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The young boy's name was Tab Hunter—a made-up name, of course, a Hollywood name—and it was his time. Stardom didn't come overnight, although it seemed that way. In fact, the fame came first, when his face adorned hundreds of magazine covers; the movies, the studio contract, the name in lights—all that came later. For Tab Hunter was a true product of Hollywood, a movie star created from a stable boy, a shy kid made even more so by the way his schoolmates—both girls and boys—reacted to his beauty, by a mother who provided for him in every way except emotionally, and by a secret that both tormented him and propelled him forward.
In Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star, Hunter speaks out for the first time about what it was like to be a movie star at the end of the big studio era, to be treated like a commodity, to be told what to do, how to behave, whom to be seen with, what to wear. He speaks also about what it was like to be gay, at first confused by his own fears and misgivings, then as an actor trapped by an image of boy-next-door innocence. And when he dared to be difficult, to complain to the studio about the string of mostly mediocre movies that were assigned to him, he learned that just like any manufactured product, he was disposable—disposable and replaceable.
Hunter's career as a bona fide movie star lasted a decade. But he persevered as an actor, working continuously at a profession he had come to love, seeking—and earning—the respect of his peers, and of the Hollywood community.
And so, Tab Hunter Confidential is at heart a story of survival—of the giddy highs of stardom, and the soul-destroying lows when phone calls begin to go unreturned; of the need to be loved, and the fear of being consumed; of the hope of an innocent boy, and the rueful summation of a man who did it all, and who lived to tell it all.
Anonymous
Posted November 3, 2005
I bought this title because I saw Tab Hunter conduct a few promo's for it and thought he sounded like an interesting guy who had lived through some very interesting times. Of course he has, and they are documented here. The writing style is very easy to read and the format is straightforward narrative in chronological fashion. Mr. Hunter sometimes leaves a clue as to how one event will impact - come back to haunt or happily surprise - him at a later time, other times he relays how a particular event affected him at the time. For a history of middle American mores at mid-century, and that relationship with movies, movies stars, and movie studios, this is a great book. The book does not read like a salacious tell all gossip. Sometimes it almost feels like Mr. Hunter is reluctant to discuss his feelings about relationships or events. This does not hurt the book at all. It seems he is not a very self-reflective sort, so he relates events and relationships with remembrances of how he felt about them at the time, with little analysis or much judgement. It all makes for a very good read about a very physical, athletic, attractive man who was manufactured into a 1950's movie star. And lived to tell about it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 1, 2013
This was a great read, couldn't put it down.
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Posted June 20, 2007
Tab Hunter Confidential is a fascinating look into the Hollywood of the 1950's and the man who helped to shape the image of that era. No one was better looking than Tab and it's interesting to read what a blessing and curse it must have been to walk in his shoes. The photos alone are worth the price of the book!!
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Posted February 28, 2007
A good personal narrative of how hard it was to be gay prior to 1969's Stonewall Riot, plus an idea of how the Hollywood 'system' operated. Lots of good name-dropping. Couldn't put it down!
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Posted January 31, 2006
If you're looking for a scandalous, 'tell-all' confessional, you're going to be disappointed. Instead, Hunter wonderfully recreates the glittering tinsel and surprising charm of 1950s Hollywood. Few actors got to work with the number of agents, directors, producers, and genuine stars (and a few 'flash-in-pans') as Hunter, and with a few deft pen-strokes, he pays tribute and gives thoughtful criticism to them all. The book is a must for anyone interested in Hollywood history and life behind the cameras that gave us 1950s fantasies in the dark. Thoroughly enjoyable from cover to cover, the book explodes some Hollywood myths and provides insightful comments and background on the making of several famous movies. And reading between the lines, you'll discover a secret about the author that his close friends always knew while the rest of us only suspected: Tab Hunter is a class act!
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Posted October 29, 2005
This book is wonderful fun. Tab Hunter's recounting of his climb to stardom in Hollywood is one of the best I've ever read, because Mr. Hunter has a talent for taking it all very lightly. I am loving this book so much that I hope he writes more books! You rule, Tab Hunter!
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Posted November 30, 2008
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Posted July 30, 2011
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Posted December 27, 2011
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Posted June 10, 2011
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Overview
The young boy's name was Tab Hunter—a made-up name, of course, a Hollywood ...