Ross Hunter

{{Short description|American actor (1920–1996)}} {{for-multi|the English cricketer|Ross Hunter (cricketer)|the American politician|Ross Hunter (politician)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}} {{Infobox person | name = Ross Hunter | image = File:Film producer Ross Hunter, 1958 (crop).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Ross Hunter (1958) | birth_name = Martin Terry Fuss | birth_date = {{birth date|1920|05|06|mf=yes}}{{refn|name=birthyear|group=note|Sources have given various birth years. His obituary by the Los Angeles Times states that his birth year was given between 1916 and 1926,<ref>{{cite news|title=Ross Hunter, Prolific Movie Producer, Dies|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-11-mn-45739-story.html|quote=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.|date=March 11, 1996|access-date=April 12, 2021|work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> and, if he was born on May 6, then his New York Times obituary gives a birth year of 1920.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ross Hunter, Film Producer, Is Dead at 75|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/12/movies/ross-hunter-film-producer-is-dead-at-75.html|date=March 12, 1996|access-date=April 12, 2021|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The confusion is cleared up by the Social Security file for Martin Terry Fuss, which states that he was born on May 6, 1920. See https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K3W-SXWR.}} | birth_place = [[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1996|03|10|1920|05|06|mf=yes}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | resting_place = [[Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery]] | alma_mater = | occupation = Film and television producer, actor | years_active = 1944–1979 | partner = Jacques Mapes }}

'''Ross Hunter''' (born '''Martin 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 as ''[[Pillow Talk (film)|Pillow Talk]]'' (1959), and the glamorous melodramas ''[[Magnificent Obsession (1954 film)|Magnificent Obsession]]'' (1954), ''[[Imitation of Life (1959 film)|Imitation of Life]]'' (1959), and ''[[Back Street (1961 film)|Back 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== ===Early life=== Hunter was born in [[Cleveland, 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. {{refn|name=birthyear|group=note}}<ref name="staggs">{{cite book|last=Staggs|first=Sam|title=Born to Be Hurt: The Untold Story of Imitation of Life|year=2010|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-37336-8|page=230|quote=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.}}</ref> He was of [[Austrian Jews|Austrian Jewish]] and [[German Jewish]] descent.<ref name="show">{{cite book|title=Show: The Magazine of the Arts|volume=2|year=1962|publisher=MOTA Company|page=63}}</ref> He attended [[Glenville High School]], where he later taught English and drama; he also taught these subjects at Rawlings High School).<ref name="show"/>

During World War II, he worked in [[Military Intelligence Corps (United States Army)|United 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 to [[Paramount Pictures]]. Paramount Pictures passed on signing him to a contract and he subsequently signed with [[Columbia Pictures]].<ref name="morrison">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-11-mn-45739-story.html|title=Ross Hunter, Prolific Movie Producer, Dies|last1=Morrison|first1=Patt|last2=Goldman|first2=Abigail|date=March 11, 1996|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 5, 2014}}</ref> It was at Columbia that a casting agent changed his name from "Martin Fuss" to "Ross Hunter".<ref name="show"/>

===Actor=== During the 1940s, Hunter acted in a number of [[B-movie]] musicals.<ref name="morrison"/> He was a leading man in his first movie, ''[[Louisiana Hayride (film)|Louisiana Hayride]]'' (1944), starring [[Judy Canova]]. Hunter had support parts in ''[[Ever Since Venus]]'' (1944) and ''[[She's a Sweetheart]]'' (1944) and was promoted to star for ''[[A Guy, a Gal and a Pal]]'' (1945), directed by [[Budd Boetticher]]. He was reunited with Canova for ''[[Hit the Hay]]'' (1945). He was the second lead in a war film, ''[[Out of the Depths (1945 film)|Out of the Depths]]'' (1945) and had a support role in ''[[Sweetheart of Sigma Chi (film)|Sweetheart of Sigma Chi]]'' (1946). His career stalled in part because he was stricken with penicillin poisoning.<ref name="plugs">{{Cite news|title=Chicago Visitor: Producer Plugs Films That Entertain|author=Clifford, Terry|date=July 4, 1965|work=Chicago Tribune|page=d10}}</ref>

He returned to teaching drama at the Ben Bard Dramatic School and also taught [[speech therapy]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Current Biography Yearbook|volume=28|year=1968|publisher=H. W. Wilson Co.|page=192}}</ref> Hunter missed working in films and decided to return to the business and focus on [[film production]].<ref name="morrison"/> 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."<ref name="tear"/>

===Dialogue director=== Hunter was dialogue director in ''[[The Jackie Robinson Story]]'' (1950), for [[Eagle-Lion Films]]. He performed similar duties on ''[[Woman on the Run]]'' (1950) at Universal with [[Ann Sheridan]] who Hunter says promoted and mentored him. "It was my real big break", he later said.<ref name="lost">{{Cite news|title=Dream Maker for a Dream-Loving Audience|author=Haber, Joyce|date=Mar 11, 1973|work=Los Angeles Times|page=11}}</ref>

He was dialogue director on ''[[The Sword of Monte Cristo]]'' (1951) at Fox, and ''[[When I Grow Up (film)|When I Grow Up]]'' (1951) for [[Sam Spiegel]] at United Artists.

===Associate producer=== In 1951, [[Universal Pictures|Universal-International]] hired him as an associate producer for the film ''[[Flame of Araby]]'', starring [[Jeff Chandler]] and [[Maureen O'Hara]].<ref name=bernard>{{cite book|last=Dick|first=Bernard F.|title=City of Dreams: The Making and Remaking of Universal Pictures|year=1997|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=0-813-17004-4|page=154}}</ref> During production Hunter cut $172,000 from the film's budget, which pleased Universal executives, who raised his salary.<ref name="morrison"/>

The producer was [[Leonard Goldstein]], who also used Hunter as an associate on ''[[Steel Town (1952 film)|Steel 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) with [[Audie Murphy]], directed by [[Don Siegel]]; and ''[[Son of Ali Baba]]'' (1952), an "Eastern" with [[Tony Curtis]].

They also worked on ''[[Take Me to Town]]'' (1953), a Western with Sheridan and [[Sterling Hayden]] directed by [[Douglas Sirk]] who 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."<ref>{{cite news |title=Three Cheers For Ross Hunter |author=Norma Lee Browning |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=April 28, 1968}}</ref>

===Staff producer=== 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 was ''[[All I Desire]]'' (1953), a melodrama directed by Sirk starring [[Barbara Stanwyck]]. It was made for $460,000 and earned over $2 million.<ref name="tear"/> He followed it with two Westerns, ''[[Tumbleweed (film)|Tumbleweed]]'' (1953) with Audie Murphy, and ''[[Taza, Son of Cochise]]'' (1954) with [[Rock Hudson]], directed by Sirk.

====''Magnificent Obsession''==== The breakthrough film of Hunter's career was [[Magnificent Obsession (1954 film)|the 1954 film remake]] of the 1935 film ''[[Magnificent Obsession (1935 film)|Magnificent Obsession]]'', starring [[Rock Hudson]] and [[Jane Wyman]] and directed by Sirk. It was a huge hit, making over $5 million, establishing Hudson as a star.<ref>"All Time Domestic Champs", ''Variety'', 6 January 1960 p 34</ref>

Hunter produced a film noir with Sterling Hayden, ''[[Naked Alibi]]'' (1954); and a Western with [[Lex Barker]], ''[[The Yellow Mountain]]'' (1954). He was reunited with Hudson and Sirk on a costume swashbuckler set in Ireland, ''[[Captain Lightfoot]]'' (1955).<ref>'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1955', ''Variety Weekly'', January 25, 1956.</ref> Having enjoyed success with a remake, Hunter remade another old melodrama, ''[[There's Always Tomorrow (1956 film)|There's Always Tomorrow]]'' (1955), directed by Sirk with Stanwyck. He produced ''[[One Desire]]'' (1955), a melodrama with Hudson and Anne Baxter, then ''[[All That Heaven Allows]]'' (1955), which reteamed Sirk, Hudson and Wyman. The latter was especially popular, making over $3 million.<ref>'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1956', ''Variety Weekly'', January 2, 1957</ref>

Hunter stepped in at the last minute to produce a "northern", ''[[The Spoilers (1955 film)|The Spoilers]]'' (1955), another remake, with Jeff Chandler and Anne Baxter.<ref>{{Cite news|title=KIRK DOUGLAS SET TO ACTIVATE UNIT: Actor's Bryna Productions Will Make Six Films Under United Artists Contract|author=THOMAS M. PRYOR|date=Jan 6, 1955|work=New York Times|page=23}}</ref> He did ''[[Battle Hymn (film)|Battle Hymn]]'' (1957), a biopic with Hudson and Sirk.

====Romantic comedies==== Hunter's first romantic comedy as producer was ''[[Tammy and the Bachelor]]'' (1957) with [[Debbie Reynolds]]. It was very successful making $3 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Top Grosses of 1957|work=Variety|date=January 8, 1958|page=30}}</ref> Less popular were two films he did with [[June Allyson]], ''[[Interlude (1957 film)|Interlude]]'' (1957), a melodrama with [[Rossano Brazzi]] directed by Sirk, and ''[[My Man Godfrey (1957 film)|My Man Godfrey]]'' (1957) with [[David Niven]] directed by Henry Koster.

''[[This Happy Feeling]]'' (1958) was a romantic comedy with Reynolds and John Saxon written and directed by [[Blake Edwards]]. He produced ''[[The Restless Years (film)|The Restless Years]]'' (1958), a teen melodrama with Saxon and [[Sandra Dee]]. Dee was also in ''[[A Stranger in My Arms]]'' (1959), a melodrama from the author of ''[[Written on the Wind]]'' with Allyson and Jeff Chandler.

====''Imitation of Life'' and ''Pillow Talk''==== Hunter hit big in 1959 with ''[[Imitation of Life (1959 film)|Imitation of Life]]'' and ''[[Pillow Talk (film)|Pillow Talk]]''. ''Imitation of Life'' was a remake of the [[Imitation of Life (1934 film)|1934 film]] directed by Sirk, with [[Lana Turner]], Dee and Rock Hudson look-alike John Gavin. It was the fourth-most successful film during 1959 in the US,<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|title=1959: Probable Domestic Take|date=January 6, 1960|page=34}}</ref> and went on to earn [[theatrical rental]]s of $6.4 million.<ref name=AllTime>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|title=All-Time Film Rental Champs|date=October 15, 1990|pages=M140–M196|first=Lawrence|last=Cohn}}</ref> The film was bettered in popularity by the romantic comedy ''Pillow Talk'', starring [[Doris Day]] and 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.<ref name="gussow">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/12/movies/ross-hunter-film-producer-is-dead-at-75.html|title=Ross Hunter, Film Producer, Is Dead at 75|last=Gussow|first=Mel|date=March 12, 1996|publisher=nytimes|access-date=December 5, 2014}}</ref><ref name=AllTime/> Following the back-to-back successes of ''Tammy'', ''Imitation of Life'' and ''Pillow Talk'', he was the most successful producer at Universal.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|title=Universal Sequels Into New 'Talk,' 'Imitation'; 'Flower Drum' Also Set|date=July 6, 1960|page=3|url=https://archive.org/stream/variety219-1960-07#page/n2/mode/1up|access-date=February 6, 2021|via=[[Archive.org]]}}</ref> 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."<ref name="gussow"/>

Hunter followed these with two mystery melodramas, both written by [[Ivan Goff]] and Ben Roberts: ''[[Portrait in Black]]'' (1960), starring Turner, [[Anthony Quinn]], Dee and Saxon; and ''[[Midnight Lace]]'' (1960) starring Day, Rex Harrison and Gavin. ''Portrait'' was one of the top 20 grossing films of the year and Universal's second highest.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|title=Rental Potentials of 1960|date=January 4, 1961|page=47|url=https://archive.org/stream/variety221-1961-01#page/n46/mode/1up|access-date=January 2, 2021|via=[[Archive.org]]}}</ref>

Hunter produced a sequel to ''Tammy'', ''[[Tammy Tell Me True]]'' (1961), with Dee replacing Reynolds in the title role, and Gavin as the male lead. Gavin starred in a remake of ''[[Back Street (1961 film)|Back Street]]'' (1961) with [[Susan Hayward]], which was a box office disappointment.

Hunter produced a popular adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical ''[[Flower Drum Song (film)|Flower Drum Song]]'' (1961).

In 1962 Hunter announced he had six films coming up: ''If a Man Answers'', a new ''Tammy'', remakes of ''[[The Dark Angel (1935 film)|Dark Angel]]'' and ''Madam X'', ''The Thrill of It All'' and ''The Chalk Garden''. Plans to make ''In the Wrong Rain'' and ''Fanfare'' were postponed.<ref name="fonda">{{Cite news|title=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|author=HOWARD THOMPSON|date=May 16, 1962|work=New York Times|page=33}}</ref>

He did two romantic comedies with Dee, ''[[If a Man Answers]]'' (1962) with [[Bobby Darin]] and ''[[Tammy and the Doctor ]]'' (1963) with [[Peter Fonda]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Looking at Hollywood: Ross Hunter Gives New Actors Chance|author=Hopper, Hedda|date=June 26, 1962|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|page=a1}}</ref>

Hunter produced a hugely popular comedy with Day and James Garner, ''[[The Thrill of It All (film)|The Thrill of It All]]'' (1963), directed by [[Norman Jewison]]. He then did his first ever straight drama, ''[[The Chalk Garden (film)|The Chalk Garden]]'' (1964) with [[Deborah Kerr]] and [[Hayley Mills]], which was well reviewed and performed well commercially. "I'd like to make one ''Chalk Garden'' type movie a year if I can find a good one", Hunter said.<ref name="plugs"/> ''Dark Angel'' wound 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 to ''[[Stella Dallas (1937 film)|Stella Dallas]]'' but he did not think he could do it.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Film Clips|author=ARKADIN|magazine=[[Sight and Sound]]|location=London|volume=32|issue=3 (Summer 1963)|page=140}}</ref>

===Seven-year contract=== In November 1964 he signed a seven-year contract with Universal to make three films a year, with an overall budget of $75 million.<ref name="tear"/><ref>{{Cite news|title=STUDIO GIVES FETE FOR ROSS HUNTER: Party Heralds Universal's 7-Year Pact With Producer|author=PETER BART Special to The|date=Nov 10, 1964|work=New York Times|page=56}}</ref>

He produced ''[[I'd Rather Be Rich]]'' (1964) with Dee, a remake of ''[[It Started with Eve]]'' (1941), and ''[[The Art of Love (1965 film)|The Art of Love]]'' (1965) with Garner, directed by Jewison.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ross Hunter;Obituary|work=The Times |date=Mar 18, 1996|page=1}}</ref>

Hunter produced a remake of ''[[Madame X (1966 film)|Madam X]]'' (1966) with Turner. He was going to remake ''[[The Dark Angel (1935 film)|Dark Angel]]'' but it was not made. "Tear jerkers are more difficult to make than any other kind of movie", he said.<ref name="tear">{{cite news|title=Tear-jerker Famine; It's a Crying Shame|author=Scheuer, Philip K.|date=Apr 18, 1965|work=Los Angeles Times|page=M3}}</ref>

In 1965 it was estimated that 32 of his films had, in eleven years, grossed $150 million.<ref name="tear"/>

Hunter did a lower budgeted comedy without stars, ''[[The Pad and How to Use It]]'' (1966), from a play by [[Peter Shaffer]] but it was little seen. He had a big hit with the musical ''[[Thoroughly Modern Millie]]'' (1967) starring [[Julie Andrews]], [[Mary Tyler Moore]] and Gavin. ''[[Rosie!]]'' (1968) was less successful, a comedy with [[Rosalind Russell]] (playing a role intended for [[Katharine Hepburn]]) and Dee.<ref name="plugs"/>

In 1970, he had a major box office hit with ''[[Airport (1970 film)|Airport]]'' which also earned him a [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] [[Academy Award]] nomination. However, Hunter had a falling out with Universal, and left the studio after almost two decades.

===Columbia=== Hunter went to Columbia where he produced the [[Lost Horizon (1973 film)|musical remake]] of the 1937 film ''[[Lost Horizon (1937 film)|Lost Horizon]]''. The film was a box office failure and critical disaster, ultimately losing the studio $7 million.<ref name=bernard/> It would be the last feature film Hunter produced.

He was briefly head of [[Brut Productions]] but left after disagreements with the company.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ross Hunter gets a brutal shakeup|author=Norma Lee Browning|date=Apr 24, 1974|work=Chicago Tribune|page=b12}}</ref>

===Television=== In 1975, Hunter was hired by [[Paramount Pictures]] to produce for television.<ref name="Shipman">{{Cite news|author=David Shipman|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-ross-hunter-1341764.html|title=Obituary: Ross Hunter|work=The Independent|date=March 13, 1996}}</ref> His first produced film for them was ''[[The Lives of Jenny Dolan]]'' (1975) with [[Shirley Jones]].<ref>{{cite news|title=REAL FLOWERS': Pouring On the Glamor|author=Kilday, Gregg|date=Apr 14, 1975|work=Los Angeles Times|page=f19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The 'Ross Hunter touch'|author=Arthur Unger|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=Oct 23, 1975|page=19}}</ref>

In 1977, he was nominated a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series]] for producing Arthur Hailey's ''[[The Moneychangers (1976 miniseries)|The Moneychangers]]'' (1976) (he shared the nomination with his long-time professional and personal partner, Jacques Mapes).

He produced ''[[A Family Upside Down]]'' (1978) with [[Fred Astaire]] and [[Helen Hayes]], and ''[[Suddenly, Love]]'' (1979) with [[Cindy Williams]].

His last project was the 1979 television movie ''[[The Best Place to Be]]'' with [[Donna Reed]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Donna Reed: Back Where She Wants to Be|author=Smith, Cecil|date=Dec 4, 1978|work=Los Angeles Times|page=f1}}</ref>

==Death== Hunter died of cancer at the Century City Hospital in Los Angeles on March 10, 1996.<ref name="morrison"/><ref name="gussow"/><ref name=oliver>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-may-10-me-mapes10-story.html|title=Jacques Mapes, 88; Art Director Became Producer|last=Oliver|first=Myrna|date=May 10, 2002|newspaper=LA Times|access-date=December 5, 2014}}</ref> He was survived by his long-time partner, set designer Jaques Mapes, who was also Hunter's production partner.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Hofler|first=Robert|date=October 11, 2004|title=Secrets and bios|journal=The Advocate|publisher=Here Publishing|issue=948|page=76|issn=0001-8996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cWQEAAAAMBAJ&q=ross+hunter+jacques+mapes&pg=PA76}}</ref> Mapes died on May 4, 2002, aged 88.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/14/arts/jacques-mapes-film-art-director-and-producer-88.html|title=Jacques Mapes -- Film Art Director and Producer, 88|newspaper=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press|date=May 14, 2002}}</ref> Hunter and Mapes are interred in adjacent crypts at [[Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery]].<ref name="staggs"/>

==Filmography==

===Actor=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1944 | ''[[Louisiana Hayride (film)|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 (1945 film)|Out of the Depths]]'' | Clayton Shepherd | |- | 1946 | ''[[The Bandit of Sherwood Forest]]'' | Robin Hood's Man | Uncredited |- | 1946 | ''[[Sweetheart of Sigma Chi (film)|Sweetheart of Sigma Chi]]'' | Ted Sloan | |- | 1951 | ''[[The Groom Wore Spurs]]'' | Austin Tindale | Uncredited |- | 1956 | ''[[There's Always Tomorrow (1956 film)|There's Always Tomorrow]]'' | Cameo appearance | Uncredited |- |}

===Producer=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1950 | ''[[The Jackie Robinson Story]]'' | Dialogue director |- | 1950 | ''[[Woman on the Run]]'' | Dialogue director |- | 1951 | ''The Sword of Monte Cristo'' | Dialogue director |- | 1951 | ''When I Grow Up'' | Script supervisor |- | 1951 | ''[[Flame of Araby]]'' | Associate producer Alternative title: ''Flame of the Desert'' |- | 1952 | ''[[The Battle at Apache Pass]]'' | Associate producer |- | 1952 | ''[[Steel Town (1952 film)|Steel Town]]'' | Associate producer |- | 1952 | ''[[Untamed Frontier]]'' | Associate producer Uncredited |- | 1952 | ''[[The Duel at Silver Creek]]'' | Associate producer Uncredited |- | 1952 | ''[[Son of Ali Baba]]'' | Associate producer |- | 1953 | ''[[Take Me to Town]]'' | |- | 1953 | ''[[All I Desire]]'' | |- | 1953 | ''[[Tumbleweed (1953 film)|Tumbleweed]]'' | |- | 1954 | ''[[Taza, Son of Cochise]]'' | |- | 1954 | ''[[Magnificent Obsession (1954 film)|Magnificent Obsession]]'' | |- | 1954 | ''[[Naked Alibi]]'' | |- | 1954 | ''The Yellow Mountain'' | |- | 1955 | ''[[Captain Lightfoot]]'' | |- | 1955 | ''[[One Desire]]'' | |- | 1955 | ''[[All That Heaven Allows]]'' | |- | 1955 | ''[[The Spoilers (1955 film)|The Spoilers]]'' | |- | 1956 | ''[[There's Always Tomorrow (1956 film)|There's Always Tomorrow]]'' | |- | 1957 | ''[[Battle Hymn (film)|Battle Hymn]]'' | |- | 1957 | ''[[Tammy and the Bachelor]]'' | |- | 1957 | ''[[Interlude (1957 film)|Interlude]]'' | |- | 1957 | ''[[My Man Godfrey (1957 film)|My Man Godfrey]]'' | |- | 1958 | ''[[This Happy Feeling]]'' | |- | 1958 | ''[[The Restless Years (film)|The Restless Years]]'' | |- | 1959 | ''[[A Stranger in My Arms]]'' | Alternative title: ''And Ride a Tiger'' |- | 1959 | ''[[Imitation of Life (1959 film)|Imitation of Life]]'' | |- | 1959 | ''[[Pillow Talk (film)|Pillow Talk]]'' | |- | 1960 | ''[[Portrait in Black]]'' | |- | 1960 | ''[[Midnight Lace]]'' | |- | 1961 | ''[[Tammy Tell Me True]]'' | |- | 1961 | ''[[Back Street (1961 film)|Back Street]]'' | |- | 1961 | ''[[Flower Drum Song (film)|Flower Drum Song]]'' | |- | 1962 | ''[[If a Man Answers]]'' | |- | 1963 | ''[[Tammy and the Doctor]]'' | |- | 1963 | ''[[The Thrill of It All (film)|The Thrill of It All]]'' | |- | 1964 | ''[[The Chalk Garden (film)|The Chalk Garden]]'' | |- | 1964 | ''[[I'd Rather Be Rich]]'' | |- | 1965 | ''[[The Art of Love (1965 film)|The Art of Love]]'' | |- | 1966 | ''[[Madame X (1966 film)|Madame X]]'' | |- | 1966 | ''[[The Pad and How to Use It]]'' | |- | 1967 | ''[[Thoroughly Modern Millie]]'' | |- | 1967 | ''[[Rosie!]]'' | |- | 1970 | ''[[Airport (1970 film)|Airport]]'' | Nominated: [[Academy Award for Best Picture]] |- | 1973 | ''[[Lost Horizon (1973 film)|Lost Horizon]]'' | |- | 1975 | ''[[The Lives of Jenny Dolan]]'' | Television movie Executive producer |- | 1976 | ''[[The Moneychangers#On television|Arthur Hailey's the Moneychangers]]'' | Miniseries Nominated: [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series]] |- | 1976 | ''[[A Family Upside Down]]'' | Television movie |- | 1978 | ''Suddenly, Love'' | Television movie |- | 1979 | ''[[The Best Place to Be]]'' | Television movie |- |}

==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Portal|Biography}} *{{IMDb name|id=0403022|name=Ross Hunter}} * {{Find a Grave|1841}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunter, Ross}} [[Category:Year of birth uncertain]] [[Category:1996 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century American educators]] [[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]] [[Category:20th-century American male actors]] [[Category:American male film actors]] [[Category:American people of Austrian-Jewish descent]] [[Category:American people of German-Jewish descent]] [[Category:Television producers from Ohio]] [[Category:Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery]] [[Category:Deaths from cancer in California]] [[Category:Film producers from Ohio]] [[Category:American gay actors]] [[Category:Glenville High School alumni]] [[Category:Jewish American male actors]] [[Category:Jewish American military personnel]] [[Category:Jewish American film people]] [[Category:LGBTQ film producers]] [[Category:LGBTQ people from Ohio]] [[Category:Male actors from Cleveland]] [[Category:Schoolteachers from Ohio]] [[Category:United States Army officers]] [[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]] [[Category:LGBTQ television producers]] [[Category:1920 births]] [[Category:20th-century American Jews]]