Debbie Reynolds Archives - Big Gay Picture Show

Tab Hunter Confidential (Outfest Review)

July 19, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Tab Hunter, Debbie Reynolds, Clint Eastwood, Portia de Rossi, George Takei
Director: Jeffrey Schwarz
Running Time: 90 mins
Certificate: NR
Release Date: July 11th 2015 (Outfest)

Some younger people may have never heard of Tab Hunter, but if you say the name to any straight woman or gay man who was young in the 1950s, you can often see their eyes glaze as they remember the teen heartthrob who was the biggest dreamboat crush of an entire generation. However, while he was setting millions of teenage hearts aflutter in the likes of Damn Yankees and Battle Cry, he was also hiding the fact that he was gay (with the help of the studio system).

Hunter only officially came out when he wrote his autobiography in 2006, on which this documentary is based. The film includes extensive interviews with Hunter, who still seems somewhat reticent to talk about his sexuality – an entire lifetime of not talking publicly about that side of his life hasn’t disappeared now he’s ‘outed’ himself – but even so he does open up about his career, his relationships with the likes of Psycho star Anthony Perkins, and the studio-mandated dates he went on with a string of young starlets. [Read more…]

Behind The Candelabra (DVD)

October 14, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Michael Douglas, Rob Lowe, Scott Bakula, Debbie Reynolds, Matt Damon
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Running Time: 118 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: October 14th 2013

Hollywood studios refused to pay for Behind The Candelabra as despite the presence of Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, director Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean’s 11) and having a relatively low-budget, they thought it was too gay to become a success. They’re probably kicking themselves now as HBO stepped up to the pay for it and had a huge hit with it on US TV, while distributors in other countries took it to cinemas and saw healthy box office. [Read more…]

Behind The Candelabra (Cinema)

June 4, 2013 By Tim Isaac 1 Comment

Starring: Michael Douglas, Rob Lowe, Debbie Reynolds, Dan Aykroyd, Matt Damon
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Running Time: 118 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: June 7th 2013

Soderbergh has famously stated this will be his last film. If true that would be a real shame, as he seems to have saved his best work till last. This biopic of Liberace is one of his best films – arguably his best of all. It’s extremely funny without any nastiness, camp without being bitchy and ultimately a very touching piece about ageing, desire, friendship and companionship.

It also features career-defining performances from Douglas and Damon. Douglas is clearly having the time of his life as the outrageous entertainer – what a shame he can’t be nominated for an Oscar (as it premiered on HBO in the US, ruling it ineligible). It’s a spot-on performance of an ageing, absurd, ridiculous man, but the key is that Douglas’ Liberace takes himself completely seriously. A twinkle in Douglas’ eye would ruin it. What we have here is a master entertainer, a talented musician with a desire to be loved, and absolutely no self-awareness at all. He is vain, selfish and determined to have his desires fulfilled. [Read more…]