Interesting show biz documentary about the toll taken on someone who is closeted and working in a profession that, to put it kindly, did not then and, in the case of male stars especially, still does not welcome open-ness of sexual identity. Clearly, for Tab Hunter to have "come out" in the 1950s or 60s would have been career suicide. Ironically, his choosing career over honesty involved a sort of psychological suicide or, certainly, suppression. And while I would not call Hunter's life tragic...it had a happy ending, for one thing... it was certainly far from easy or, for large swaths of it, joyous.
I am happy to report, however, that the above somber tale is told by director Jeffrey Schwarz in a blessedly non polemical, non heavy manner. At no point is Hunter's life presented as a story of victimhood. And the tones of the various talking heads, while not neglecting the homophobia and ignorance of Hollywood at the time, never veer into anger or bitterness. (Hell, Hunter even has good stuff to say about Jack Warner!) And speaking of the film's talking heads we must give kudos to the main speaker, Tab Hunter himself, whose voice and demeanor dominate the proceedings and who brings out the intelligence, humor, sadness and resilience of the documentary's subject. Indeed it is not too much to assert that, with the possible exception of "Gunman's Walk", this is Tab's greatest onscreen performance. Give it an A.
I am happy to report, however, that the above somber tale is told by director Jeffrey Schwarz in a blessedly non polemical, non heavy manner. At no point is Hunter's life presented as a story of victimhood. And the tones of the various talking heads, while not neglecting the homophobia and ignorance of Hollywood at the time, never veer into anger or bitterness. (Hell, Hunter even has good stuff to say about Jack Warner!) And speaking of the film's talking heads we must give kudos to the main speaker, Tab Hunter himself, whose voice and demeanor dominate the proceedings and who brings out the intelligence, humor, sadness and resilience of the documentary's subject. Indeed it is not too much to assert that, with the possible exception of "Gunman's Walk", this is Tab's greatest onscreen performance. Give it an A.