54:55,588 I can walk into any place and nobody knows who I am, 1106 00:54:55,630 --> 00:54:58,466 but he couldn't do any of that. 1107 00:54:58,549 --> 00:55:00,843 Yeah. That bothered him. 1108 00:55:00,927 --> 00:55:02,637 (Kijak speaking) 1109 00:55:04,972 --> 00:55:06,307 Well, he had boyfriends. 1110 00:55:06,391 --> 00:55:10,228 They were mostly young and pretty, 1111 00:55:10,311 --> 00:55:13,981 and showed huge baskets. 1112 00:55:14,816 --> 00:55:18,444 I don't recall him ever having a very long relationship 1113 00:55:18,486 --> 00:55:20,822 with anybody, 1114 00:55:20,905 --> 00:55:23,032 other than friends. 1115 00:55:24,075 --> 00:55:25,660 (Kijak speaking) 1116 00:55:25,743 --> 00:55:28,162 -Yeah. -Kijak: Oh, okay. 1117 00:55:28,246 --> 00:55:32,333 Rock had a sizable dick, 1118 00:55:32,417 --> 00:55:35,169 but he tried to put that thing up my ass 1119 00:55:35,253 --> 00:55:37,255 and I couldn't do it. (laughs) 1120 00:55:37,338 --> 00:55:40,717 (mellow jazz music) 1121 00:55:40,800 --> 00:55:42,885 For a while, you had the whole field to yourself. 1122 00:55:42,969 --> 00:55:44,929 -For a while you were the... -I did? 1123 00:55:45,012 --> 00:55:46,180 -Oh, yes. -Did I? 1124 00:55:46,264 --> 00:55:48,057 Oh, yes, yes. Am I right? 1125 00:55:48,141 --> 00:55:50,685 There was only, you know, Rock Hudson, pant-pant... 1126 00:55:50,768 --> 00:55:52,854 -(audience applauding) -And a lot of "ugs." 1127 00:55:52,937 --> 00:55:55,732 You know, the Pacinos and the strangies were coming up, and then... 1128 00:55:55,815 --> 00:55:58,151 -(laughter) -Well, you know what I'm saying. 1129 00:55:58,192 --> 00:56:01,612 You don't say my, you know, "I wanna be on a desert island with Al Pacino," 1130 00:56:01,696 --> 00:56:03,865 you know, we'll talk, but, um... 1131 00:56:03,906 --> 00:56:07,034 Does it ever upset you when you're in something like the "Enquirer"? 1132 00:56:07,118 --> 00:56:08,536 Uh, no. I don't read it, so... 1133 00:56:08,578 --> 00:56:10,371 I read it all the time. You're always in it. 1134 00:56:10,455 --> 00:56:12,290 -Am I? -Yeah. 1135 00:56:12,373 --> 00:56:14,041 First, I had asked him whether the press 1136 00:56:14,083 --> 00:56:17,128 had ever really hurt him, and it was interesting. 1137 00:56:17,211 --> 00:56:19,839 He said, "Yes, it was a terrible review I received in London." 1138 00:56:19,881 --> 00:56:22,300 I said, "You mean that was the worst thing 1139 00:56:22,383 --> 00:56:24,886 that the press has ever done to you, Rock?" 1140 00:56:24,969 --> 00:56:26,888 And he said, "Yes," and I remember 1141 00:56:26,971 --> 00:56:30,516 it was very difficult for me to face, look into his eyes. 1142 00:56:30,558 --> 00:56:34,645 And I said, "Could you explain to us 1143 00:56:34,729 --> 00:56:38,733 what happened between you and Mr. Jim Nabors?" 1144 00:56:39,567 --> 00:56:42,278 Griffin: In 1971, 1145 00:56:42,361 --> 00:56:43,863 a couple of gay guys said, 1146 00:56:43,905 --> 00:56:48,409 "Wouldn't it be fun if we sent out these invitations 1147 00:56:48,493 --> 00:56:50,578 "to a fabricated wedding 1148 00:56:50,620 --> 00:56:54,832 between Rock and 'Gomer Pyle' star Jim Nabors?" 1149 00:56:54,916 --> 00:56:59,045 And the tipoff that this is like an over-the-top gay Fantasia 1150 00:56:59,087 --> 00:57:02,590 is that Truman Capote would be officiating 1151 00:57:02,673 --> 00:57:04,717 and Liberace would be providing 1152 00:57:04,759 --> 00:57:06,803 the musical accompaniment. 1153 00:57:06,886 --> 00:57:09,972 And the story starts to spread like wildfire. 1154 00:57:10,056 --> 00:57:12,850 The story lands on the front page 1155 00:57:12,934 --> 00:57:14,936 of the "National Examiner." 1156 00:57:15,019 --> 00:57:16,604 Now I've read some pretty weird things about you 1157 00:57:16,687 --> 00:57:18,606 in the fan magazines. 1158 00:57:18,689 --> 00:57:21,484 Uh, have you ever filed a libel suit for anything 1159 00:57:21,567 --> 00:57:24,904 that's ever been written or said about you? Have you wanted to? 1160 00:57:25,988 --> 00:57:28,116 And why didn't you? I've always wondered. 1161 00:57:28,157 --> 00:57:30,868 Because it calls attention to it and only makes it worse. 1162 00:57:30,952 --> 00:57:34,539 Aside from the McCarthy era nonsense that went on in the '50s, 1163 00:57:34,622 --> 00:57:37,500 I think that this was one of the worst stories 1164 00:57:37,583 --> 00:57:39,836 that ever emanated from a community. 1165 00:57:39,919 --> 00:57:42,964 He has never done a bad thing to anyone. 1166 00:57:43,005 --> 00:57:45,633 It would be terrific to say the guy is 1167 00:57:45,717 --> 00:57:47,969 "you know what," but he is not. 1168 00:57:48,803 --> 00:57:51,889 Griffin: What's funny is tabloids aren't leaking a story 1169 00:57:51,973 --> 00:57:55,143 about one of Rock's real gay relationships. 1170 00:57:55,184 --> 00:57:58,604 They're leaking it about a completely fabricated 1171 00:57:58,646 --> 00:58:01,441 and fantasized one. 1172 00:58:01,482 --> 00:58:04,569 -(line ringing) -Friend: March 1st, 1974. 1173 00:58:04,652 --> 00:58:06,988 -Rock, how are you? -Hudson: I'm fine. 1174 00:58:07,029 --> 00:58:08,906 Friend: Haven't talked to you in a very long time. 1175 00:58:08,990 --> 00:58:10,658 Hudson: I know it. I know it. 1176 00:58:10,700 --> 00:58:12,702 -Friend: And you've been busy. -Hudson: Yeah. 1177 00:58:12,785 --> 00:58:16,372 Friend: My friend would like very much to meet you one of these days 1178 00:58:16,456 --> 00:58:17,707 if you have some free time. 1179 00:58:17,790 --> 00:58:19,250 Hudson: Tell me about him. 1180 00:58:19,333 --> 00:58:21,919 Friend : He works at Paramount and he's, uh... 1181 00:58:22,003 --> 00:58:25,131 -oh, 6'2", I guess, something like that. -Hudson: Yeah. 1182 00:58:25,214 --> 00:58:28,301 Friend : And he works out, just an all-round good boy, you know? 1183 00:58:28,342 --> 00:58:31,971 -Hudson: Uh-huh. -Friend: So I just thought I'd drop you the note 1184 00:58:32,013 --> 00:58:35,016 and see if you did want to say hello to him, because, uh... 1185 00:58:35,099 --> 00:58:39,187 -Hudson: Yeah. Well... -Friend: He's just a damn fun boy, you know? 1186 00:58:39,228 --> 00:58:40,563 Hudson: Mm-hmm. 1187 00:58:40,646 --> 00:58:42,648 Uh-huh. 1188 00:58:42,690 --> 00:58:45,026 How's the equipment? (chuckles) 1189 00:58:45,068 --> 00:58:47,528 Friend: Well, the equipment is about, oh, 1190 00:58:47,570 --> 00:58:49,238 about nine inches, I guess. 1191 00:58:49,322 --> 00:58:52,408 And he's, he's, uh, very good 1192 00:58:52,492 --> 00:58:55,536 -in that department too. -Hudson: Yeah. 1193 00:58:55,620 --> 00:58:58,706 -Friend: When's coming some free time for you? -Hudson: Well, most any day. 1194 00:58:58,790 --> 00:59:01,918 Friend: Well, my friend, I'll get on the horn and give him your number. 1195 00:59:02,001 --> 00:59:04,003 -Hudson: Okey-doke. -Friend: And nice talking to you. 1196 00:59:04,045 --> 00:59:05,671 -Hudson: All right, thank you. -Friend: Bye-Bye. 1197 00:59:05,713 --> 00:59:07,382 (phones click) 1198 00:59:07,423 --> 00:59:09,967 Interviewer: Mr. Maupin, you are, um, 1199 00:59:10,051 --> 00:59:13,096 a well-known writer here in this, uh, Bay Area. 1200 00:59:13,179 --> 00:59:16,724 You have written, um, regular columns for the newspapers. 1201 00:59:16,808 --> 00:59:18,559 Your books have been published. 1202 00:59:18,643 --> 00:59:20,770 I guess you'd call yourself a gay writer. 1203 00:59:20,853 --> 00:59:22,814 Maupin: I'm a writer who is gay. 1204 00:59:22,897 --> 00:59:25,233 My ability to write, for instance, 1205 00:59:25,274 --> 00:59:26,484 about a heterosexual romance 1206 00:59:26,567 --> 00:59:30,029 increased considerably after I was willing to acknowledge 1207 00:59:30,071 --> 00:59:32,990 the nature of my romantic involvements. 1208 00:59:33,074 --> 00:59:35,410 I met Rock when he came to San Francisco. 1209 00:59:35,451 --> 00:59:37,078 (funky music) 1210 00:59:37,120 --> 00:59:39,247 He was up doing something with "McMillan & Wife:... 1211 00:59:39,288 --> 00:59:41,165 (gun firing) 1212 00:59:44,877 --> 00:59:46,796 ...and he invited a bunch of us 1213 00:59:46,879 --> 00:59:48,965 to come up to his suite at the hotel. 1214 00:59:49,048 --> 00:59:52,552 And at a certain point, he rose and said, 1215 00:59:52,593 --> 00:59:54,178 "I have a little reading I want to do." 1216 00:59:54,262 --> 00:59:58,182 And he read the first chapter of "Tales of the City" 1217 00:59:58,266 --> 01:00:00,768 to the assembled crowd. 1218 01:00:00,810 --> 01:00:04,021 It was Mary Ann, the newcomer in town, 1219 01:00:04,105 --> 01:00:06,899 telling her mother that she was gonna live in San Francisco. 1220 01:00:06,941 --> 01:00:09,193 And her mother freaks out and says, 1221 01:00:09,277 --> 01:00:10,945 "Well, you can't, but I was just watching 1222 01:00:10,987 --> 01:00:12,447 "'McMillan & Wife' last night, 1223 01:00:12,488 --> 01:00:15,450 and the place is running over with serial killers." 1224 01:00:16,284 --> 01:00:18,870 -You all right, Commissioner? -Yeah, I'm fine. 1225 01:00:20,329 --> 01:00:21,456 Is this the gun he used? 1226 01:00:21,497 --> 01:00:23,082 Maupin: That was so bizarre. 1227 01:00:23,124 --> 01:00:27,045 You can imagine, McMillan himself was reading this to me. 1228 01:00:27,128 --> 01:00:29,422 You know, he could have been a little less drunk 1229 01:00:29,464 --> 01:00:30,631 when he read the thing, 1230 01:00:30,715 --> 01:00:33,217 but, uh, he was somewhat slurred, 1231 01:00:33,301 --> 01:00:37,889 but it was Rock Hudson reading my work. 1232 01:00:37,972 --> 01:00:40,850 I think he sort of expected it to charm the pants off of me. 1233 01:00:40,933 --> 01:00:43,728 And, uh, it more or less did. 1234 01:00:43,811 --> 01:00:45,438 (cool jazz music) 1235 01:00:45,480 --> 01:00:48,983 We got up to the Fairmont Hotel, the Diplomat Suite, 1236 01:00:49,067 --> 01:00:52,820 and Rock led me into the living room 1237 01:00:52,904 --> 01:00:55,239 and we're sort of at each other right away. 1238 01:00:55,323 --> 01:01:00,119 And, uh, every movie I'd ever seen him in was playing before my eyes. 1239 01:01:00,161 --> 01:01:04,791 You know, I really was not up to the task. 1240 01:01:04,832 --> 01:01:06,793 I think that's the best way to put it. 1241 01:01:06,834 --> 01:01:09,670 In an effort to console me, he said, 1242 01:01:09,754 --> 01:01:12,423 "You know, I'm just a normal guy like you." 1243 01:01:12,465 --> 01:01:15,009 And I said, "And I'm Doris Day." 1244 01:01:15,093 --> 01:01:17,970 (laughs) I saw him off and on after that 1245 01:01:18,012 --> 01:01:21,182 from times he would come and visit in San Francisco, 1246 01:01:21,265 --> 01:01:24,018 or he'd invite me down to "The Castle," as they called it. 1247 01:01:24,102 --> 01:01:26,396 And, uh, the friendship kind of grew 1248 01:01:26,479 --> 01:01:28,898 over that period of time. 1249 01:01:28,981 --> 01:01:31,859 But I never considered him boyfriend material 1250 01:01:31,901 --> 01:01:33,736 or he me, for that matter. 1251 01:01:33,820 --> 01:01:35,488 We were playmates. 1252 01:01:35,530 --> 01:01:38,491 And that was fine with me, just the way that worked. 1253 01:01:40,701 --> 01:01:42,412 I had a bee in my bonnet at the time. 1254 01:01:42,495 --> 01:01:44,872 I said, "You need to come out of the closet, 1255 01:01:44,914 --> 01:01:46,582 and I'm the guy that can help you with that. 1256 01:01:46,666 --> 01:01:50,795 I'll know how to do that, not in a sensationalist way." 1257 01:01:50,878 --> 01:01:54,716 And Rock listened. He was really listening to me. 1258 01:01:54,757 --> 01:01:57,885 Um, but... (chuckles) 1259 01:01:57,969 --> 01:02:00,513 Tom, his partner at the time, 1260 01:02:00,555 --> 01:02:03,474 said, "Not until my mother dies." 1261 01:02:04,142 --> 01:02:07,603 Um... and I thought, "What an odd thing to say." 1262 01:02:07,687 --> 01:02:09,397 If I was fucking Rock Hudson, 1263 01:02:09,480 --> 01:02:12,734 I would want my mother to know immediately. (chuckles) 1264 01:02:12,775 --> 01:02:16,654 Oh, it's you! I, I wasn't sure. 1265 01:02:16,738 --> 01:02:20,116 Hiding in closets isn't going to cure you. 1266 01:02:20,742 --> 01:02:22,243 (serene music) 1267 01:02:22,326 --> 01:02:24,245 Maupin: Mark and George and Rock, 1268 01:02:24,287 --> 01:02:27,707 and Tom I guess, they were slightly ridiculous to me. 1269 01:02:27,749 --> 01:02:30,877 The pride they took in hiding. 1270 01:02:30,918 --> 01:02:35,131 I felt like I was a member of a new generation that wanted to show them, 1271 01:02:35,214 --> 01:02:37,759 it doesn't have to be that way. 1272 01:02:37,800 --> 01:02:39,427 (contemplative music) 1273 01:02:39,469 --> 01:02:42,805 In the book, I depicted a guy that was kind of fascinated 1274 01:02:42,889 --> 01:02:44,474 by the idea of gay liberation, 1275 01:02:44,557 --> 01:02:46,059 but couldn't quite do it himself. 1276 01:02:46,100 --> 01:02:48,770 I tried to capture his humanity, 1277 01:02:48,853 --> 01:02:51,564 his big, sweet, loving heart. 1278 01:02:51,606 --> 01:02:53,149 And I think I did. 1279 01:02:53,232 --> 01:02:55,276 I often did that, uh, with "Tales of the City." 1280 01:02:55,359 --> 01:02:59,072 I sometimes put real people into it with their permission. 1281 01:02:59,113 --> 01:03:01,699 I knew he wasn't gonna give me my permission, 1282 01:03:01,783 --> 01:03:04,410 so I just did it and blanked out the name 1283 01:03:04,494 --> 01:03:06,287 in the Victorian tradition. 1284 01:03:06,621 --> 01:03:08,831 I'm so glad I did, actually, 1285 01:03:08,915 --> 01:03:12,335 because I established that character in the books 1286 01:03:12,418 --> 01:03:17,131 before Rock died, saying, this person exists, 1287 01:03:17,173 --> 01:03:19,300 but he can't show you who he is 1288 01:03:19,342 --> 01:03:22,136 because his life is shut off in this way. 1289 01:03:22,220 --> 01:03:26,307 Hudson: Hey, Freddy, you're really gonna love San Francisco. 1290 01:03:26,349 --> 01:03:27,600 Yeah? 1291 01:03:27,642 --> 01:03:30,561 I want you to know you can change your mind at any time. 1292 01:03:30,645 --> 01:03:32,397 Ah, don't worry about me, baby. 1293 01:03:32,480 --> 01:03:35,233 I've been missing the ring. I'm ready for a little action. 1294 01:03:35,316 --> 01:03:37,276 Masseur: That about does it, Commissioner. 1295 01:03:37,318 --> 01:03:39,987 Yeah, sure does. 1296 01:03:40,029 --> 01:03:42,490 -Thanks. -You're welcome, sir. 1297 01:03:42,532 --> 01:03:45,493 -See you in the shower. -Freddy: Okay, baby. 1298 01:03:50,957 --> 01:03:54,419 (Kijak speaking) 1299 01:03:55,253 --> 01:03:57,797 Maley: I probably wasn't wearing a bathing suit. 1300 01:03:57,839 --> 01:03:59,215 (Kijak and Maley laughing) 1301 01:03:59,298 --> 01:04:02,593 Maley: I was working a lot all through the '70s 1302 01:04:02,677 --> 01:04:04,762 in various gay rights issues. 1303 01:04:04,846 --> 01:04:06,889 And I was the point person 1304 01:04:06,973 --> 01:04:08,641 for international and national media 1305 01:04:08,683 --> 01:04:14,147 who came to San Francisco to do stories about gay rights. 1306 01:04:15,189 --> 01:04:19,235 Fairly early on in having met Rock, I suggested that, 1307 01:04:19,318 --> 01:04:24,031 "Maybe you'd like to go out and to a sex club." 1308 01:04:24,073 --> 01:04:25,992 "Oh, well, of course." (laughs) 1309 01:04:26,033 --> 01:04:27,368 There was no hesitation. 1310 01:04:27,410 --> 01:04:30,538 Like, "Are you sure? No, I shouldn't--" No. 1311 01:04:30,580 --> 01:04:33,541 So there was this place down on Sixth Street 1312 01:04:33,624 --> 01:04:34,959 called The Glory Holes. 1313 01:04:35,043 --> 01:04:37,795 And so we go in and we walk around 1314 01:04:37,837 --> 01:04:40,715 and sort of explain how it all works. 1315 01:04:40,757 --> 01:04:43,217 And there was a balcony 1316 01:04:43,301 --> 01:04:45,803 that you could go up above 1317 01:04:45,887 --> 01:04:49,057 and look out over the whole enterprise. 1318 01:04:49,140 --> 01:04:52,560 You can see all the traffic around the aisleways. 1319 01:04:52,602 --> 01:04:57,732 And so we watched Rock walk around and go in a booth 1320 01:04:57,815 --> 01:04:59,901 and you could hear this scream, 1321 01:04:59,984 --> 01:05:02,403 "Oh, my God, it's Rock Hudson!" (laughs) 1322 01:05:02,487 --> 01:05:04,989 And it went all throughout the place. 1323 01:05:05,031 --> 01:05:07,492 It obviously didn't bother him because we didn't leave, 1324 01:05:07,575 --> 01:05:10,620 and we stayed, stayed quite a while. 1325 01:05:11,621 --> 01:05:17,001 I think he became so comfortable with the dual life, 1326 01:05:17,085 --> 01:05:20,755 but I think that he found a way to be comfortable with both lives. 1327 01:05:20,797 --> 01:05:23,925 -You've gotta tell them the truth. -Do you know what'll happen? 1328 01:05:23,966 --> 01:05:25,885 I know it'll mean you'll lose your job 1329 01:05:25,927 --> 01:05:27,595 and your customers and everything, but... 1330 01:05:27,637 --> 01:05:29,013 you've got to do that. 1331 01:05:29,097 --> 01:05:30,890 Once you start fooling people, you have to go on 1332 01:05:30,932 --> 01:05:33,309 and keep on fooling them and, and... 1333 01:05:33,393 --> 01:05:37,605 you're too nice a guy to, to, to be a phony 1334 01:05:37,647 --> 01:05:39,941 and keep on being a phony. 1335 01:05:39,982 --> 01:05:41,734 (sighs) 1336 01:05:42,693 --> 01:05:45,279 You know, Hollywood at night can be a fascinating place, 1337 01:05:45,321 --> 01:05:48,491 but Hollywood in the daytime can be a lot of fun too. 1338 01:05:48,574 --> 01:05:51,411 Come on, follow me and I'll show you what I mean. 1339 01:05:51,452 --> 01:05:52,286 (cool jazz music) 1340 01:05:52,370 --> 01:05:54,580 Maupin: Rock had a contact. 1341 01:05:54,622 --> 01:05:56,833 Somebody in West Hollywood that could round up 1342 01:05:56,916 --> 01:05:59,794 gorgeous men at a moment's notice. 1343 01:05:59,877 --> 01:06:02,880 Wes Wheadon: I knew a lot of folks in the community. 1344 01:06:02,964 --> 01:06:04,173 I had a lot of friends. 1345 01:06:04,257 --> 01:06:05,758 And so I would just call up, you know, 1346 01:06:05,800 --> 01:06:08,386 whoever I'd get my hands on that was available 1347 01:06:08,469 --> 01:06:10,304 and say, "Here's the deal, here's the address, 1348 01:06:10,388 --> 01:06:12,056 "show up, it'll be a lovely time, 1349 01:06:12,140 --> 01:06:14,976 "and you can have a nice day swimming and carrying on with drinks, 1350 01:06:15,017 --> 01:06:16,978 and you'd get to meet Rock." 1351 01:06:17,061 --> 01:06:20,606 Maley: Then it would just be chaise lounges 1352 01:06:20,648 --> 01:06:23,192 and boys in the pool. 1353 01:06:23,276 --> 01:06:25,486 It was clothing optional. 1354 01:06:25,528 --> 01:06:28,990 And a lot of 'em, fortunately, did take the option. 1355 01:06:29,031 --> 01:06:30,491 (chuckles) 1356 01:06:30,533 --> 01:06:34,328 Maupin: You know, even for an ordinary gay man like me, 1357 01:06:34,370 --> 01:06:36,247 that was an amazing thing to see 1358 01:06:36,330 --> 01:06:37,915 all these beauties gathered around the pool. 1359 01:06:37,999 --> 01:06:40,376 Wheadon: If you're gonna have a party with a bunch of young men, 1360 01:06:40,460 --> 01:06:42,462 you want to bring up the eye candy, if you will. 1361 01:06:42,503 --> 01:06:45,590 Maley: It was a lot of beefcake, 1362 01:06:45,673 --> 01:06:48,593 and it would last all afternoon. 1363 01:06:48,676 --> 01:06:51,220 Endless, you know, food and drink, 1364 01:06:51,304 --> 01:06:55,141 and Rock sort of just strolling through. 1365 01:06:55,183 --> 01:06:56,267 It was theater. 1366 01:06:56,350 --> 01:07:01,189 (upbeat jazz music) 1367 01:07:01,230 --> 01:07:02,774 (sign creaking) 1368 01:07:02,857 --> 01:07:06,152 (peaceful music) 1369 01:07:06,194 --> 01:07:10,907 Kevoian: In 1976, I was cast in a play called "John Brown's Body." 1370 01:07:10,990 --> 01:07:14,827 It starred Rock Hudson, Claire Trevor, and Leif Erickson. 1371 01:07:14,869 --> 01:07:20,708 It was a really beautiful mix of music and dance and vocal. 1372 01:07:20,750 --> 01:07:24,587 So that's, you know, that's how I came to meet Rock Hudson. 1373 01:07:24,670 --> 01:07:28,508 Hudson: Armies of shadows and the shadow-sound. 1374 01:07:28,549 --> 01:07:32,220 Male Chorus: ♪ Captain Ball was a Yankee slaver ♪ 1375 01:07:32,303 --> 01:07:33,596 ♪ Blow, blow... ♪ 1376 01:07:33,679 --> 01:07:38,226 He really showed a lot of people something new, 1377 01:07:38,267 --> 01:07:42,063 and it felt good to him as a performer on stage. 1378 01:07:42,146 --> 01:07:45,024 He was really happy. 1379 01:07:45,066 --> 01:07:48,361 It was supposed to be a fabulous big tour, 1380 01:07:48,403 --> 01:07:52,240 and we had a lot of cities set, 1381 01:07:52,323 --> 01:07:57,787 but, um, some people started to cancel the production. 1382 01:07:57,870 --> 01:08:01,457 I think the people that wanted to see Rock Hudson 1383 01:08:01,541 --> 01:08:04,794 wanted to see "McMillan" or "Pillow Talk," 1384 01:08:04,877 --> 01:08:08,756 and the people that wanted to see "John Brown's Body," 1385 01:08:08,798 --> 01:08:12,844 because it was so lyrical in its speech, 1386 01:08:12,927 --> 01:08:15,263 wanted Laurence Olivier. 1387 01:08:15,304 --> 01:08:16,763 (mellow jazz music) 1388 01:08:16,806 --> 01:08:20,435 We remained friends for several years afterwards. 1389 01:08:20,476 --> 01:08:22,603 He helped me start a television career 1390 01:08:22,687 --> 01:08:27,400 on the last season of "McMillan" in 1976 1391 01:08:27,442 --> 01:08:30,069 and changed the trajectory of my life. 1392 01:08:30,111 --> 01:08:32,155 Man (on radio): You got Big Smokey there? 1393 01:08:32,237 --> 01:08:34,115 Uh, here beside me. 1394 01:08:34,197 --> 01:08:35,783 "Big Smokey"? 1395 01:08:35,866 --> 01:08:37,785 That's you, sir. It's CB talk. 1396 01:08:37,869 --> 01:08:41,330 Kevoian: And he didn't cast me from a casting couch. 1397 01:08:41,414 --> 01:08:43,958 There was only one time that he ever, 1398 01:08:44,040 --> 01:08:47,628 um, asked me to possibly be intimate. 1399 01:08:47,670 --> 01:08:52,049 And I, I chose, um, the different path. 1400 01:08:52,133 --> 01:08:54,009 (chuckles) 1401 01:08:54,093 --> 01:08:57,472 I was 23 and a lot cuter. 1402 01:08:59,014 --> 01:09:01,308 He was fun and then he was elegant, 1403 01:09:01,392 --> 01:09:07,106 and, you know, I only saw him pee in the bushes once. 1404 01:09:07,147 --> 01:09:09,484 (chuckling) 1405 01:09:11,194 --> 01:09:14,781 Hey! What's going on here? 1406 01:09:14,822 --> 01:09:16,574 (wolf whistle) 1407 01:09:16,656 --> 01:09:18,159 Observe. 1408 01:09:18,241 --> 01:09:20,786 Hmmph! 1409 01:09:20,828 --> 01:09:22,621 (lyrical music) 1410 01:09:22,663 --> 01:09:26,918 McGillin: I was one of the members of the last dying gasp 1411 01:09:27,000 --> 01:09:28,378 of the studio system, 1412 01:09:28,460 --> 01:09:30,420 which was Universal Studios. 1413 01:09:30,505 --> 01:09:33,591 I'll never forget this great head of the talent department. 1414 01:09:33,674 --> 01:09:37,344 She's on the phone, "Darling, are you sitting down?" 1415 01:09:37,428 --> 01:09:39,722 And I said, "Yes, I'm sitting down." 1416 01:09:39,806 --> 01:09:44,352 She says, "Rock Hudson, you're going to be playing his son." 1417 01:09:44,393 --> 01:09:47,647 (upbeat theme playing) 1418 01:09:47,688 --> 01:09:50,817 It was a 10-hour epic mini-series 1419 01:09:50,857 --> 01:09:53,527 that they were doing tons of at that time. 1420 01:09:53,611 --> 01:09:57,240 And Rock plays a designer of automobiles in Detroit. 1421 01:09:57,323 --> 01:09:59,659 Dad, I'm telling you, I can handle this by myself. 1422 01:09:59,700 --> 01:10:01,119 I know you can. 1423 01:10:01,202 --> 01:10:02,537 I'm proud that you want to. 1424 01:10:02,578 --> 01:10:04,789 McGillin: Even though you knew the rumors, 1425 01:10:04,872 --> 01:10:08,584 you still couldn't erase the false narrative 1426 01:10:08,668 --> 01:10:10,503 of that straight leading man. 1427 01:10:10,545 --> 01:10:13,464 That was the message that was given to all of us 1428 01:10:13,548 --> 01:10:15,091 growing up in that time, 1429 01:10:15,174 --> 01:10:19,345 young men, and certainly young men who aspired to be actors. 1430 01:10:19,387 --> 01:10:21,389 For gay men like me, 1431 01:10:21,472 --> 01:10:25,393 there was absolutely zero permission to be gay. 1432 01:10:25,435 --> 01:10:27,979 It was just not going to be allowed. 1433 01:10:28,062 --> 01:10:30,523 So I carried that with me. 1434 01:10:32,442 --> 01:10:35,820 Well, the time has come. You've seen the map. 1435 01:10:35,903 --> 01:10:38,406 Reagan is our projected winner. 1436 01:10:38,448 --> 01:10:41,117 A sports announcer, a film actor, 1437 01:10:41,200 --> 01:10:42,618 a governor of California. 1438 01:10:42,702 --> 01:10:45,371 We have projected Ronald Reagan the winner. 1439 01:10:45,413 --> 01:10:47,874 Did you ever think a few years ago 1440 01:10:47,915 --> 01:10:50,543 that Ronald Reagan, fellow actor, would be president? 1441 01:10:50,585 --> 01:10:52,587 I mean, is that, an actor being president? 1442 01:10:52,628 --> 01:10:54,714 -No, I, I didn't. -Pretty amazing, huh? 1443 01:10:54,756 --> 01:10:56,841 Yeah, it's terrific, as a matter of fact. 1444 01:10:56,924 --> 01:10:58,801 Lee Garlington: Well, Rock was a Republican. 1445 01:10:58,885 --> 01:11:00,845 I can't believe it, but he was. 1446 01:11:00,928 --> 01:11:03,765 Yeah, but that was a different generation Republican. 1447 01:11:03,806 --> 01:11:05,266 Yes. 1448 01:11:05,349 --> 01:11:08,644 Uh, he was a Republican primarily because 1449 01:11:08,728 --> 01:11:11,105 he was friends with Nancy Reagan. 1450 01:11:11,189 --> 01:11:12,982 Apparently pretty close friends. 1451 01:11:13,066 --> 01:11:17,820 But she couldn't get Reagan to say anything about AIDS 1452 01:11:17,904 --> 01:11:22,825 until finally at one point he gave in. 1453 01:11:22,909 --> 01:11:24,786 But that was after... 1454 01:11:24,869 --> 01:11:28,247 -That was after he died, I think, right? -After he died. 1455 01:11:28,289 --> 01:11:29,707 The Centers for Disease Control 1456 01:11:29,791 --> 01:11:32,168 reports that six gay men in Los Angeles 1457 01:11:32,251 --> 01:11:35,129 have fallen ill from a strange and mysterious pneumonia. 1458 01:11:35,171 --> 01:11:39,217 Scientists at the National Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta today 1459 01:11:39,300 --> 01:11:40,927 released the results of a study, 1460 01:11:40,968 --> 01:11:44,806 which shows that the lifestyle of some male homosexuals 1461 01:11:44,847 --> 01:11:47,850 has triggered an epidemic of a rare form of cancer. 1462 01:11:47,934 --> 01:11:49,685 Reporter: Researchers are now studying 1463 01:11:49,769 --> 01:11:51,437 blood and other samples from the victims, 1464 01:11:51,479 --> 01:11:53,439 trying to learn what is causing the disease. 1465 01:11:53,481 --> 01:11:55,817 So far, they have had no luck. 1466 01:11:55,858 --> 01:11:58,528 Rock, can you believe the things that are happening today? 1467 01:11:58,611 --> 01:12:00,696 (chuckles) Oh, it's pretty crazy, all right. 1468 01:12:00,780 --> 01:12:03,908 I mean, the way everyone dresses, the lifestyles, 1469 01:12:03,991 --> 01:12:05,243 the, the new morality. 1470 01:12:05,326 --> 01:12:07,620 Yeah. Maybe we're getting old. 1471 01:12:07,662 --> 01:12:10,331 Look, Rock, if you can't say anything constructive... 1472 01:12:10,415 --> 01:12:12,708 -(audience laughs) -Okay... 1473 01:12:12,792 --> 01:12:13,584 I'm getting old. 1474 01:12:13,668 --> 01:12:15,002 That's constructive. 1475 01:12:15,086 --> 01:12:16,337 (laughter) 1476 01:12:16,963 --> 01:12:20,758 Griffin: When you consider Rock Hudson's lifestyle choices: 1477 01:12:20,842 --> 01:12:24,011 overwork, stress, chain smoking, 1478 01:12:24,095 --> 01:12:25,471 the alcohol intake... 1479 01:12:25,513 --> 01:12:27,473 -You wanna smoke a cigarette? -Yes. 1480 01:12:27,515 --> 01:12:29,142 Why do you wanna smoke a cigarette? 1481 01:12:29,183 --> 01:12:31,602 It's not good for you, but you can smoke a cigarette. 1482 01:12:31,686 --> 01:12:32,854 -You want a lecture? -Yeah. 1483 01:12:32,937 --> 01:12:35,314 -Okay. You got it. -I'm thinking of quitting. 1484 01:12:35,356 --> 01:12:37,024 -And then you'll do it? -I have to quit. 1485 01:12:37,108 --> 01:12:41,070 Griffin: All of that results in quintuple bypass surgery 1486 01:12:41,154 --> 01:12:42,864 in 1981. 1487 01:12:42,905 --> 01:12:45,158 I don't know if I could ask everybody to let us see your scar. 1488 01:12:45,199 --> 01:12:47,910 -But I don't think that's the right thing to do. -(laughing) 1489 01:12:47,994 --> 01:12:50,538 You're looking really terrific. When are you going back to work? 1490 01:12:50,580 --> 01:12:52,373 I think around mid-January. 1491 01:12:52,874 --> 01:12:55,084 Dr. Michael Gottlieb: By 1982, 1492 01:12:55,168 --> 01:12:56,669 we saw how devastating 1493 01:12:56,711 --> 01:12:58,880 AIDS could be for a person, 1494 01:12:58,963 --> 01:13:00,173 how people developed 1495 01:13:00,214 --> 01:13:03,092 one infection after another 1496 01:13:03,176 --> 01:13:05,303 and kind of just wasted away, 1497 01:13:05,386 --> 01:13:06,804 in front of us. 1498 01:13:06,888 --> 01:13:08,598 And it was very frightening. 1499 01:13:08,681 --> 01:13:10,308 There was little happening 1500 01:13:10,391 --> 01:13:12,477 in the way of a public response. 1501 01:13:12,560 --> 01:13:15,855 There was no money available to do research. 1502 01:13:15,897 --> 01:13:18,191 Jane Pauley: You are raising the possibility 1503 01:13:18,274 --> 01:13:21,611 that people are dismissing it because it strikes mostly the gay community? 1504 01:13:21,694 --> 01:13:24,822 There is no question in my mind, if this were happening to you 1505 01:13:24,906 --> 01:13:26,991 and the white, straight, middle-class community, 1506 01:13:27,075 --> 01:13:29,827 it would've been attended to a long time ago. 1507 01:13:29,911 --> 01:13:34,207 Gottlieb: There was all this conservative religious overtones 1508 01:13:34,248 --> 01:13:35,583 in the Reagan administration 1509 01:13:35,666 --> 01:13:39,587 where evangelicals had elected Ronald Reagan 1510 01:13:39,670 --> 01:13:42,173 and in his cabinet were people 1511 01:13:42,256 --> 01:13:43,966 who essentially said, 1512 01:13:44,050 --> 01:13:45,593 "Do nothing." 1513 01:13:48,346 --> 01:13:51,057 Griffin: By this time, Rock had made a lot of money 1514 01:13:51,099 --> 01:13:52,600 working in television. 1515 01:13:52,642 --> 01:13:54,519 He was loaded. 1516 01:13:54,602 --> 01:13:57,814 But old friends Mark and George, not so much. 1517 01:13:57,897 --> 01:14:00,942 George Nader had glaucoma and had stopped acting. 1518 01:14:01,025 --> 01:14:04,946 So Rock hired Mark Miller to be his personal secretary. 1519 01:14:05,029 --> 01:14:07,532 That not only rescued Nader and Miller financially, 1520 01:14:07,615 --> 01:14:12,954 but it would also guarantee that his closest friends would remain close. 1521 01:14:12,995 --> 01:14:16,624 And of course, through all of this, Nader is keeping his diaries, 1522 01:14:16,707 --> 01:14:19,127 which are a veritable gold mine 1523 01:14:19,210 --> 01:14:22,839 of eyewitness accounts. 1524 01:14:22,922 --> 01:14:27,176 Voiceover as Nader: Thursday, May 31st, 1984. 1525 01:14:27,260 --> 01:14:29,303 Mark called at 7 a.m. 1526 01:14:29,387 --> 01:14:30,888 Something seriously wrong! 1527 01:14:30,972 --> 01:14:33,307 Nancy Reagan sent photos from the dinner party 1528 01:14:33,391 --> 01:14:36,018 with a note saying that Rock must have that pimple 1529 01:14:36,102 --> 01:14:37,520 on his neck checked. 1530 01:14:37,603 --> 01:14:39,147 It showed up in the photos. 1531 01:14:39,230 --> 01:14:41,816 Otherwise, the photos are great of Nancy, Ronnie, 1532 01:14:41,858 --> 01:14:43,359 and Rock at the dinner. 1533 01:14:43,443 --> 01:14:45,445 Rock back to Beverly Hills. 1534 01:14:45,486 --> 01:14:46,946 Mark insisted that Rock 1535 01:14:46,988 --> 01:14:48,990 go to see the doctor immediately. 1536 01:14:49,031 --> 01:14:51,784 He agreed. Mark made an appointment. 1537 01:14:51,826 --> 01:14:54,412 Let me begin with the latest figures from Los Angeles County. 1538 01:14:54,495 --> 01:14:57,749 Today they show 56 new cases of AIDS 1539 01:14:57,832 --> 01:14:59,917 diagnosed here locally last month. 1540 01:15:00,001 --> 01:15:03,463 That brings the national total now to about 10,000 cases 1541 01:15:03,504 --> 01:15:05,715 cases of AIDS. 1542 01:15:05,798 --> 01:15:08,885 Voiceover as Nader: Tuesday, June 5th, 1984. 1543 01:15:08,968 --> 01:15:12,597 Mark called and asked me to note the time and date 1544 01:15:12,680 --> 01:15:14,348 of all of the following: 1545 01:15:14,432 --> 01:15:18,519 At 2:25 p.m., driving Rock home from the doctor's, 1546 01:15:18,561 --> 01:15:23,816 he was told by Rock that Rock has AIDS and possible cancer. 1547 01:15:23,858 --> 01:15:27,612 A lymph gland in his neck had just been removed. 1548 01:15:27,695 --> 01:15:29,864 Around 6:30 p.m.-ish, 1549 01:15:29,906 --> 01:15:32,033 I dialed Rock at The Castle and said, 1550 01:15:32,116 --> 01:15:35,161 if there was anything at all, let me know. 1551 01:15:35,203 --> 01:15:38,122 He said, the only thing was silence. 1552 01:15:38,206 --> 01:15:41,042 I said, "Of course," and thought, 1553 01:15:41,125 --> 01:15:43,544 "Who in the hell am I gonna call and talk about it to?'" 1554 01:15:43,586 --> 01:15:46,631 Interviewer: Are you the big macho type that nothing's gonna get? 1555 01:15:46,714 --> 01:15:48,341 No, not at all. Not at all. 1556 01:15:48,383 --> 01:15:52,428 I am, I have, like everybody else, weaknesses and strengths. 1557 01:15:52,512 --> 01:15:54,222 But... 1558 01:15:54,305 --> 01:15:58,726 one of the strengths, I suppose, perhaps stupidly so, 1559 01:15:58,810 --> 01:16:01,145 is that I will not be sick. 1560 01:16:01,229 --> 01:16:03,773 I will not be dependent upon anybody else, 1561 01:16:03,856 --> 01:16:06,401 and I simply won't have it. 1562 01:16:06,442 --> 01:16:08,486 Gottlieb: In 1984, 1563 01:16:08,569 --> 01:16:10,238 I was asked to see 1564 01:16:10,321 --> 01:16:12,115 a celebrity patient, 1565 01:16:12,198 --> 01:16:16,077 Rock Hudson, and determined in fact that he did have AIDS. 1566 01:16:16,119 --> 01:16:20,623 I guided him as best I could and sent him to France 1567 01:16:20,706 --> 01:16:24,752 to participate in a clinical trial of an antiviral drug. 1568 01:16:26,879 --> 01:16:30,174 Most people are born gulls and judge a man by his dress. 1569 01:16:30,258 --> 01:16:32,593 We live in a world of phantasmagoria, 1570 01:16:32,677 --> 01:16:34,721 false forms and false faces. 1571 01:16:34,762 --> 01:16:37,432 Each man wears a mask against his fellows. 1572 01:16:37,515 --> 01:16:39,475 Well, have you nothing to say? 1573 01:16:39,559 --> 01:16:41,728 Aye, gimme a light. 1574 01:16:42,145 --> 01:16:45,606 Esther Shapiro: Rock Hudson was in a different league. 1575 01:16:45,648 --> 01:16:48,276 I always liked him. 1576 01:16:48,359 --> 01:16:52,488 He seemed to fulfill all the dreams that, you know, 1577 01:16:52,572 --> 01:16:55,533 I would have for a star. 1578 01:16:55,616 --> 01:16:57,785 When the time came to find 1579 01:16:57,869 --> 01:17:00,955 a person to play opposite Linda Evans, 1580 01:17:00,997 --> 01:17:03,124 I thought about Rock Hudson. 1581 01:17:03,166 --> 01:17:08,546 So I and my publicist, we flew to Paris to meet him. 1582 01:17:08,629 --> 01:17:11,049 I hadn't seen him for a few years. 1583 01:17:11,132 --> 01:17:13,968 He might have been five pounds thinner, I don't know. 1584 01:17:14,010 --> 01:17:17,138 But he seemed incredible. 1585 01:17:17,180 --> 01:17:21,267 When he turns on that smile, it's unbelievable. 1586 01:17:21,976 --> 01:17:24,812 He met us and I had the script. 1587 01:17:24,854 --> 01:17:27,774 I just wanted him to read the script and say yes. 1588 01:17:27,815 --> 01:17:31,611 And then he said, "Well, why don't we have dinner?" So I said, "Okay." 1589 01:17:31,652 --> 01:17:33,321 So we went with him, 1590 01:17:33,362 --> 01:17:36,032 and it was the most marvelous night. 1591 01:17:36,115 --> 01:17:39,994 He was so energetic and he went from restaurant 1592 01:17:40,036 --> 01:17:41,954 to bar to restaurant. 1593 01:17:41,996 --> 01:17:44,165 He kept drinking more and more vodka 1594 01:17:44,207 --> 01:17:46,501 and he got bawdier and bawdier. 1595 01:17:46,584 --> 01:17:49,629 And I thought, "Oh, my God, is this ever gonna end?" 1596 01:17:49,670 --> 01:17:51,923 He held out that whole night. 1597 01:17:52,006 --> 01:17:54,717 I mean, you have no idea what it was like. 1598 01:17:55,927 --> 01:17:58,930 And at 2:30 in the morning, he said, 1599 01:17:59,013 --> 01:18:02,308 "I read the script and I loved it and I will do it." 1600 01:18:02,809 --> 01:18:07,230 Reporter: This winter finds Hudson on location with ABC's "Dynasty." 1601 01:18:07,313 --> 01:18:10,066 You've said before that you really didn't have any interest 1602 01:18:10,149 --> 01:18:12,193 in coming back to doing series television. 1603 01:18:12,276 --> 01:18:15,071 What did "Dynasty" offer that made you reconsider that? 1604 01:18:15,154 --> 01:18:17,115 Well, I'm not on every week, 1605 01:18:17,198 --> 01:18:20,451 and, uh, uh... 1606 01:18:20,535 --> 01:18:22,203 it's a good show, obviously. 1607 01:18:22,245 --> 01:18:26,416 I mean, it's, uh, very popular all over the world, 1608 01:18:26,499 --> 01:18:30,211 so why not to do six or so shows? 1609 01:18:30,294 --> 01:18:34,382 Reporter: So, for six or so shows, nobody's saying exactly how many, 1610 01:18:34,424 --> 01:18:37,093 Rock Hudson is playing the role of Daniel Reece, 1611 01:18:37,176 --> 01:18:39,887 a sophisticated horse breeder with romantic designs 1612 01:18:39,929 --> 01:18:41,597 on Krystle Carrington. 1613 01:18:41,681 --> 01:18:43,558 I think he's a divine actor. 1614 01:18:43,599 --> 01:18:45,393 He's wonderfully romantic. 1615 01:18:45,476 --> 01:18:47,228 He's a lovely man. 1616 01:18:47,812 --> 01:18:50,022 Well, they told us they had 1617 01:18:50,064 --> 01:18:53,735 some superstars they were gonna have on the show, 1618 01:18:53,818 --> 01:18:57,905 which we thought, great, this is fun. (laughs) 1619 01:18:57,989 --> 01:18:59,907 I, of course, was thrilled 1620 01:18:59,991 --> 01:19:02,326 because I did a "McMillan & Wife." 1621 01:19:02,410 --> 01:19:04,412 Aquarius. How do you do, Commissioner? 1622 01:19:04,495 --> 01:19:05,830 Nicole, what a lovely name. 1623 01:19:05,913 --> 01:19:08,541 Linda Evans: And I thought, how fantastic 1624 01:19:08,624 --> 01:19:11,419 to be able to work with him again. 1625 01:19:11,461 --> 01:19:13,171 But he was so much thinner 1626 01:19:13,254 --> 01:19:16,924 and didn't look like he felt good. 1627 01:19:17,008 --> 01:19:20,053 I think he even said he'd been traveling a lot 1628 01:19:20,094 --> 01:19:22,138 and he inferred that, you know, 1629 01:19:22,221 --> 01:19:23,890 "We've all been away on a trip 1630 01:19:23,931 --> 01:19:25,850 and caught something somewhere." 1631 01:19:25,892 --> 01:19:29,437 So I went, "Oh, you know, life does that to us." 1632 01:19:29,520 --> 01:19:33,858 And, uh, that's about as much as I thought about it. 1633 01:19:35,693 --> 01:19:38,946 Voiceover as Nader: Wednesday, December 19th, 1984. 1634 01:19:38,988 --> 01:19:41,532 "Dynasty." Rock's debut. 1635 01:19:41,616 --> 01:19:44,577 Merry Christmas, Krystie, it's good to see you. 1636 01:19:44,619 --> 01:19:47,038 Voiceover as Nader: Did well, but looked bad, 1637 01:19:47,121 --> 01:19:48,831 very bad in a couple of shots. 1638 01:19:48,915 --> 01:19:50,958 I'm here to return this. 1639 01:19:52,502 --> 01:19:56,130 How dare you come back into my life after what you did. 1640 01:19:57,131 --> 01:19:59,717 Voiceover as Nader: Cameraman could have helped more with lighting, 1641 01:19:59,801 --> 01:20:02,470 I think, but perhaps no time. 1642 01:20:09,977 --> 01:20:13,523 Tuesday, February 5th, 1985. 1643 01:20:13,606 --> 01:20:15,066 Tonight "Dynasty," 1644 01:20:15,149 --> 01:20:18,236 and we get to watch Rock give Linda Evans a dose 1645 01:20:18,319 --> 01:20:20,988 of some virus in a kissing scene. 1646 01:20:21,072 --> 01:20:22,990 I will tape the fateful footage, 1647 01:20:23,032 --> 01:20:25,159 if not too frozen in horror, 1648 01:20:25,243 --> 01:20:28,079 akin to watching someone receive a possible lethal injection. 1649 01:20:28,162 --> 01:20:29,622 You look more frightened than I was... 1650 01:20:29,664 --> 01:20:32,625 Voiceover as Nader: Morally, how guilty are we 1651 01:20:32,667 --> 01:20:37,255 for not having said something to someone, anyone? 1652 01:20:39,841 --> 01:20:42,510 Rock returned from work the day they shot the kiss scene 1653 01:20:42,552 --> 01:20:45,680 and said to Mark, "This has been the worst day of my life. 1654 01:20:45,722 --> 01:20:49,517 "I used every possible type of mouthwash known to man. 1655 01:20:49,559 --> 01:20:51,185 An awful day.' 1656 01:20:51,269 --> 01:20:55,565 He also said, "I kept my mouth closed and so did she." 1657 01:20:56,607 --> 01:21:01,070 Evans: When we had that scene we had to do with the kiss, 1658 01:21:01,154 --> 01:21:03,239 that was a pivotal moment. 1659 01:21:03,322 --> 01:21:06,534 We showed up that day and shot that scene 1660 01:21:06,617 --> 01:21:10,204 and it didn't turn out like they wanted. 1661 01:21:10,246 --> 01:21:14,208 Nobody quite knew what to do. 1662 01:21:14,250 --> 01:21:17,211 I mean, I knew he could deliver that kiss. 1663 01:21:17,295 --> 01:21:19,756 It's not up to me to say anything. 1664 01:21:19,839 --> 01:21:22,341 And I let the director handle it, 1665 01:21:22,383 --> 01:21:24,635 and we did it over and we did it over. 1666 01:21:24,719 --> 01:21:27,930 And he did it consistently. 1667 01:21:28,014 --> 01:21:30,725 (Evans weeping off-screen) 1668 01:21:30,808 --> 01:21:35,855 It makes me cry because I know he was protecting me. 1669 01:21:35,897 --> 01:21:37,940 I mean, I didn't know that at the time. 1670 01:21:38,024 --> 01:21:40,026 I was confused at the time. 1671 01:21:40,068 --> 01:21:41,903 But in thinking back, 1672 01:21:41,944 --> 01:21:45,448 part of the reason that I get so upset 1673 01:21:45,531 --> 01:21:50,078 is that he was doing everything he could do 1674 01:21:50,161 --> 01:21:52,080 to make it all right for me, in case. 1675 01:21:52,163 --> 01:21:55,541 'Cause nobody knew in those days about that. 1676 01:21:55,583 --> 01:21:57,335 Touches my heart. 1677 01:21:57,418 --> 01:21:59,504 Even now, when I think about it. 1678 01:22:01,464 --> 01:22:04,509 Voiceover as Nader: Saturday, April 6th, 1985. 1679 01:22:04,592 --> 01:22:07,261 The three of us drove through Joshua Tree 1680 01:22:07,345 --> 01:22:09,639 where Rock had never been before. 1681 01:22:09,722 --> 01:22:13,351 On the way there, the old song "Mockin' Bird Hill" came on. 1682 01:22:13,476 --> 01:22:17,355 ♪ Tra-la-la twittle-dee-dee-dee, it gives me... ♪ 1683 01:22:17,438 --> 01:22:19,232 Voiceover as Nader: We all roared with laughter. 1684 01:22:19,273 --> 01:22:22,485 Thirty years before, the song had been our favorite, 1685 01:22:22,568 --> 01:22:25,154 and we sang it in unison with the singer on the radio. 1686 01:22:25,238 --> 01:22:27,782 ♪ Tra-la-la twittle-dee-dee-dee ♪ 1687 01:22:27,865 --> 01:22:30,451 ♪ There's peace and goodwill ♪ 1688 01:22:30,493 --> 01:22:33,371 ♪ You're welcome as the flowers ♪ 1689 01:22:33,454 --> 01:22:36,582 ♪ On Mockin' Bird Hill... ♪ 1690 01:22:36,624 --> 01:22:38,626 Voiceover as Nader: By the time we finished the song, 1691 01:22:38,668 --> 01:22:39,794 we were all in tears. 1692 01:22:39,877 --> 01:22:41,671 Mark and I knew for sure 1693 01:22:41,754 --> 01:22:46,092 Rock had come down to the desert on Easter to say goodbye. 1694 01:22:46,134 --> 01:22:49,512 Even if we see him again, this is still it. 1695 01:22:49,595 --> 01:22:51,431 A farewell. 1696 01:22:51,514 --> 01:22:54,600 ♪ song ends ♪ 1697 01:22:54,642 --> 01:22:56,936 (telephone rings) 1698 01:22:56,978 --> 01:22:58,438 Hello. 1699 01:22:58,479 --> 01:22:59,856 I love my roses! 1700 01:22:59,939 --> 01:23:01,274 Well, hiya. 1701 01:23:01,315 --> 01:23:04,152 I am thrilled that you are gonna do my show. 1702 01:23:04,235 --> 01:23:06,320 -I am too. -You're my first guest. 1703 01:23:06,362 --> 01:23:08,156 -Is that right? -Very first one. 1704 01:23:08,239 --> 01:23:09,824 'Cause you're a very special guest. 1705 01:23:09,866 --> 01:23:11,659 Well, I am delighted about that. 1706 01:23:12,994 --> 01:23:14,954 Maley: The public started seeing 1707 01:23:14,996 --> 01:23:18,583 a major decline in his appearance. 1708 01:23:18,666 --> 01:23:22,962 That's when we began to understand what it was. 1709 01:23:23,004 --> 01:23:25,465 Even we thought it was AIDS. 1710 01:23:25,757 --> 01:23:27,717 All right, how did you know? 1711 01:23:27,800 --> 01:23:29,635 I saw his hand. 1712 01:23:30,261 --> 01:23:32,930 -What did you see? -The beginning of a lesion. 1713 01:23:33,014 --> 01:23:34,515 Discoloration. Softness of tissue. 1714 01:23:34,599 --> 01:23:37,143 That could have been anything-- yaws, psoriasis, 1715 01:23:37,185 --> 01:23:39,353 the beginning of any ordinary skin rash. 1716 01:23:39,437 --> 01:23:41,147 What made you so certain? 1717 01:23:41,189 --> 01:23:43,191 I just knew, that's all. 1718 01:23:43,274 --> 01:23:46,694 -You mean you guessed. -No, I knew. 1719 01:23:46,778 --> 01:23:48,154 Hmm. 1720 01:23:48,196 --> 01:23:51,574 Voiceover as Nader: Thursday, July 18th, 1985. 1721 01:23:51,657 --> 01:23:56,037 Rock exhausted and really downhill and a mess. 1722 01:23:56,079 --> 01:23:57,914 "He looks awful," Mark says. 1723 01:23:57,997 --> 01:23:59,874 Mark broached subject of Paris, 1724 01:23:59,916 --> 01:24:01,918 got Rock to listen. 1725 01:24:02,001 --> 01:24:03,586 Rock heaved a sigh and said, 1726 01:24:03,669 --> 01:24:07,215 "Well, okay, I guess I'd better go back over there." 1727 01:24:07,298 --> 01:24:09,550 Reporter: Just what is wrong with Rock Hudson? 1728 01:24:09,592 --> 01:24:11,427 Tonight, the 59-year-old actor 1729 01:24:11,511 --> 01:24:13,763 remains in a Paris hospital undergoing tests, 1730 01:24:13,846 --> 01:24:16,349 but the nature of his illness has become clouded 1731 01:24:16,391 --> 01:24:17,975 in mystery and confusion. 1732 01:24:18,017 --> 01:24:19,435 Yesterday, it was reported that Hudson 1733 01:24:19,519 --> 01:24:21,437 had liver cancer and possibly AIDS, 1734 01:24:21,521 --> 01:24:24,148 but today the hospital denied the cancer story 1735 01:24:24,232 --> 01:24:26,401 and said nothing about the AIDS rumor. 1736 01:24:26,442 --> 01:24:28,694 A spokesman just said Hudson was tired. 1737 01:24:29,487 --> 01:24:31,406 Maupin: At that point, I don't know what degree 1738 01:24:31,489 --> 01:24:33,950 Rock was actually making decisions, 1739 01:24:34,033 --> 01:24:37,412 but Ross Hunter was still saying 1740 01:24:37,453 --> 01:24:42,542 Rock had anorexia and a lot of feeble excuses. 1741 01:24:42,583 --> 01:24:43,960 (siren wailing) 1742 01:24:44,043 --> 01:24:46,462 Griffin: After collapsing at the Ritz, 1743 01:24:46,546 --> 01:24:50,007 Hudson is rushed to the American Hospital of Paris. 1744 01:24:50,091 --> 01:24:52,552 And at that point, it's determined 1745 01:24:52,593 --> 01:24:54,512 that Hudson could be better cared for 1746 01:24:54,595 --> 01:24:57,223 at a nearby military hospital. 1747 01:24:57,306 --> 01:25:00,184 So Rock's publicist, Dale Olson, sends a telegram 1748 01:25:00,268 --> 01:25:01,936 to Reagan's press secretary, 1749 01:25:02,019 --> 01:25:05,356 in which he explains that time is running out for Rock. 1750 01:25:05,440 --> 01:25:08,317 And Percy Hospital will not admit him 1751 01:25:08,401 --> 01:25:10,820 because Hudson isn't a French citizen. 1752 01:25:10,903 --> 01:25:14,949 Would the White House be willing to intervene? 1753 01:25:14,991 --> 01:25:17,285 Nancy Reagan declines. 1754 01:25:18,619 --> 01:25:21,247 You know, I think that non-responsiveness 1755 01:25:21,289 --> 01:25:23,583 to the personal plea from the publicist 1756 01:25:23,624 --> 01:25:27,128 encapsulates the entire Reagan administration's 1757 01:25:27,170 --> 01:25:29,839 non-responsiveness to the epidemic. 1758 01:25:29,922 --> 01:25:34,969 Man: His hands will be stained forever with innocent blood. 1759 01:25:36,929 --> 01:25:38,056 (breaks glass) 1760 01:25:38,139 --> 01:25:39,682 (Reporter speaking) 1761 01:25:39,766 --> 01:25:42,143 Nothing. He looks wonderful, I must say. 1762 01:25:42,226 --> 01:25:43,936 -Reporter: Did he talk to you? -Yes, he did. 1763 01:25:43,978 --> 01:25:46,564 -Reporter: What did he say? -He said, "How are you?" 1764 01:25:46,647 --> 01:25:48,816 I said, "I'm fine." (laughs) 1765 01:25:49,358 --> 01:25:53,071 Voiceover as Nader: Thursday, July 25th, 1985. 1766 01:25:53,154 --> 01:25:55,823 Big day in Paris, France. 1767 01:25:55,865 --> 01:25:59,660 The orchestrated ruination of Rock Hudson's life. 1768 01:25:59,702 --> 01:26:01,996 (somber music) 1769 01:26:02,080 --> 01:26:03,915 Yanou Collart: I was sent to his room 1770 01:26:03,998 --> 01:26:06,250 to read the statement and have his approval. 1771 01:26:06,334 --> 01:26:10,171 And that's one of the weirdest things I did in my life, 1772 01:26:10,213 --> 01:26:14,050 because I know that if Rock would've been strong enough 1773 01:26:14,133 --> 01:26:17,929 to decide not to tell the world that he had AIDS, he would do it. 1774 01:26:18,638 --> 01:26:24,018 He looked at my eyes and, uh, he say, 1775 01:26:24,060 --> 01:26:25,686 "That's what they want, Yanou. 1776 01:26:25,728 --> 01:26:28,523 Go and give that to the dogs." 1777 01:26:28,564 --> 01:26:32,527 Mr. Rock Hudson has Acquired 1778 01:26:32,610 --> 01:26:35,071 Immunodeficiency Syndrome... 1779 01:26:35,154 --> 01:26:36,364 (camera shutters clicking) 1780 01:26:36,447 --> 01:26:38,699 ...which was diagnosed 1781 01:26:38,783 --> 01:26:40,827 over a year ago 1782 01:26:40,868 --> 01:26:42,495 in the United States. 1783 01:26:42,578 --> 01:26:45,373 Voiceover as Nader: Mark watched and listened from a lounge 1784 01:26:45,456 --> 01:26:48,543 and sobbed all the way through Yanou's statement. 1785 01:26:48,584 --> 01:26:52,171 When it was over, he went up and told Rock. 1786 01:26:52,255 --> 01:26:56,050 Rock said, "God, what a way to end a life." 1787 01:26:56,801 --> 01:26:59,137 Hudson: Is this what you call news? 1788 01:26:59,220 --> 01:27:01,222 You know what I call it? 1789 01:27:01,264 --> 01:27:03,433 I call it the dead facts. 1790 01:27:03,516 --> 01:27:05,309 The dead facts strung together 1791 01:27:05,393 --> 01:27:07,812 by a deaf-dumb-blind editor! 1792 01:27:07,895 --> 01:27:09,564 Reporter 1: After three days of confusion 1793 01:27:09,647 --> 01:27:11,524 at the American Hospital in Paris, 1794 01:27:11,566 --> 01:27:14,068 a spokesperson for Rock Hudson... 1795 01:27:14,110 --> 01:27:15,778 ...American actor Rock Hudson... 1796 01:27:15,862 --> 01:27:18,364 Reporter 2: ...American Hospital in Paris, France, 1797 01:27:18,406 --> 01:27:20,700 for treatment of an inoperable liver cancer... 1798 01:27:20,742 --> 01:27:24,412 I've got the story. I've got it in my aching heart, 1799 01:27:24,454 --> 01:27:26,414 and you want to know how I got it? 1800 01:27:26,456 --> 01:27:29,792 By crawling through dirt and filth 1801 01:27:29,876 --> 01:27:31,586 and muck and smut. 1802 01:27:31,627 --> 01:27:33,254 By finding truth and beauty 1803 01:27:33,337 --> 01:27:35,173 where you'd never expect to find it. 1804 01:27:35,256 --> 01:27:36,799 Another case of AIDS has been confirmed, 1805 01:27:36,883 --> 01:27:39,218 affecting the most well-known victim yet. 1806 01:27:39,260 --> 01:27:41,387 He forsook all earthbound vanities, 1807 01:27:41,429 --> 01:27:44,015 home, family and love. 1808 01:27:44,098 --> 01:27:45,266 Why? 1809 01:27:45,349 --> 01:27:47,435 Because deep down he knew 1810 01:27:47,518 --> 01:27:49,437 that a man without blood in his veins 1811 01:27:49,479 --> 01:27:52,523 has got to fall down sooner or later. 1812 01:27:52,607 --> 01:27:54,567 Actor Rock Hudson has AIDS, 1813 01:27:54,609 --> 01:27:56,778 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. 1814 01:27:57,987 --> 01:27:59,614 I feel empty. 1815 01:28:00,948 --> 01:28:02,116 Dead. 1816 01:28:02,200 --> 01:28:03,743 I just feel dirty. 1817 01:28:03,785 --> 01:28:04,952 I feel unclean. 1818 01:28:06,204 --> 01:28:08,748 Filthy business we're in. 1819 01:28:11,084 --> 01:28:13,086 Time will wash it clean. 1820 01:28:13,669 --> 01:28:16,005 Who knows how much time there is left? 1821 01:28:18,800 --> 01:28:21,761 McGillin: I do remember, uh, when I first came to New York, 1822 01:28:21,803 --> 01:28:23,971 I was walking through Greenwich Village 1823 01:28:24,055 --> 01:28:27,433 and I passed a newsstand and the headline said, 1824 01:28:27,475 --> 01:28:29,435 "Rock Hudson has AIDS." 1825 01:28:29,477 --> 01:28:33,356 And it... I absolutely, I stopped breathing. 1826 01:28:33,439 --> 01:28:36,401 I will never, ever, ever forget that moment 1827 01:28:36,484 --> 01:28:39,862 of just, this can't be. 1828 01:28:39,946 --> 01:28:43,533 It was everything kind of wrapped up in one. 1829 01:28:43,616 --> 01:28:46,160 It was Hollywood and the closet 1830 01:28:46,244 --> 01:28:48,329 and the fact that Rock 1831 01:28:48,413 --> 01:28:50,331 had lived his life not able 1832 01:28:50,373 --> 01:28:52,417 to express who he was. 1833 01:28:52,500 --> 01:28:53,835 And it had come to that. 1834 01:28:53,918 --> 01:28:56,295 It scared the shit out of me. 1835 01:28:56,337 --> 01:28:58,798 It made me terrified 1836 01:28:58,840 --> 01:29:02,969 of contemplating being out in the gay world, 1837 01:29:03,010 --> 01:29:09,767 and, um, that, I think, delayed my coming out. 1838 01:29:09,851 --> 01:29:11,894 Announcer: What's the shocking reason 1839 01:29:11,978 --> 01:29:13,855 Rock Hudson hid his tragic illness? 1840 01:29:13,896 --> 01:29:16,357 Why has the news terrified his "Dynasty" costars? 1841 01:29:16,441 --> 01:29:18,735 -Inquiring minds want to know. -I want to know. 1842 01:29:20,153 --> 01:29:23,489 Evans: There were, to my shock, 1843 01:29:23,531 --> 01:29:25,366 people on the set 1844 01:29:25,408 --> 01:29:28,536 who wouldn't come into the makeup room when I was there. 1845 01:29:28,619 --> 01:29:29,996 There were people 1846 01:29:30,037 --> 01:29:31,539 who wouldn't work with me, 1847 01:29:31,622 --> 01:29:33,416 and so they had to change scenes 1848 01:29:33,499 --> 01:29:36,169 because I might have AIDS. 1849 01:29:37,211 --> 01:29:39,797 I had personal friends 1850 01:29:39,881 --> 01:29:42,300 who wouldn't come over to dinner. 1851 01:29:42,383 --> 01:29:44,469 I mean, people went into fear. 1852 01:29:44,552 --> 01:29:46,637 Tremendous fear. 1853 01:29:46,721 --> 01:29:48,723 I was never afraid I would have AIDS, 1854 01:29:48,765 --> 01:29:52,060 no matter what they printed, what science they told me. 1855 01:29:52,101 --> 01:29:55,229 I thought, "Where's your humanity or where's your compassion? 1856 01:29:55,313 --> 01:29:58,232 You know, what's wrong with this world right now?" 1857 01:29:58,316 --> 01:30:00,151 (frightful fanfare) 1858 01:30:00,234 --> 01:30:01,694 (masked figure laughing) 1859 01:30:01,736 --> 01:30:04,822 (crowd laughing, blowing horns) 1860 01:30:09,869 --> 01:30:12,205 Collart: The moment it was announced 1861 01:30:12,246 --> 01:30:13,956 that Rock had AIDS, 1862 01:30:14,040 --> 01:30:17,293 the hospital had only one concern: 1863 01:30:17,377 --> 01:30:19,754 get him out of the hospital. 1864 01:30:19,837 --> 01:30:23,174 They didn't want to have any connection, the hospital, with AIDS. 1865 01:30:23,257 --> 01:30:24,884 It was terrible, you know. 1866 01:30:24,926 --> 01:30:28,763 The only concern was, "He must go out of here." 1867 01:30:29,430 --> 01:30:32,350 And I start to call the airline 1868 01:30:32,433 --> 01:30:34,268 to book to fly back to LA. 1869 01:30:34,352 --> 01:30:38,022 And as soon I was giving the name of the traveler, 1870 01:30:38,106 --> 01:30:42,026 the answer was, "We don't take AIDS people on board." 1871 01:30:42,110 --> 01:30:46,197 And that's why I had to rent a plane, 1872 01:30:46,280 --> 01:30:50,493 a 747, for $250,000. 1873 01:30:50,576 --> 01:30:55,706 It was his money, and it was the only way to bring him back home. 1874 01:30:57,458 --> 01:31:02,004 I was made so aware of the silence, 1875 01:31:02,088 --> 01:31:05,925 this huge, loud silence regarding AIDS, 1876 01:31:05,967 --> 01:31:07,760 how no one wanted to talk about it, 1877 01:31:07,802 --> 01:31:10,054 no one wanted to become involved. 1878 01:31:10,138 --> 01:31:14,225 Uh, certainly no one wanted to give money or support. 1879 01:31:14,308 --> 01:31:20,189 And it so angered me that I finally thought to myself, 1880 01:31:20,273 --> 01:31:23,276 "Bitch, do something yourself." 1881 01:31:24,193 --> 01:31:28,406 Bill Misenhimer: I started work with Elizabeth in June of 1985 1882 01:31:28,489 --> 01:31:30,533 for the Commitment to Life event. 1883 01:31:30,616 --> 01:31:32,827 When Rock Hudson announced his illness, 1884 01:31:32,869 --> 01:31:35,079 the demand for tickets 1885 01:31:35,163 --> 01:31:36,372 skyrocketed. 1886 01:31:36,456 --> 01:31:37,707 He made 1887 01:31:37,790 --> 01:31:40,668 an incredible difference 1888 01:31:40,710 --> 01:31:42,253 in our ability to raise money. 1889 01:31:42,336 --> 01:31:44,172 Reporter: Once his condition became public, 1890 01:31:44,255 --> 01:31:46,841 the Hollywood community rallied around one of their own 1891 01:31:46,883 --> 01:31:49,177 and they turned out for a benefit to raise money 1892 01:31:49,218 --> 01:31:50,511 with which to combat AIDS. 1893 01:31:50,595 --> 01:31:52,430 A personal message from Hudson was read 1894 01:31:52,513 --> 01:31:53,848 by actor Burt Lancaster. 1895 01:31:53,890 --> 01:31:57,018 "I'm not happy that I have AIDS, 1896 01:31:57,060 --> 01:31:59,187 "but if that is helping others, 1897 01:31:59,228 --> 01:32:01,939 "I can at least know that my own misfortune 1898 01:32:02,023 --> 01:32:04,692 has had some positive worth." 1899 01:32:05,193 --> 01:32:07,862 Reporter: Just last week, Hudson himself contributed 1900 01:32:07,904 --> 01:32:10,198 $250,000 of his own money 1901 01:32:10,239 --> 01:32:12,283 to start a new foundation for AIDS research. 1902 01:32:12,366 --> 01:32:15,703 Misenhimer: It's tragic when anybody gets sick, 1903 01:32:15,745 --> 01:32:17,705 but his announcement was 1904 01:32:17,747 --> 01:32:19,999 the most profound thing 1905 01:32:20,041 --> 01:32:22,543 that had happened at that point. 1906 01:32:22,627 --> 01:32:25,296 He put a face to it. 1907 01:32:25,338 --> 01:32:27,673 He made a lot of people realize 1908 01:32:27,715 --> 01:32:29,926 that anybody could get this. 1909 01:32:30,009 --> 01:32:32,387 It helped destigmatize a disease. 1910 01:32:32,470 --> 01:32:33,888 It's hard to say 1911 01:32:33,930 --> 01:32:37,642 that he saved anyone because no one was saved. 1912 01:32:37,725 --> 01:32:39,894 Everybody died. 1913 01:32:39,936 --> 01:32:42,688 I'll tell you one thing Rock Hudson's announcement did do, 1914 01:32:42,730 --> 01:32:44,482 it gave people hope. 1915 01:32:44,565 --> 01:32:47,402 Because they were hopeless. 1916 01:32:47,443 --> 01:32:51,697 (peaceful flute music) 1917 01:32:53,574 --> 01:32:55,827 Garlington: He got the diagnosis. 1918 01:32:55,910 --> 01:32:58,246 I was totally shocked. 1919 01:32:58,329 --> 01:33:01,624 Famous people don't get sick, 1920 01:33:01,707 --> 01:33:06,921 uh, in my world of fantasy. 1921 01:33:07,004 --> 01:33:09,841 ♪♪ 1922 01:33:09,924 --> 01:33:11,843 I called up there and said, 1923 01:33:11,926 --> 01:33:15,722 "I want to come see Rock before he passes." 1924 01:33:15,763 --> 01:33:18,766 And I was told, uh, 1925 01:33:18,808 --> 01:33:23,730 "Rock is not capable of knowing who you are 1926 01:33:23,771 --> 01:33:27,275 "and you are better remembering him 1927 01:33:27,316 --> 01:33:29,277 in a better time." 1928 01:33:30,445 --> 01:33:32,947 And in a sense, that was true. 1929 01:33:34,866 --> 01:33:38,828 (contemplative music continues) 1930 01:33:42,790 --> 01:33:47,336 So I did not go see him, uh... 1931 01:33:47,420 --> 01:33:50,089 And I wish I had. 1932 01:33:50,131 --> 01:33:53,468 I feel very guilty for not going up 1933 01:33:53,551 --> 01:33:57,263 and holding his hand one last time. 1934 01:34:02,810 --> 01:34:05,271 What is it you think we saw, Captain? 1935 01:34:05,313 --> 01:34:10,401 The face of the devil? A lost soul? The sinner? 1936 01:34:10,485 --> 01:34:12,278 That's the word, isn't it? 1937 01:34:12,320 --> 01:34:13,654 No, I didn't mean that. 1938 01:34:13,696 --> 01:34:14,947 Why not? 1939 01:34:14,989 --> 01:34:17,033 Let's call a sinner a sinner. 1940 01:34:17,116 --> 01:34:19,494 We're all sinners, aren't we, Captain? 1941 01:34:19,577 --> 01:34:22,246 Sinner or saint, isn't that the choice? 1942 01:34:24,749 --> 01:34:26,876 Reporter: AIDS is primarily a disease 1943 01:34:26,959 --> 01:34:28,461 associated with homosexuals. 1944 01:34:28,503 --> 01:34:29,796 Talk of Hudson's lifestyle 1945 01:34:29,837 --> 01:34:31,172 has surfaced. 1946 01:34:31,214 --> 01:34:33,007 Hollywood columnist Rona Barrett. 1947 01:34:33,049 --> 01:34:34,926 At no time did Rock Hudson 1948 01:34:35,009 --> 01:34:38,888 ever flaunt his alleged homosexuality. 1949 01:34:39,722 --> 01:34:41,766 ♪♪ 1950 01:34:41,849 --> 01:34:43,309 Maupin: Rock was going 1951 01:34:43,351 --> 01:34:44,811 to die of AIDS, and then 1952 01:34:44,852 --> 01:34:46,521 the story would be told, 1953 01:34:46,562 --> 01:34:47,855 and I didn't want it 1954 01:34:47,897 --> 01:34:50,691 to be told in the way that the... 1955 01:34:50,775 --> 01:34:53,528 the people in Hollywood wanted it told. 1956 01:34:54,028 --> 01:34:56,531 So they think I'm a traitor. 1957 01:34:56,614 --> 01:34:58,950 I told you I'd be better off dead. 1958 01:34:59,033 --> 01:35:02,620 No man is better off dead, my friend. 1959 01:35:02,703 --> 01:35:05,498 Maupin: They needed someone to say that he was gay. 1960 01:35:05,540 --> 01:35:07,750 Nobody would say he was gay, 1961 01:35:07,834 --> 01:35:09,168 which was interpreted 1962 01:35:09,210 --> 01:35:11,087 at the time, amongst gay men, 1963 01:35:11,170 --> 01:35:12,964 as a sign of loyalty to someone. 1964 01:35:13,047 --> 01:35:14,799 But it wasn't for me. 1965 01:35:14,841 --> 01:35:18,136 I had to make the decision at that point in my life. 1966 01:35:18,219 --> 01:35:21,514 Uh, I'm supposed to tell the truth about this. 1967 01:35:21,556 --> 01:35:24,475 So I did an interview saying, 1968 01:35:24,559 --> 01:35:25,727 "Of course, he was gay. 1969 01:35:25,768 --> 01:35:27,478 "Everybody in Hollywood knew it 1970 01:35:27,562 --> 01:35:29,647 "and it has to be said. 1971 01:35:29,731 --> 01:35:31,357 And he was a lovely guy." 1972 01:35:31,399 --> 01:35:33,651 I stressed that. 1973 01:35:33,735 --> 01:35:36,571 "And anybody who acts shocked by this 1974 01:35:36,612 --> 01:35:38,448 "should just get over themselves 1975 01:35:38,531 --> 01:35:41,325 "because many, many people have died already 1976 01:35:41,409 --> 01:35:42,744 who were lovely guys." 1977 01:35:43,411 --> 01:35:46,289 Everybody had to learn at that point in history. 1978 01:35:46,372 --> 01:35:48,791 People had to learn how to behave about this subject. 1979 01:35:48,875 --> 01:35:50,877 Like grownups, you know. 1980 01:35:52,420 --> 01:35:54,505 This lamp isn't working now. 1981 01:35:54,589 --> 01:35:56,632 It's cold and it's dark. 1982 01:35:56,716 --> 01:35:57,842 All the parts are there. 1983 01:35:57,925 --> 01:35:59,343 It's a perfect light, but... 1984 01:35:59,427 --> 01:36:00,845 It's just not turned on. 1985 01:36:00,887 --> 01:36:05,349 Right. But if I turn the switch and establish contact, 1986 01:36:05,433 --> 01:36:08,311 the bulb will draw power from the powerhouse down at the dam 1987 01:36:08,394 --> 01:36:11,355 and it'll do what it was meant to do, which is to make light. 1988 01:36:11,439 --> 01:36:14,942 All right, so you're saying that people have a sort of powerhouse too. 1989 01:36:15,026 --> 01:36:17,028 Right. And when you establish contact with that, 1990 01:36:17,111 --> 01:36:18,654 you can do what you're meant to do. 1991 01:36:18,738 --> 01:36:20,740 You can fulfill your destiny. 1992 01:36:21,616 --> 01:36:25,119 The knowledge that this man, this beautiful, handsome man 1993 01:36:25,161 --> 01:36:28,122 that everyone had loved, had AIDS, 1994 01:36:28,206 --> 01:36:29,957 changed things completely. 1995 01:36:30,041 --> 01:36:33,044 It's when I approached him about coming out, uh, 1996 01:36:33,127 --> 01:36:35,671 six or seven years earlier, 1997 01:36:35,755 --> 01:36:39,967 I said, "You'll make a difference in how people perceive gay people." 1998 01:36:41,427 --> 01:36:44,347 Well, goodbye, and thanks for everything. 1999 01:36:44,972 --> 01:36:47,767 (somber music) 2000 01:36:47,809 --> 01:36:49,644 (door closes) 2001 01:36:49,685 --> 01:36:53,689 ♪♪ 2002 01:36:53,773 --> 01:36:56,859 Robert MacNeil: Actor Rock Hudson died today at age 59 2003 01:36:56,943 --> 01:36:59,404 after a year's struggle against AIDS disease. 2004 01:36:59,487 --> 01:37:02,073 His staff said he passed away peacefully in his sleep 2005 01:37:02,156 --> 01:37:04,325 at his home in Beverly Hills. 2006 01:37:05,326 --> 01:37:06,494 So he's dead. 2007 01:37:06,536 --> 01:37:08,996 Yes, we tried everything. 2008 01:37:11,833 --> 01:37:15,128 (soft, indistinct chatter) 2009 01:37:15,169 --> 01:37:17,672 It's just a very sad day. 2010 01:37:17,755 --> 01:37:20,675 Hudson: Don't be afraid. 2011 01:37:21,300 --> 01:37:23,928 Think of life as a shadowy place, 2012 01:37:24,011 --> 01:37:27,098 crowded with people who can't see each other very well. 2013 01:37:27,181 --> 01:37:29,392 -Don't block this. Get outta here. -Hunter: Get outta here. 2014 01:37:29,475 --> 01:37:31,269 Get outta here. What kind of people are you? 2015 01:37:31,352 --> 01:37:33,271 Don't you have family that you love? 2016 01:37:33,354 --> 01:37:35,648 Would you like this to happen to them or to you? Get outta here. 2017 01:37:35,690 --> 01:37:39,026 Hudson: Think also of a door, just beyond. 2018 01:37:40,611 --> 01:37:42,405 When that door opens... 2019 01:37:43,781 --> 01:37:45,074 we pass through 2020 01:37:45,158 --> 01:37:48,244 into a wonderful brightness. 2021 01:37:49,245 --> 01:37:50,705 Reporter: When did he go, roughly? 2022 01:37:50,747 --> 01:37:51,914 Early this morning. 2023 01:37:51,998 --> 01:37:53,708 I'd say about 8:30, 9 o'clock. 2024 01:37:53,791 --> 01:37:55,877 I've gotta go. Please let me go. 2025 01:37:55,960 --> 01:37:59,047 Just a gentle step from darkness to light. 2026 01:38:00,131 --> 01:38:03,051 From darkness to light. 2027 01:38:04,677 --> 01:38:08,514 Reporter: Have you anything to say for the fans? 2028 01:38:08,556 --> 01:38:11,601 Just that he was the best friend I ever had in the world 2029 01:38:11,684 --> 01:38:14,645 and we sort of grew up in this business together. 2030 01:38:15,521 --> 01:38:16,898 He... I can't. 2031 01:38:16,939 --> 01:38:18,733 Reporter: Oh, it's very important, sir. 2032 01:38:23,404 --> 01:38:26,074 And the wind came from the wilderness... 2033 01:38:28,076 --> 01:38:33,998 and it carried me where man can never reach alone. 2034 01:38:40,713 --> 01:38:44,175 (somber violin music) 2035 01:38:46,928 --> 01:38:48,805 Jillson: We lost a lot of friends. 2036 01:38:48,888 --> 01:38:51,182 I would say 150, 2037 01:38:51,265 --> 01:38:53,101 200, um, friends. 2038 01:38:53,142 --> 01:38:55,395 It was horrifying. 2039 01:38:55,436 --> 01:38:58,147 Carberry: Oh, it was terrible. 2040 01:38:59,482 --> 01:39:03,611 All we did do is go to funerals and fundraisers. 2041 01:39:06,239 --> 01:39:08,116 Reporter: Government funding of AIDS research 2042 01:39:08,157 --> 01:39:09,867 has increased $70 million 2043 01:39:09,951 --> 01:39:12,036 in the year since Hudson's death 2044 01:39:12,078 --> 01:39:14,872 and private fundraising for all AIDS organizations 2045 01:39:14,956 --> 01:39:16,749 has tripled. 2046 01:39:19,168 --> 01:39:23,131 Kevoian: His passing was incredibly profound for me. 2047 01:39:23,172 --> 01:39:25,967 And when I got home to LA, 2048 01:39:26,008 --> 01:39:29,137 I went to the Gay Men's Health Clinic 2049 01:39:29,220 --> 01:39:32,014 and I tested positive. 2050 01:39:33,057 --> 01:39:36,602 I was alone 2051 01:39:36,644 --> 01:39:38,271 and scared 2052 01:39:38,312 --> 01:39:41,149 and didn't know how to process it, 2053 01:39:41,232 --> 01:39:46,070 in 1985 when everybody, 2054 01:39:46,154 --> 01:39:48,406 all of my peers, you know, 2055 01:39:48,489 --> 01:39:51,325 people were passing constantly, 2056 01:39:51,409 --> 01:39:57,790 and of course I felt like I was going to pass as well. 2057 01:39:57,874 --> 01:40:02,670 But I started to live my life in a way 2058 01:40:02,712 --> 01:40:06,299 that I would say... 2059 01:40:08,009 --> 01:40:11,262 live life as fully as possible. 2060 01:40:11,345 --> 01:40:14,265 And I don't know how I survived or why I've survived. 2061 01:40:14,348 --> 01:40:16,851 And I keep asking God every day, you know, 2062 01:40:16,893 --> 01:40:18,144 what do you want me to do? 2063 01:40:18,186 --> 01:40:21,981 What, what is there left for me to do before I leave? 2064 01:40:22,023 --> 01:40:25,693 And I'm waiting to find out. 2065 01:40:25,777 --> 01:40:27,612 ♪♪ 2066 01:40:27,695 --> 01:40:30,990 Interviewer: Is there anything you fear in this life at all? 2067 01:40:31,032 --> 01:40:34,160 (laughing) Or the next one, I suppose? 2068 01:40:36,245 --> 01:40:38,289 I don't think so. 2069 01:40:41,084 --> 01:40:43,169 I used to, but I don't anymore. 2070 01:40:43,211 --> 01:40:48,216 And it's a very comforting feeling to not be afraid. 2071 01:40:49,801 --> 01:40:52,345 He died the death of a hero 2072 01:40:52,387 --> 01:40:55,098 and he deserves our tears. 2073 01:40:56,057 --> 01:40:59,727 So throw the dirt gently into his grave. 2074 01:41:01,646 --> 01:41:03,314 Take off your hat, 2075 01:41:04,232 --> 01:41:05,858 bow your head... 2076 01:41:07,151 --> 01:41:10,738 and read kindly his epitaph. 2077 01:41:10,780 --> 01:41:14,575 (contemplative music) 2078 01:41:14,617 --> 01:41:18,204 Reporter 1: He was seen as the All-American boy. 2079 01:41:18,246 --> 01:41:19,914 When the All-American boy gets AIDS, 2080 01:41:19,956 --> 01:41:22,708 it's really changed a lot of people's attitudes. 2081 01:41:22,750 --> 01:41:25,837 Reporter 2: When he died, longtime friend Elizabeth Taylor prayed 2082 01:41:25,920 --> 01:41:28,214 that he had not died in vain. 2083 01:41:28,756 --> 01:41:32,301 Elizabeth Taylor: Art lives on forever. 2084 01:41:32,385 --> 01:41:36,139 Unless we find a cure for AIDS, 2085 01:41:36,222 --> 01:41:39,809 there will be no forever. 2086 01:41:39,892 --> 01:41:41,436 And we will find it. 2087 01:41:41,519 --> 01:41:44,188 We will find it together. 2088 01:41:46,107 --> 01:41:48,943 Maupin: He pretty much did change the course of history around AIDS. 2089 01:41:48,985 --> 01:41:50,695 He didn't intentionally do it, 2090 01:41:50,778 --> 01:41:55,158 but there was no other star that made that kind of impact before. 2091 01:41:55,241 --> 01:41:57,785 There hasn't been one since, really. 2092 01:41:57,827 --> 01:42:00,079 ♪♪ 2093 01:42:00,121 --> 01:42:04,667 Actress: It is beyond your power to change the face of destiny. 2094 01:42:04,751 --> 01:42:07,754 Outside this place, there's a great evil. 2095 01:42:07,795 --> 01:42:11,799 Men speak of hatred and sharpen the knives. 2096 01:42:11,883 --> 01:42:14,427 I will make you well 2097 01:42:14,469 --> 01:42:18,264 and perhaps your life will find a new sweetness. 2098 01:42:20,058 --> 01:42:24,020 Actor: You don't have to prove anything anymore. 2099 01:42:24,103 --> 01:42:28,232 You are accepted. 2100 01:42:28,316 --> 01:42:33,029 You will be in your own new dimension. 2101 01:42:33,112 --> 01:42:35,448 ♪♪ 2102 01:42:35,490 --> 01:42:39,077 Hudson: You'll have to go on asking yourself, 2103 01:42:39,160 --> 01:42:40,912 what's your dream? 2104 01:42:42,789 --> 01:42:44,916 What's your dream today? 2105 01:42:48,419 --> 01:42:50,254 There's an old saying: 2106 01:42:50,338 --> 01:42:53,466 "Nobody really dies till he's forgotten." 2107 01:43:06,771 --> 01:43:09,941 ♪ Barry McGuire playing "So Long, Stay Well" ♪ 2108 01:43:13,986 --> 01:43:18,032 ♪ Little boy, go ride the pale horse in the park ♪ 2109 01:43:18,116 --> 01:43:19,534 ♪ Count the golden butterflies ♪ 2110 01:43:19,617 --> 01:43:21,452 ♪ Stay out till dark ♪ 2111 01:43:21,536 --> 01:43:25,206 ♪ Never mind the grownups who sing their old song ♪ 2112 01:43:25,289 --> 01:43:27,041 ♪ So long ♪ 2113 01:43:27,083 --> 01:43:29,335 ♪ Stay well ♪ 2114 01:43:29,377 --> 01:43:32,380 ♪ Love was here ♪ 2115 01:43:32,422 --> 01:43:36,050 ♪ And gone ♪ 2116 01:43:36,134 --> 01:43:39,971 ♪ Little boy, you're older, keep life while you can ♪ 2117 01:43:40,054 --> 01:43:43,891 ♪ Happy days and holidays so soon escape man ♪ 2118 01:43:43,933 --> 01:43:47,395 ♪ Soon you'll be a grownup and sing your own song ♪ 2119 01:43:47,437 --> 01:43:49,355 ♪ So long ♪ 2120 01:43:49,397 --> 01:43:51,315 ♪ Stay well ♪ 2121 01:43:51,399 --> 01:43:54,861 ♪ Love was here ♪ 2122 01:43:54,902 --> 01:43:58,072 ♪ And gone ♪ 2123 01:43:58,114 --> 01:44:02,493 ♪ Some other autumn will right all the wrongs ♪ 2124 01:44:02,577 --> 01:44:05,955 ♪ So long ♪ 2125 01:44:06,038 --> 01:44:10,001 ♪ Stay well ♪ 2126 01:44:10,084 --> 01:44:13,379 ♪ Love was here ♪ 2127 01:44:13,421 --> 01:44:15,256 ♪ And gone ♪ 2128 01:44:15,339 --> 01:44:17,592 ♪♪