HOST INTRO: This Friday, FilmOut, San Diego’s LGBT Film Festival, kicks off at The Observatory North Park with the documentary Tab Hunter Confidential. Tab Hunter was a hunky heartthrob in the 1950s, the type of star that made teenage girls swoon and that mothers would be happy to have their daughters bring home. But what his female fans didn’t know was that he was also gay. Friday at 6pm, FilmOut will host California premiere of Tab Hunter Confidential, and present the actor with a Lifetime Achievement Award. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando spoke with the actor as well as the director of the film. But first, let’s hear the montage of clips that open the film and introduce us to the man who was known as The Sigh Guy. Tab Hunter was impossibly good-looking—dreamy blue eyes, perfect blond hair, and a smile that could charm anyone. He rose to fame just as the Hollywood studio system was beginning to fade. He became a star in the 1950s mostly playing All-American, Heroic romantic types. What the documentary shows is that Hollywood may not have taken him seriously, he took his profession seriously and always strove to better himself. Jeffrey Schwarz directed the documentary Tab Hunter Confidential, based on the actor’s memoir of the same name. Schwarz was familiar with Tab Hunter because of the John Waters cult film Polyester but in researching the film he discovered films that cast the actor against type, as in “Gunman’s Walk.” But if Schwarz had to pick one film that was representative of Hunter’s career it would be one that showcased his has charm and irresistible sweetness, such as “Damn Yankees.” I spoke with Hunter by phone from his Santa Barbara home, and asked him how he felt about receiving a lifetime achievement award from an LGBT film festival. TAG: The 17th Annual FilmOut will showcase 30 films, and runs this Friday through Sunday at The Observatory North Park (Formerly The North Park Theater).
ANCHOR INTRO: FilmOut, San Diego’s LGBT Film Festival, kicks off its 17th season tonight (Friday) night at the Observatory North Park. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando previews the festival. This year FilmOut will showcase 30 shorts, features, and documentaries over three days. San Diego’s LGBT film festival kicks off tonight at 6pm with the documentary Tab Hunter Confidential, about the 50s era heartthrob. FilmOut will also bestow its Life Achievement award on the actor, who will be at the screening. On Sunday, In the Turn provides the festival with its Girls Centerpiece. The documentary looks to a transgender girl and roller derby. CLIP I am proud to introduce the Vagine Regime… The Vagine Regime is some of the most badass queer skaters around… I founded the Vagine Regime, it’s a collective of queer women and men involved in roller derby so we have a place to be queer where it’s no longer an issue. Filmout’s closing night film on Sunday is the Sundance hit I am Michael, starring James Franco and Zachary Quinto. Beth Accomando, KPBS News.
This Friday, FilmOut, San Diego’s LGBT Film Festival, kicks off at The Observatory North Park with the documentary "Tab Hunter Confidential."
Tab Hunter was a hunky heartthrob in the 1950s. In fact, he was dubbed "The Sigh Guy" for making teenage girls swoon and being the clean cut boy next door that mothers would be happy to have their daughters bring home. But what his female fans didn’t know was that he was also gay.
FilmOut will host the California premiere of "Tab Hunter Confidential" at 6 p.m. Friday where organizers will also present the actor with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Hunter will then partake in a post-screening Q&A.
Younger generations may not remember Tab Hunter, or may only know of him from his roles in John Waters' "Polyester" or "Grease 2." But Hunter was impossibly good-looking — dreamy blue eyes, perfect blonde hair and a smile that could charm anyone. He rose to fame just as the Hollywood studio system was beginning to fade. He became a star in the 1950s mostly playing All-American, heroic, and romantic types in films such as "Battle Cry," "The Sea Chase," and "Lafayette Escadrille."
But what the documentary (which was produced by Hunter's partner Allan Glaser) shows is that while Hollywood may not have taken him seriously, he took his profession seriously and always strove to better himself. Jeffrey Schwarz directed the documentary that's based on the actor’s memoir of the same name. Schwarz was familiar with Tab Hunter because of the Waters cult film "Polyester" but in researching the film he discovered films that cast the actor against type, as in “Gunman’s Walk” where Schwarz said Hunter played a psychopath and "was so good" you wonder why Hollywood didn't give him more roles like that. Hunter said that he ended up doing some of his best work on live television as in "Portrait of a Murderer" for Arthur Penn and CBS' "Playhouse 90."
But if Schwarz had to pick one film that was representative of Hunter’s career it would be one that showcased his charm and irresistible sweetness, such as “Damn Yankees.” Schwarz said that film was particularly interesting because the character that Hunter plays is a man with a secret who is forced to lead a dual life, something that Hunter himself was doing.
Hunter was interviewed by phone from his Santa Barbara home where he still gets up early every morning to visit his stables. Hunter, who will be 84 this year, said he recently stopped riding but he will never give up his horses.
The 17th Annual FilmOut will showcase 30 films, and runs Friday through Sunday at The Observatory North Park (formerly The North Park Theater). "Tab Hunter Confidential" screens with the short films, "Bendik and The Monster" and "Tom in America." There will be an after-party on opening night at Sunset Temple.
Tickets are available online here.
