Ross Hunter was a successful Hollywood producer for 20 years (1954 to 1973). His best known and more successful films were light comedies, musicals and melodramatic "tear jerkers". All with an emphasis on romance and glamour.
Hunter played an important role in shaping Rock Hudson‘s career when he cast the young actor in the 1954 remake of “Magnificent Obsession”. Over the next few years Hunter produced some of Hudson’s most successful films, including All That Heaven Allows, Battle Hymn, and their last outing Pillow Talk (1959). That romantic comedy costarred another of Hunter’s mainstay, Doris Day.
Hunter later said:
“I gave the public what they wanted: a chance to dream, to live vicariously, to see beautiful women, jewels, gorgeous clothes, melodrama."
Hunter’s life partner was Jacque Mapes. Mapes started his career in Hollywood as a set designer but eventually graduated to producing movies. Hunter and Mapes regularly co-produced movies together so it’s not unusual to find publicity photos of the two together.
The duo first met at a private Hollywood party (1940?). According to a friend, Hunter was Tyrone Power’s lover at the time and Mapes was in a relationship with Errol Flynn. But when the Hunter and Mapes first saw each other, it was love or lust at first sight. Hunter said:
“I remember, I was at the top of the stairs, and there was Jacque. Our eyes met, and we left the party, dumped our famous boyfriends, and we've been together ever since'."
My personal favorite film produced by Hunter is “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (1967) which starred Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, and Carol Channing.
Hunter’s career had a downward turn with another movie musical, “Lost Horizon” (1973). It was critical and financial flop. But Hunter continued to produce movies… but only for TV (until 1979).
Although Hunter must have been out to his closest friends and associates, I couldn’t find any reference to him publicly coming out.
In fact, Hunter clung to the Hollywood closet in regards to Rock Hudson - his long time friend of over 30 years. When a reporter asked Ross about Hudson’s death from AIDS, the producer claimed:
“I didn’t even know Rock was gay.”
Ross Hunter died of cancer with Mapes at his side in 1996.
Candid pic of Rock Hudson during a wardrobe test on set of ‘Giant’.
From the Rock Hudson Project here: https://www.facebook.com/TheRockHudsonProject/photos/a.182910078434048/3913489312042754/
Candid pic of Rock Hudson on set of 'A Farewell to Arms' in Italy, 1957.
More pics here: https://www.facebook.com/TheRockHudsonProject/photos/pcb.3765520720172948/3765516173506736
Candid pic of Rock Hudson on set of ‘A Farewell To Arms’ in Italy, 1957.
More pics here: https://www.facebook.com/TheRockHudsonProject/photos/pcb.3765520720172948/3765516140173406
Candid pic of Rock Hudson on set of 'A Farewell to Arms' in Italy, 1957.
More pics here: https://www.facebook.com/TheRockHudsonProject/photos/pcb.3765520720172948/3765515910173429
Rock Hudson with director Charles Vidor candid pic on set of 'A Farewell to Arms'.
More candid pics here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=TheRockHudsonProject&set=a.688302631228121
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