They say truth is stranger in fiction. That’s certainly true in Hollywood…and Hollywood.
The new series from Ryan Murphy envisions the Golden Age of Hollywood as it should have been: a place where competitors could become friends, where marginalized people could rule, where queer folks could come out of the closet, and where a group of sex workers could become showbiz royalty. The show borrows heavily from actual Hollywood history, as the fictional gay writer Archie (newcomer Jeremy Pope) crosses paths with real-life Hollywood closet cases Rock Hudson (Jake Picking) and his nefarious manager, Henry Wilson (Jim Parsons). As sparks fly between Rock and Archie, Henry sees red, and vows to control both men…or totally destroy them.
Related: WATCH: Fresh-faced Rock Hudson arrives in Ryan Murphy’s ‘Hollywood’
We snagged time with Pope, Picking & Parsons just ahead of the Hollywood premiere. Hollywood comes to Netflix May 1.
boufano
Mr. Reddish should do a little more research beyond watching the series before making statements like Rock Hudson wasn’t a bad actor. He was notoriously bad at the beginning of his career and once did 38 takes to get a single line with around ten words in it right. Hopefully too someone will make a film beyond the 2018 documentary about Scotty Bowers, the obvious inspiration for the Dylan McDermott character, Ernie.
The show is fun for sure with plenty to look at but as for an accurate depiction of Hollywood in the mid-late 40s, not so much.
Joshooeerr
Yes, Rock was a star, not an actor. Even in his more successful films (like those with Doris Day) he was never much more than an amiable version of himself, which may have been charming and attractive – but that’s personal charisma, more than performance. You’d never single him out as a great actor.
eeebee333
I watched the whole thing last night. I guess you could call it speculative fiction or alternate history. It was fun story to get lost in for a few hours.
Josh447
Brilliant story that could diminish current time discrimination and help people to bust through their most difficult walls. Ala superb acting and some newbies to keep an eye on. Mainly Jake Pickering David Coronswet and Jeremy Pope. I’m already into my second helping. But $25k for scaffolding the H on the on set Hollywood sign in the 40’s? Really.
Thx Ryan Murphy.
ShowMeGuy
I love when people “recreate” something the was it SHOULD HAVE BEEN. Reminds me of a SCA festival.
stanhope
Oh that ryan murphy knows how to entertain. This was a sheer joy to watch. I had to prop my eyes open as I had binge watched and it got late. I refused to sleep until I had seen it all. Sensational and if I see him on Commercial Street I will tell him so. Yes Rock loved blondes not Blacks but what’s a little artistic license?