Pretty Maids All In A Row (1971) - A GLIMPSE AT THE “ROCK” - Historical Item (Boston Press Series)
Posted by Blake on Saturday, September 1 2007 at 6:03 pm
FILE: A GLIMPSE AT THE “ROCK” (Press Article)
* SOME SPOILERS FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN’T SEEN THE FILM
Rock Hudson press article for “A GLIMPSE AT THE “ROCK” that was used in press promotion for, “Pretty Maids All In A Row.” View the press article above or after the link bump read the full text.
About This Series: (VIEW ALL)
One of the goals of this site is preserving film history one image at a time. In addition to that preserving various other forms of film history. Debuting Friday, August 31, 2007 was a historical look at the Boston leg of Rock Hudson’s publicity tour for “Pretty Maids All In A Row.” Items in this series will feature all kinds of images, letters and other extremely rare goodies. This really will be a fascinating look at both publicity for this film and press at the time of 1971. I’m extremely proud to be archiving for public viewing these rare historical film items! Several items a day will be posted for this series in the weeks ahead.
I really do hope everyone enjoys this series and I do ask to please credit my site if you mention this. In addition please do not take any of these items I will be posting and rework them to be sold on eBay.
Full Text of Press Article for Rock Hudson:
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A GLIMPSE AT THE “ROCK”
Few actors in modern film history can match Rock Hudson’s career in motion pictures. He has won the West, gunned his way through WWII, spent more time in bedrooms than Mae West, scored last-second touchdowns, brought in Oklahoma oil wells, got the girl (at least 25 different times) and never lost a battle — at least on film.
But for many years, the star has felt he was losing the most important battle of all, a chance to be a loser on the screen. Until MGM signed Rock to play a high school football idol who systematically murders students he makes love with on the side, no producer wanted to let the star who had won the title: No. 1 Male Box Office Star five times, get out of character.
Producer Gene Roddenberry, however, felt Rock should be given the chance to play a sardonic killer in PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW, and the actor agreed. Now the guy who was voted third place by the 1970 Motion Pictures Herald’s poll of the top ten money makers of the last decade, (just behind Elizabeth Taylor and Cary Grant) can indulge himself in the role of a lovable, loose-living killer.
PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW is the first American film of director Roger Vadim for a Hollywood studio, and Rock loves the picture. “It is the best thing I have done in a long time,” he grins, flashing the famous smile he used so effectively in “Giant,” (which also got him an Academy Award nomination).
In the last two years, Rock has played a happy-go-lucky pilot during WW I, a Confederate General, a hardnailed paratrooper, and now a highschool teacher who dispatches his tattle-tale students with Karate chops he learned as a Green Beret in Vietnam. “I’m happiest when I’m working,” he admits, and as a professional, he’s worked hard to master his craft.
Powerfully built, with warm brown eyes, dark hair, ruddy complexion, he has regal assurance, yet he has never totally conquered an innate shyness: “I like people, I just don’t enjoy talking about myself.” He is always polite to the press, easy-going on a set, prompt, enjoys Hollywood, loves films, admires talented performers like Olivier, Ustinov, Katharine Hepburn and John Wayne.
He is optimistic about the film industry: “Motion pictures reflect the times in which we live. Today we are in a state of change, the entire world is. The pendulum always swings from one extreme to the other in order to find its way back to the middle.” As a Community leader interested in world happenings, he has been the Christmas Seal Chairman and a winner of the King David Award.
As a person, the star is passionate, complex, has a keen mind, insatiable hunger for knowledge, reads constantly .. has a wall-to-wall record collection: “I enjoy music, always have. I especially like the Spanish composers.” He cut his first album this year, “Rock Gently,” singing Rod McKuen songs.
Rock makes infrequent television appearances, with the exception of guest shots for special friends like Carol Burnett, or Dinah shore, or Doris Day, or Jim Nabors, but he’s seldom idle, enjoys his hilltop home, big, sprawling, comfortable, filled with mementos form all parts of the world, five dogs, and paintings of vivid colors, abstracts, florals, portraits: “Whatever moves me. Not a name among them. Although, if I could, I would love to own an El Greco,” he said honestly.
His home is also a magnet for friends — small groups, buffet dinners, followed by a film in a new playroom, complete with stage and 35mm projector. He rewards his servants like his cook-housekeeper, Joy, (who has been with him for 14 year) with special considerations, and she in turn rewards the actor and his guests with her specialties, like broiled chicken in wine with fat mushrooms, gourmet chili, soul food, and a dessert, Mont Blanc, that has guests begging for the recipe (it’s crushed chestnuts, milk chocolate, whipped cream). Rock himself prefers steak tartare.
Acquaintances find him reserved and somewhat withdrawn — his friends insist: “Underneath the cool exterior there is a strength, a sensitive, creative man of great caring.”
If you really know Rock you can tell when he’s angry, a tightness around the lips, jaw juts forward, but he seldom erupts: “I walk it off — sometimes it takes a couple of miles, but I make it.” His system works since he has never had an ulcer or been to a psychiatrist. An avid sportsman, he skis, swims, rides and is a rabid football fan who roots for SC and the Rams. In clothing he dresses semi-conservatively, and likes to sleep nude in a giant-sized bed.
Hudson drove a truck when he first came to Hollywood, and always had a wish to be an actor; yet he never participated in school drama classes, or went out for amateur dramatics: “If I had gone to college, I would have studied architecture. ” He’s a wiz at Math, and had to live down his outstanding good looks to make Hollywood realize he was an actor.
Studio bosses started to notice when his sensitive performance in “Magnificent Obsession” brought in an 8 million dollar profit; Producer George Stevens chose him for the coveted lead in “Giant,” over considerable objections. “Physically he was just what I wanted for the role,” recalls Stevens, “and I sensed that he was an actor who would rise to a great challenge.” His performance won Academy recognition.
Friends, as well as public, are Rock Hudson fans: “He’s got an entire universe of people he likes and who like him,” says Doris Day, with whom he has made some of his most successful films: “Doris and I have great times together. Work is never work with Doris. It’s fun,” the star smiles.
He’s also the one who enjoys having fun, but shuns big parties. He enjoys small groups, whether at home or at a friend’s house, and like Omar Sharif, is a fine bridge player and can sit in a game the clock around. An established star, he still feels the need to take singing lessons, plays the guitar, the piano, and wields a mean hoe — his magnificent garden stretches over several acres and includes a greenhouse where he relaxes when off camera. Hudson shops personally for Christmas gifts for friends, has an annual Christmas tree trimming party with the tree, ceiling high and big enough to fill two stretch trucks, and the party goes on into Christmas morning when every one stays to open gifts. “Rock’s a warm, wonderful human being,” says Sandra Dee, a former co-star. “Of course, women adore him, not just because he’s so handsome, but because he’s so considerate.” … “He’s great fun,” reiterates Doris Day .. “he enjoys being a movie star, but always worries about security.”
“I grew up in the depression,” Rock admits, “and still carry the scars.” Born Roy Scherer, November 17 in Winnetka, Illinois, he became Roy Fitzgerald when adopted by his step-father, but in the Marines he was Wallace Fitzgerald. “Rock” was the name given him by Hollywood agent Henry Wilson, but his friends call him Roy. “You can tell how well somebody knows him,” a friend said recently, “by the name they use.”
“Rock Hudson will be around for a long time to come,” says Roger Vadim. “He has a screen power few stars ever possess. He will endure — just like a rock.”
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Image Source:
From official rare press files for the Boston publicity tour of Rock Hudson for the film “Pretty Maids All In A Row.”
Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile
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Movie Tags: People: Roger Vadim, Movies: Pretty Maids All In A Row (1971), Historical Finds: Pretty Maids All In A Row (Boston Pre, Historical Finds, People: Rock Hudson
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