Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed

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

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

For those of us who have read about Rock Hudson's life after his passing, there's really nothing new in this documentary, other than random interviews with people who knew him and who share their memories. The film also doesn't feel complete; strangely, there's the glaring omission of the lawsuit that Hudson's partner, Marc Christian, filed after his death (in fact, there's no mention of Christian at all in the documentary, possibly for legal reasons). They were partners for the six years preceding his death and Christian passed away in 2009... so the fact that the details of their relationship as well as the famous lawsuit were omitted seems particularly striking.

I also found the constant interspersing of clips from Hudson's films to become distracting after awhile. The filmmakers seemed to think it was clever to find similarities in Hudson's life with many of the scenes from his films, but after about an hour I felt the constant interruptions in the narrative with these asides eventually became so overused that it intruded on the tone of the documentary itself. This became particularly obvious at the end when the documentary details Hudson's passing. Probably 30 minutes of the film's 104 minute running time seem to be made up of clips that are used in this manner. Some of them have been edited by the filmmakers to be humorous in order to unnecessarily drive home a point.

Overall, I've been looking forward to seeing this film since I've heard about it but ultimately found it to be pretty disappointing. If you know nothing about Rock Hudson or his life, this might be interesting... but for many of us there isn't much territory that hasn't already been explored here.

We learned quite a bit about his legendary Hollywood dominance and overall story. In the end, a very sad and tragic end to a man so full of life. This is a well-told and heartbreaking story for the most part. There are so many valuable contributors interviewed throughout the documentary. It was touching to hear their experiences and see their shared personal videos and photos of aspects and points in time of Rock's life. My only complaint is that we are treated to an (over) abundance of movie clips cleverly edited to help tell his/the story via dialogue from various movies . By the last half hour or so those clips became a bit grating. The cut back and forth with this creative approach took something away from the actual story and interviews.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• at World Premiere, Tribeca Film Festival June 11.