Conversations With My Elders

by Boze Hadleigh

Contains interviews with six acknowledged gay cinema artists that highlight their careers and lifestyles. Interviewees include Sal Mineo, Luchino Visconti, Cecil Beaton, George Cukor, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and Rock Hudson.

Genres: Nonfiction

209 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Brock Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the people are very interesting. I would recommend if you have any interest about homosexuality and Hollywood. However, I do question some of the authors motives, temperament (he was thrown out by Barbara Stanwyck and Dame Judith Anderson for being very rude in 'Hollywood Lesbians') and even veracity at times... A good read, but buy cheap.

[Ghym · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compilation of interviews conducted by Boze Hadleigh, a well-known journalist. It was published 20 years ago. Hadleigh conducted very intimate interviews with Rock Hudson, Sal Mineo, Rainer Werner Fassbinder and others. They spoke frankly of the conflicts of being gay and working in Hollywood. It's no coincidence they had all passed on by the time this book was published. Hadleigh suggests they (or some of them) would not allow these interviews published while they were alived. Best interview is with Mineo who is very up front about who he is and how tough a game Hollywood was for him. Fassbinder is a train wreck (addicted to drugs/alcohol) but gives an interesting interview. There's something to learn from all the interviews in this book.

[Mick Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book covers boze hadleighs five interviews with different men involved in the film business,I found myself skipping through looking for more insight to their lives but found them even more closseted(No pun intended)than years ago.the author didn't get any more out of them then Russel Harty did when he interviewed rock Hudson or Dirk bogarde.in these more enlightening times the same interviews conducted today would probably read differently.

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great hot gossip in this book, and the conversations with the American stars were excellent. It’s very American of me, but I didn’t enjoy the interview with the German director mostly because I hadn’t heard of him or any of his work. Actually a fair amount of the book went over my head because I don’t know much about the movies. Probably a truly great book for someone who knows gays and movies but since I only knew gays, it was only fine.

[Hogfather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boze Hadleigh's book of interviews is an invaluable document for people interested in film history, queer history, and queer film history. His interviews cover an incredible range of historical facts while always remaining incredibly intimate. I especially found the final chapter, a candid interview with Rock Hudson, to be especially touching.

[Andrew Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interviews from the 70s and early 80s with 6 gay men in movies - actors, directors, and a designer. Gay history - some interviews go better than others - most are still reluctant to reveal what they actually think or much about their personal lives beyond innuendo.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly fascinating.

[FAHASS]

306.76 HAD