Rock Hudson

In this scene from Pillow Talk, Rock Hudson was chatting with Doris Day on the phone while in the tub.  She was in her own tub, and the director used a split screen to show the conversation.

 

GIF Day, Part 2 - Rock Hudson Movie Snippets

Rock Hudson was the iconic romantic male lead through most of the 1950s and early 60s.  His 

movies with Doris Day, in particular, involved frequent scenes in which he was partially 

undressed or in teasing, but not overtly sexual situations.  The second half of today's double 

feature is devoted to some of my favorite GIF files from Rock Hudson movies.

 

Tony Randall appeared in a couple of Rock Hudson's movies with Doris Day.

 

I believe I've posted a still version of this snippet from "Lover Come Back" in the past.

 

I found this very short GIF on a movie website labeled only "corcora tenor."

However skimpy the info, Rock Hudson looks great.

 

Here we see Rock and Robert Lansing in the 

steam room scene from "A Gathering of Eagles."

 

Here we have a little celebrity steam room stare-down.

 

Celebrity Day, Part 2 - Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson was a movie and TV icon for several decades, with the period 1954-1968 being his biggest run of success.  Being the first celebrity to die of AIDS put a final end to his often questioned masquerade as straight, but oh, did he ever exude masculinity.  Today I'm featuring some of his early shirtless publicity photos, both solo and with friends.  Until his final illness, Rock aged rather well, and I will feature some photos from later in his life in a future set.

The guy tinkering under the hood is Bob Preble, a not particularly successful actor who was Rock Hudson's "roommate" during his early years in Hollywood.  This is the earliest photo documentation (about 1952) of any of Rock's lovers, although he certainly had some before Bob came along.

We are fortunate that Rock Hudson's need to appear manly (and fear of being outed as gay) caused him to frequently pose shirtless, often around pools.  "It's an ill wind that blows no good."

George Nader was a fellow closeted Hollywood gay actor who was sometimes rumored to have also been one of Rock Hudson's lovers.  All of Hudson's biographers and confidantes, however, say that they were just close friends.  Nader's lover, Mark Miller, became Rock's personal secretary, 

and the couple inherited a good chunk of the superstar's estate.

I know this was a 50's western, but that scarf just doesn't fit with the beard stubble, ropes, and sultry facial expression.  There are no known nude photos of Rock Hudson, and in a way I am glad, because that fact leaves us with a bit of mystery and the image of a man who was very sexy with his pants on.