Very timely considering what happened to News of the World in the UK.
I read that Confidential magazine was going to blow the whilstle on Rock Hudson but was given info on a lesser known actor to print instead....the RH story was supressed.
Confidential was going to do an expose of Rock Hudson's homosexuality. His studio and agent hastily arranged a marriage to Phyllis Gates, who was the secretary of his agent. Instead, Confidential ran a story on Rory Calhoun's criminal record. Ironically, he had the same agent as Hudson and was not damaged by the smear- it contributed to his "bad boy" image.
Van Johnson too was pursued by the scandal magazines. Like Hudson, he was a married gay man. He married Evie Johnson, the wife of his best friend (Keenan Wynn) the day after her divorce became final. He remained friends with Wynn, and the suspicion is that their relationship had been sexual, although Keenan Wynn was straight. All of this was widely known in Hollywood. He was well protected by his agent and studio, so the closest Confidential came to telling the truth was when it ran a story that claimed that Van Johnson USED TO BE homosexual, but he was "cured" after a car accident.
Your quite right Kumquat66, this tight little film gives a very believable insight into the grotty world of the 'scandal' glossies the public foolishly lays out big dollars for. Mr Maltin may need to re-review this little gem of a B picture ~ for my money he got it rather wrong.
In this films case it's not important that its not a 'slick' production, the 'matter of fact' treatment helps give it more believability. It is after all based on the Confidential Magazine lawsuits. The stars all give sincere performances. For some time I foolishly overlooked this one --because of the average reviews-- but pleased to have discovered it thanks to TCM.
KR................