It's hard to criticize director Joe Forte's labor of love in wanting to honor cousin Johnny Alarimo. When this film was made Alarimo was in his 80s and by Forte's account the last man who labored on the William Wyler's version of Ben-Hur.
The great unspoken truth here is that Alarimo was gay, but Alarimo came from an era where this was the love that dared not speak its name. True to that code he remained even though we heard tantalizing bits about socializing with people like Rock Hudson and Gore Vidal.
No doubt that Forte came to honor and love Cousin Johnny in the making of this film. It also comes through he discovered a bit about himself in the process.
The great unspoken truth here is that Alarimo was gay, but Alarimo came from an era where this was the love that dared not speak its name. True to that code he remained even though we heard tantalizing bits about socializing with people like Rock Hudson and Gore Vidal.
No doubt that Forte came to honor and love Cousin Johnny in the making of this film. It also comes through he discovered a bit about himself in the process.