Tab Hunter Confidential

A thoroughly captivating life and career story of a multi-talented actor, equestrian, figure skater and beloved star. Tab Hunter reminisces about his early life and well documented career in this beautifully produced and directed film. Tab Hunter, Confidential feels more like a conversation with a good friend than a documentary. Clearly respected amongst his peers, numerous well-known stars share insights into their lifelong friendships forged from within the ups and downs of the film community. The film makes great use of clips, publicity stills and promotional memorabilia as a reminder of the scope of his popularity. In addition, highlighting his success as an equestrian - which continues to this day - was a great insight into Tab's life away from the screen. His clear enjoyment of working in a sport that centered on the training and handling of an animal was a window into his desire to be able to get outside of his image and career, a passion that deflected focus off of himself. An afternoon well spent with a Hollywood good guy content with his life. Wonderfully done. Don't miss it.

Documentary on closeted matinée idol Tab Hunter (born Arthur Kelm, later Arthur Gelien) is a wonderful record of the journey the actor took to Hollywood in the 1950s, through Hollywood in the '60s, and back from Hollywood in the '70s. From his teenage days being chased around his high school by smitten female students, Hunter was shy talking about himself and completely private when it came to matters of the heart...and nothing has changed! Though this project was co-produced by his partner of 30 years, Allan Glaser, Hunter is still reticent discussing his homosexuality and the relationships this produced. Fortunately, there are a bevy of acquaintances, co-stars, columnists and friends on hand to lend their insights into Hunter's career, and the well-researched movie and television clips provide amusing nostalgia. Do we get a no-holds-barred glimpse into the faded celebrity of a handsome Hollywood movie star? No, but the benign, matter-of-fact way in which Hunter recalls his life is probably more entertaining (if not emotional) than a soul-searching therapy session might be. Hunter has come to terms with himself and his past, and he's happy to trot off quietly on his horse into the sunset. His movie career has been capped nicely by both his 2006 memoir and this film: a once-famous name and face who now enjoys the finer things in life. *** from ****

Documentary about Tab Hunter narrated by him. It shows how he became a star and highlights various movies and TV shows he did. Also during the feature they cut to other actors who relate what they think of Hunter. It also deals with his being secretly gay. Hunter is quite honest about everything and laid-back with some very funny moments. It also gets into his ex boyfriends--particularly Anthony Perkins. A thoroughly fascinating documentary. There's also a book with the same title which goes a little more in depth.

Tab Hunter Confidential is based on the actor's 'tell-it-all' book. Don't expect a Hollywood version of 'Dorian Grey'; of a young drop-dead Adonis who, at 85, has lost his looks. Far from it, he may be an 'old man', but he has exercised his druthers throughout his life to let us into his closeted life.

Today, we cannot imagine the Hollywood of the Eisenhower era, when young premiers like Hunter captured the hearts of millions of young girls (and boys).

Director Jeffrey Schwarz has smartly recovered those days of the '50s through studio photographs, magazines and Hunter's films.

Hunter had piercing blue eyes that held you as though against your will; his smile, his seemingly white perfect teeth sparkled, and his bare muscled chest aroused strange feelings of pleasure that in those days, if publicly expressed, would not garner approval.

And what's more, Hunter plied his trade through hard work and an inner enthusiasm that made him a star. As his fellow actor Robert Wagner remarked he was a spark that caught fire, for his role in the film version of Leon Uris' bestseller 'Battle Cry'. In a way, his Danny Forrester commits adultery with an officer's wife, a no-no subject of those days, which to a moderate degree stepped on the Screen Code.

He was under contract to Warner Brothers, and Jack Warner used all the studio's resources to bolster his career.

Tab Hunter had talent as clips from Playhouse 90, a live television show, that proved he was a 90-day wonder, nor go against teenybopper idol type. Furthermore, he had a talent for song: his version of 'Young Love' (which Pat Boone also sang) stayed on the charts at number 1 got six weeks, knocking even Elvis off his pedestal.

He had a short-lived television, that bombed for its mindlessness.

But Hunter had a secret: he was a homosexual, when, homosexuality was, according to medical authority, a mental disease. Tightly locked in his closet, Warner Brothers publicity department did everything to project an image of him as a boy any mother would want for her daughter. Anything and everything was done to protect the studio's cash cow!

For a good idea of 'gay' Hollywood way back then, it is worthwhile to see Bill Condon's 'Gods and Monsters'.

The secret got out in the tabloids when he left his agent, and his career dried up when he bought himself out of his contract. As his career dried up, he was forced to take any role he could in very bad films. He found financial stability in equestrianism and dinner theater, but at a price on his health. The strain of doing that form of acting that rewards him handsomely but left him little time for a life was costly, and in early middle age he had a heart attack, and subsequently left the theatre.

We get a glimpse of Hunter's love life, that is, as much as he wishes to tell us; he had a good/so-so-good tumble with Anthony Perkins. And at 53, he found his long-time companion Allan Glaser, who produced 'Tab Hunter Confidential'.

Abandoned by his father, he was the good son who took care of his mother who had severe mental problems until she died well into advanced age. Brought up a Catholic, he eventually made peace with his church.

The spark of his career flamed up again when paired by John Waters with Divine in 'Polyester' and more so in 'Lust in the Dust'. But by then, Hunter sought his life in the comfort of his privacy, making rare appearances.

Lightly touched on is his champion-like ability as an ice skater, other than his affair with a star ice skater. And nary a word is spoken of the utter disaster that was in performance with Tallulah Bankhead in Tennessee Williams 'Under Milk Wood'.

Eighty-five this July, Hunter has had a full live, a lover of more than 30 years, 30 years his junior, and takes daily pleasure in caring for his horse and riding. Stiff with that stiffness old age brings, he is at peace with himself and looks back on his life with a keen eye and an blue eye on the morrow.

This is a remarkable documentary not only about the extraordinary life of a very popular teen idol but about the movie industry itself during the height of Tab Hunter's film career. Although I grew up during the 50's and 60's, I realized while I was watching this film that I wasn't very familiar with the films in which Tab Hunter appeared, but I am nevertheless very impressed by his ability to overcome many obstacles throughout his life. In the end, he succeeded at everything he pursued and lived a very productive and fulfilling life. What saddened me was the realization, once again, of how quickly life passes us by and that someone so vibrant and charismatic as Tab Hunter could be gone from the world, having recently died at the age of 86 in 2018. For me, this was the saddest aspect of this film. I was not sad for Tab as an individual because, in the end, he lived a very full and rewarding life. He never once cast himself as a victim. He just kept moving forward, whether he was on the ice, on horseback, or in front of the camera.

Raised by a single mom who had to struggle to provide for her two sons, Hunter managed to overcome many disadvantages, including a father who abused his mother and never possessed the slightest emotional attachment to his own sons. Hunter's reliance on his older brother, Walter, for guidance throughout a difficult youth was very significant, making Walter's early death in Vietnam all the more tragic.

Once the Warner Brothers studio identified Hunter as a lucrative source of revenue, it claimed him as one more item among its accumulated treasure of precious property and did all that it could to protect his private life, including his sexuality, from public scrutiny at a time when homosexuality was not only illegal but considered totally unacceptable by society in general. When he left the protective shelter of the studio, he was forced to fend for himself, even when he was sacrificed to the sharks of the tabloids so that another homosexual star, Rock Hudson, still owned and controlled by the studio, remained out of the line of fire.

Although I can't exactly call myself a fan of Tab Hunter's movies, this illustration of his life enabled me to appreciate very much Mr. Hunter as a human being. He not only succeeded in overcoming many disadvantages during his life, but he actually thrived in the face of them, thanks to his commendable, positive attitude and his deep, unshakeable faith, both which I found very inspiring.

Even before I started watching this film, I knew that any endeavor involving Eddie Muller, the "czar of noir", would be worthwhile. I may not know too much about the movies of Tab Hunter, but I watch Eddie on Turner Classic Movies all the time and very much appreciate his excellent command of the English language and, of course, his passion not only for the film noir genre but for classic films in general. I have learned much from Mr. Muller over the past few years, and this documentary stands as one more very valuable lesson among many. Thank you, Eddie!