Like other tales of old Hollywood, this one is full of tantalizing nuggets ... Hudson seems fundamentally unresolved. This seeming lack of resolution—in life and onscreen—poses a problem for a biographer even as it makes him compelling on film whenever a script leaves room for any ambiguity.
... a definitive biography, one that effectively toggles between gleeful gossip-dishing (as befits Hudson’s era of film-world glitz) and a genuine affection and admiration for the man behind the screen presence ... The book gradually takes on a repetitive rhythm: the requisite plot synopsis of Hudson’s next film, followed by a pre-Tinder profile of his latest boy toy. The author’s tone is a little too chummy; more often than not, Hudson is referred to as 'Rock.' But Griffin’s biography finds its deeper meaning when his subject, long past his top-billing days and working in a supporting role on the prime-time soap opera 'Dynasty,' attends a state dinner at the White House in 1984 [and the AIDS epidemic becomes the focus].
Hudson remains an enigma throughout these pages. Griffin spends a lot of time plodding through the synopses of long-forgotten potboilers. His subject’s private life is glimpsed in fleeting long shots ... It’s typical of this he-said-she-said biography that hardly anyone — including his now-dead wife — seems able to agree on what was going on.
Hudson’s rags-to-riches story is revealed by Griffin’s comprehensive overview of Hudson’s filmography as well as his frank but objective discussion of Hudson’s complicated personal life.
Hudson’s stunning good looks and sexual magnetism made him a movie star of the greatest magnitude, but they also overshadowed his work as an actor ... in attempting to reestablish the proper balance between the story of Hudson’s work and the story of Hudson’s life, Griffin may have erred too much on the side of the work. While some parts of Hudson’s life are given careful attention (most notably, his curious marriage to Phyllis Gates), other episodes are given short shrift, and some key players are not much more than shadow figures ... At its best, All That Heaven Allows is a rich and complex story of Hollywood’s biggest star in its most golden age.
All That Heaven Allows does not hold back any punches. Those wishing to gain a greater understanding of Rock Hudson need look no further for insight regarding his tumultuous childhood, expansive career and controversial private life. Author Mark Griffin has certainly done his research, as we get an exhaustive insider’s look at the legendary actor and his journey in achieving the American Dream during the Golden Age of Hollywood ... All That Heaven Allows reveals the truth about how celebrity gossip is manipulated by publicists, making us question what we know regarding celebrities today.
... a fine new biography ... And therein lies Griffin’s dilemma: it is hard to tell a man’s story when he has gone to such great lengths to make sure his story would never be fully told ... Griffin can only speculate [on certain matters], which is fitting, in a way.
Mark Griffin’s perceptive and sympathetic biography All That Heaven Allows gives Hudson, both the movie star and the man, the kind of reassessment only time can allow ... Griffin’s interviews and correspondence with many of Hudson’s co-stars — among them Doris Day and Carol Burnett — and many of his lovers show how protective they were of their warm, loyal friend.
Thoughtful ... It’s surprising that in the three decades since Hudson’s death, there has been little written about him that could be considered comprehensive. Previous biographies came from past lovers and friends, and each seemed to have an agenda, often salacious. Griffin goes a long way toward rectifying this issue, casting a respectful light on some fresh as well as familiar details. Throughout, [Griffin] provides a balanced, multifaceted view of his subject ... An engrossing and carefully documented account of a beloved film icon’s life.
All the trappings of a Hollywood success story are present, and Griffin takes a scholarly, carefully researched look at Hudson’s early life and upbringing, his complicated rise to fame, his off-the-books relationships with men, and his death from AIDS-related complications in 1985. ... Despite a colorful cast of characters that ranges from Hollywood royalty to Newport Beach party boys, Hudson himself remains a cipher. As a result, film fans will find Griffin’s book an informative piece of scholarship, but not a particularly enjoyable story.
