Ross Hunter
Ross Hunter | |
|---|---|
 Ross Hunter (1958) | |
| Born | Martin Terry Fuss May 6, 1920[note 1] Cleveland, Ohio,U.S. |
| Died | March 10, 1996(aged 75) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Film and television producer, actor |
| Years active | 1944–1979 |
| Partner | Jacques Mapes |
Ross Hunter(bornMartin Terry Fuss;May 6, 1920 – March 10, 1996) was an American film and television producer and actor. He is best known for producing light comedies such asPillow Talk(1959), and the glamorous melodramasMagnificent Obsession(1954),Imitation of Life(1959), andBack Street(1961).
Over the course of his career, Hunter produced films of various genres but found his greatest success with light-hearted comedies, musicals and melodramatic "tear jerkers" that were high on romance and glamour.
Biography
[edit]Early life
[edit]Hunter was born inCleveland, Ohio.Sources suggest various birth years for him — 1916, 1926, or even 1929, according to Hunter himself - but his Social Security record lists May 6, 1920, a date confirmed by his 1942 army enlistment record and also by the 1940 census.[note 1][3]He was ofAustrian JewishandGerman Jewishdescent.[4]He attendedGlenville High School,where he later taught English and drama; he also taught these subjects at Rawlings High School).[4]
During World War II, he worked inUnited States Army Intelligence.After his Army service, he returned to his job as a drama teacher. He eventually moved to Los Angeles after his students sent his photo toParamount Pictures.Paramount Pictures passed on signing him to a contract and he subsequently signed withColumbia Pictures.[5]It was at Columbia that a casting agent changed his name from "Martin Fuss" to "Ross Hunter".[4]
Actor
[edit]During the 1940s, Hunter acted in a number ofB-moviemusicals.[5]He was a leading man in his first movie,Louisiana Hayride(1944), starringJudy Canova.Hunter had support parts inEver Since Venus(1944) andShe's a Sweetheart(1944) and was promoted to star forA Guy, a Gal and a Pal(1945), directed byBudd Boetticher.He was reunited with Canova forHit the Hay(1945). He was the second lead in a war film,Out of the Depths(1945) and had a support role inSweetheart of Sigma Chi(1946). His career stalled in part because he was stricken with penicillin poisoning.[6]
He returned to teaching drama at the Ben Bard Dramatic School and also taughtspeech therapy.[7]Hunter missed working in films and decided to return to the business and focus onfilm production.[5]During the late 1940s, Hunter enrolled at the Motion Picture Center Studio where he was trained – for free – in film production. "I never wanted to be on the receiving end again", he said. "I wanted to be the man who handed out the jobs."[8]
Dialogue director
[edit]Hunter was dialogue director inThe Jackie Robinson Story(1950), forEagle-Lion Films.He performed similar duties onWoman on the Run(1950) at Universal withAnn Sheridanwho Hunter says promoted and mentored him. "It was my real big break", he later said.[9]
He was dialogue director onThe Sword of Monte Cristo(1951) at Fox, andWhen I Grow Up(1951) forSam Spiegelat United Artists.
Associate producer
[edit]In 1951,Universal-Internationalhired him as an associate producer for the filmFlame of Araby,starringJeff ChandlerandMaureen O'Hara.[10]During production Hunter cut $172,000 from the film's budget, which pleased Universal executives, who raised his salary.[5]
The producer wasLeonard Goldstein,who also used Hunter as an associate onSteel Town(1952), with Ann Sheridan, directed by George Sherman;The Battle at Apache Pass(1952), with Jeff Chandler, directed by Sherman;Untamed Frontier(1952), with Joseph Cotten and Shelley Winters;The Duel at Silver Creek(1952) withAudie Murphy,directed byDon Siegel;andSon of Ali Baba(1952), an "Eastern" withTony Curtis.
They also worked onTake Me to Town(1953), a Western with Sheridan andSterling Haydendirected byDouglas Sirkwho became important to Hunter's career. Sheridan's normal price was $475,000 per film but she agreed to $100,000 to work with Hunter. "It was Annie who really gave me my first break", later recalled Hunter. "She was a very great lady."[11]
Staff producer
[edit]In 1953, Universal-International hired Hunter as staff producer on the strength of his previous credits as a theatrical producer and director. Hunter's first film as sole producer wasAll I Desire(1953), a melodrama directed by Sirk starringBarbara Stanwyck.It was made for $460,000 and earned over $2 million.[8]He followed it with two Westerns,Tumbleweed(1953) with Audie Murphy, andTaza, Son of Cochise(1954) withRock Hudson,directed by Sirk.
Magnificent Obsession
[edit]The breakthrough film of Hunter's career wasthe 1954 film remakeof the 1935 filmMagnificent Obsession,starringRock HudsonandJane Wymanand directed by Sirk. It was a huge hit, making over $5 million, establishing Hudson as a star.[12]
Hunter produced a film noir with Sterling Hayden,Naked Alibi(1954); and a Western withLex Barker,The Yellow Mountain(1954). He was reunited with Hudson and Sirk on a costume swashbuckler set in Ireland,Captain Lightfoot(1955).[13]Having enjoyed success with a remake, Hunter remade another old melodrama,There's Always Tomorrow(1955), directed by Sirk with Stanwyck. He producedOne Desire(1955), a melodrama with Hudson and Anne Baxter, thenAll That Heaven Allows(1955), which reteamed Sirk, Hudson and Wyman. The latter was especially popular, making over $3 million.[14]
Hunter stepped in at the last minute to produce a "northern",The Spoilers(1955), another remake, with Jeff Chandler and Anne Baxter.[15]He didBattle Hymn(1957), a biopic with Hudson and Sirk.
Romantic comedies
[edit]Hunter's first romantic comedy as producer wasTammy and the Bachelor(1957) withDebbie Reynolds.It was very successful making $3 million.[16]Less popular were two films he did withJune Allyson,Interlude(1957), a melodrama withRossano Brazzidirected by Sirk, andMy Man Godfrey(1957) withDavid Nivendirected by Henry Koster.
This Happy Feeling(1958) was a romantic comedy with Reynolds and John Saxon written and directed byBlake Edwards.He producedThe Restless Years(1958), a teen melodrama with Saxon andSandra Dee.Dee was also inA Stranger in My Arms(1959), a melodrama from the author ofWritten on the Windwith Allyson and Jeff Chandler.
Imitation of LifeandPillow Talk
[edit]Hunter hit big in 1959 withImitation of LifeandPillow Talk.Imitation of Lifewas a remake of the1934 filmdirected by Sirk, withLana Turner,Dee and Rock Hudson look-alike John Gavin. It was the fourth-most successful film during 1959 in the US,[17]and went on to earntheatrical rentalsof $6.4 million.[18]The film was bettered in popularity by the romantic comedyPillow Talk,starringDoris Dayand Rock Hudson, which was released later in the year and went on to earn rentals of $7.6 million in the United States and Canada.[19][18]Following the back-to-back successes ofTammy,Imitation of LifeandPillow Talk,he was the most successful producer at Universal.[20]While "Ross Hunter movies" were a hit with audiences, his work was largely dismissed by critics. 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."[19]
Hunter followed these with two mystery melodramas, both written byIvan Goffand Ben Roberts:Portrait in Black(1960), starring Turner,Anthony Quinn,Dee and Saxon; andMidnight Lace(1960) starring Day, Rex Harrison and Gavin.Portraitwas one of the top 20 grossing films of the year and Universal's second highest.[21]
Hunter produced a sequel toTammy,Tammy Tell Me True(1961), with Dee replacing Reynolds in the title role, and Gavin as the male lead. Gavin starred in a remake ofBack Street(1961) withSusan Hayward,which was a box office disappointment.
Hunter produced a popular adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicalFlower Drum Song(1961).
In 1962 Hunter announced he had six films coming up:If a Man Answers,a newTammy,remakes ofDark AngelandMadam X,The Thrill of It AllandThe Chalk Garden.Plans to makeIn the Wrong RainandFanfarewere postponed.[22]
He did two romantic comedies with Dee,If a Man Answers(1962) withBobby DarinandTammy and the Doctor(1963) withPeter Fonda.[23]
Hunter produced a hugely popular comedy with Day and James Garner,The Thrill of It All(1963), directed byNorman Jewison.He then did his first ever straight drama,The Chalk Garden(1964) withDeborah KerrandHayley Mills,which was well reviewed and performed well commercially. "I'd like to make oneChalk Gardentype movie a year if I can find a good one ", Hunter said.[6]Dark Angelwound up not being made. He said around this time, "My principle is to know the audience you're aiming for – women, teenage, family audience – and aim straight at it, casting and budget accordingly." He said Goldwyn offered him the remake rights toStella Dallasbut he did not think he could do it.[24]
Seven-year contract
[edit]In November 1964 he signed a seven-year contract with Universal to make three films a year, with an overall budget of $75 million.[8][25]
He producedI'd Rather Be Rich(1964) with Dee, a remake ofIt Started with Eve(1941), andThe Art of Love(1965) with Garner, directed by Jewison.[26]
Hunter produced a remake ofMadam X(1966) with Turner. He was going to remakeDark Angelbut it was not made. "Tear jerkers are more difficult to make than any other kind of movie", he said.[8]
In 1965 it was estimated that 32 of his films had, in eleven years, grossed $150 million.[8]
Hunter did a lower budgeted comedy without stars,The Pad and How to Use It(1966), from a play byPeter Shafferbut it was little seen. He had a big hit with the musicalThoroughly Modern Millie(1967) starringJulie Andrews,Mary Tyler Mooreand Gavin.Rosie!(1968) was less successful, a comedy withRosalind Russell(playing a role intended forKatharine Hepburn) and Dee.[6]
In 1970, he had a major box office hit withAirportwhich also earned him aBest PictureAcademy Awardnomination. However, Hunter had a falling out with Universal, and left the studio after almost two decades.
Columbia
[edit]Hunter went to Columbia where he produced themusical remakeof the 1937 filmLost Horizon.The film was a box office failure and critical disaster, ultimately losing the studio $7 million.[10]It would be the last feature film Hunter produced.
He was briefly head ofBrut Productionsbut left after disagreements with the company.[27]
Television
[edit]In 1975, Hunter was hired byParamount Picturesto produce for television.[28]His first produced film for them wasThe Lives of Jenny Dolan(1975) withShirley Jones.[29][30]
In 1977, he was nominated aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Seriesfor producing Arthur Hailey'sThe Moneychangers(1976) (he shared the nomination with his long-time professional and personal partner, Jacques Mapes).
He producedA Family Upside Down(1978) withFred AstaireandHelen Hayes,andSuddenly, Love(1979) withCindy Williams.
His last project was the 1979 television movieThe Best Place to BewithDonna Reed.[31]
Death
[edit]Hunter died of cancer at the Century City Hospital in Los Angeles on March 10, 1996.[5][19][32]He was survived by his long-time partner, set designer Jaques Mapes, who was also Hunter’s production partner.[33]Mapes died on May 4, 2002, aged 88.[34]Hunter and Mapes are interred in adjacent crypts atWestwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.[3]
Filmography
[edit]Actor
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Louisiana Hayride | Gordon Pearson | |
| 1944 | Ever Since Venus | Bradley Miller | |
| 1944 | She's a Sweetheart | Paul | |
| 1945 | A Guy, a Gal and a Pal | Jimmy Jones | |
| 1944 | Hit the Hay | Ted Barton | |
| 1945 | Out of the Depths | Clayton Shepherd | |
| 1946 | The Bandit of Sherwood Forest | Robin Hood's Man | Uncredited |
| 1946 | Sweetheart of Sigma Chi | Ted Sloan | |
| 1951 | The Groom Wore Spurs | Austin Tindale | Uncredited |
| 1956 | There's Always Tomorrow | Cameo appearance | Uncredited |
Producer
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^abSources have given various birth years. His obituary by the Los Angeles Times states that his birth year was given between 1916 and 1926,[1]and, if he was born on May 6, then his New York Times obituary gives a birth year of 1920.[2]The confusion is cleared up by the Social Security file for Martin Terry Fuss, which states that he was born on May 6, 1920. Seehttps://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K3W-SXWR.
References
[edit]- ^"Ross Hunter, Prolific Movie Producer, Dies".The Los Angeles Times.March 11, 1996.RetrievedApril 12,2021.
His age was variously reported between 69 and 79... Film guides variously report that Martin Fuss was born between 1916 and 1926 in Cleveland, Ohio.
- ^"Ross Hunter, Film Producer, Is Dead at 75".The New York Times.March 12, 1996.RetrievedApril 12,2021.
- ^abStaggs, Sam (2010).Born to Be Hurt: The Untold Story of Imitation of Life.St. Martin's Press. p. 230.ISBN978-0-312-37336-8.
In 1984, when Ross did an oral history with Ronald Davis, of Southern Methodist University, he attached this addendum to the legal agreements page, written in his own hand: 'I'd like to set the record straight as to birth date – which is all over the place in 20 different versions. Born in Cleveland, Ohio-on May 6, 1929. Real name is Martin Terry Fuss.' And yet, on his crypt in Westwood Memorial Park, the dates are 1920–1996.
- ^abcShow: The Magazine of the Arts.Vol. 2. MOTA Company. 1962. p. 63.
- ^abcdeMorrison, Patt; Goldman, Abigail (March 11, 1996)."Ross Hunter, Prolific Movie Producer, Dies".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedDecember 5,2014.
- ^abcClifford, Terry (July 4, 1965). "Chicago Visitor: Producer Plugs Films That Entertain".Chicago Tribune.p. d10.
- ^Current Biography Yearbook.Vol. 28. H. W. Wilson Co. 1968. p. 192.
- ^abcdeScheuer, Philip K. (April 18, 1965). "Tear-jerker Famine; It's a Crying Shame".Los Angeles Times.p. M3.
- ^Haber, Joyce (March 11, 1973). "Dream Maker for a Dream-Loving Audience".Los Angeles Times.p. 11.
- ^abDick, Bernard F. (1997).City of Dreams: The Making and Remaking of Universal Pictures.University Press of Kentucky. p. 154.ISBN0-813-17004-4.
- ^Norma Lee Browning (April 28, 1968). "Three Cheers For Ross Hunter".Chicago Tribune.
- ^"All Time Domestic Champs",Variety,6 January 1960 p 34
- ^'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1955',Variety Weekly,January 25, 1956.
- ^'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1956',Variety Weekly,January 2, 1957
- ^THOMAS M. PRYOR (January 6, 1955). "KIRK DOUGLAS SET TO ACTIVATE UNIT: Actor's Bryna Productions Will Make Six Films Under United Artists Contract".New York Times.p. 23.
- ^"Top Grosses of 1957".Variety.January 8, 1958. p. 30.
- ^"1959: Probable Domestic Take".Variety.January 6, 1960. p. 34.
- ^abCohn, Lawrence (October 15, 1990). "All-Time Film Rental Champs".Variety.pp. M140–M196.
- ^abcGussow, Mel (March 12, 1996)."Ross Hunter, Film Producer, Is Dead at 75".nytimes.RetrievedDecember 5,2014.
- ^"Universal Sequels Into New 'Talk,' 'Imitation'; 'Flower Drum' Also Set".Variety.July 6, 1960. p. 3.RetrievedFebruary 6,2021– viaArchive.org.
- ^"Rental Potentials of 1960".Variety.January 4, 1961. p. 47.RetrievedJanuary 2,2021– viaArchive.org.
- ^HOWARD THOMPSON (May 16, 1962). "FILMMAKER TALKS ABOUT 5 PROJECTS: Hunter, Here in Visit, Tells of MacDonald-Eddy Plan 'Tammy Takes Over' Is Next Joanne Woodward to Star British Film Opens Today 7 Vie for Golden Laurel Albert Lamorisse Visits".New York Times.p. 33.
- ^Hopper, Hedda (June 26, 1962). "Looking at Hollywood: Ross Hunter Gives New Actors Chance".Chicago Daily Tribune.p. a1.
- ^ARKADIN. "Film Clips".Sight and Sound.Vol. 32, no. 3 (Summer 1963). London. p. 140.
- ^PETER BART Special to The (November 10, 1964). "STUDIO GIVES FETE FOR ROSS HUNTER: Party Heralds Universal's 7-Year Pact With Producer".New York Times.p. 56.
- ^"Ross Hunter;Obituary".The Times.March 18, 1996. p. 1.
- ^Norma Lee Browning (April 24, 1974). "Ross Hunter gets a brutal shakeup".Chicago Tribune.p. b12.
- ^David Shipman (March 13, 1996)."Obituary: Ross Hunter".The Independent.
- ^Kilday, Gregg (April 14, 1975). "REAL FLOWERS': Pouring On the Glamor".Los Angeles Times.p. f19.
- ^Arthur Unger (October 23, 1975). "The 'Ross Hunter touch'".The Christian Science Monitor.p. 19.
- ^Smith, Cecil (December 4, 1978). "Donna Reed: Back Where She Wants to Be".Los Angeles Times.p. f1.
- ^Oliver, Myrna (May 10, 2002)."Jacques Mapes, 88; Art Director Became Producer".LA Times.RetrievedDecember 5,2014.
- ^Hofler, Robert (October 11, 2004)."Secrets and bios".The Advocate(948). Here Publishing: 76.ISSN0001-8996.
- ^"Jacques Mapes -- Film Art Director and Producer, 88".The New York Times.Associated Press. May 14, 2002.
External links
[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
- 1996 deaths
- 20th-century American educators
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- 20th-century American male actors
- American male film actors
- American people of Austrian-Jewish descent
- American people of German-Jewish descent
- Television producers from Ohio
- Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
- Deaths from cancer in California
- Film producers from Ohio
- American gay actors
- Glenville High School alumni
- Jewish American male actors
- Jewish American military personnel
- Jewish film people
- LGBTQ film producers
- LGBTQ people from Ohio
- Male actors from Cleveland
- Schoolteachers from Ohio
- United States Army officers
- United States Army personnel of World War II
- LGBTQ television producers