“I would never have talked about my personal life in the 1950s,” shares Tab Hunter, the octogenarian actor gracing the documentary that shares its name with his autobiographical book, and preparing to tell all. The reason for his reticence then and openness now stems from his sexuality. When Hunter came to fame as a big screen idol, beloved leading man and boy next door-type, it was a sad reality that having such details made public would have cost him his career.
So starts Tab Hunter Confidential, a film important in affording a gay performer an opportunity to unravel his experiences in finding success at the cost of honesty, and informative in conveying a first-hand account of the associated consequences of being forced to remain in the closet, but an offering that is little more than affectionate otherwise. After delving into the life and times of another cinema icon in I Am Divine, director Jeffrey Schwarz crafts a loving tribute to the man who won his breakthrough role in 1955’s Battle Cry over James Dean and Paul Newman, then delighted teenage girls and worked through a series of flops before transitioning to become a cult star in the 1980s.
For those unfamiliar with Hunter’s resume, the documentary provides an efficient, educative primer that cycles through his early days, including a brief stint as a pop star plus the usual publicity-oriented pairings with famous leading ladies, as well as the ups and downs that would follow. For those unaware of the importance of image and the control wielded by the studio system in the film industry during the period, the feature proves more illuminating on those subjects, with Hunter’s recollections — particularly regarding his growing discomfort, being driven to consider marriage as a protection mechanism, and his relationship with fellow actor Anthony Perkins — frank and thoughtful.
Indeed, as might be expected from an effort that adopts his moniker, the still charismatic Hunter is the film’s highlight. There may be little in his discussion — sometimes spoken to camera, sometimes overlaid with archival footage and photos — that hasn’t reared its head in other examinations of Hollywood at the time; however emotion swells in his retelling. That Hunter retains focus is also illustrative of Schwarz’s approach, keeping close to his personable subject and only delving into broader issues when flowing from his conversation.
Hunter’s chats are complemented by an array of others, from famous faces to film historians, imparting their insights: John Waters — who cast Hunter in 1981’s Polyester — lends his admiration, George Takei and Portia de Rossi speak about his impact and the difficulties of being out and gay in showbusiness, and Clint Eastwood even pops up to flesh out his love of horses. Here as with the assemblage of clips, Schwarz again sticks to the documentary biopic formula. Thankfully the person he’s covering and the story he’s charting stand out beyond the standard construction.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Tab Hunter Confidential
Director: Jeffrey Schwarz
USA, 2015, 90 mins
Queer Screen Film Fest 2015
queerscreen.org.au
22–27 September 2015
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