Editing Rock Hudson (section)

===Romantic comedy star and forming Gibraltar Productions===
[[File:Rock Hudson - Julie Andrews.JPG|thumb|Hudson and [[Julie Andrews]] in ''[[Darling Lili]]'', one of the many romantic comedies he filmed in the 1960s]]
Ross Hunter teamed Hudson with [[Doris Day]] in the romantic comedy ''[[Pillow Talk]]'' (1959), which was a massive hit. Hudson was voted the most popular star in the country for 1959 and was the second most popular for the next three years.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Hudson told the press that he wanted to co-star in ''[[Let's Make Love]]'' with [[Marilyn Monroe]] but Universal-International Pictures denied him permission; the role went to [[Yves Montand]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=January 30, 1960 |title=Daily Record from Banning, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/748772388/ |access-date=February 11, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In late 1959, Hudson formed a new [[film production company]], Gibraltar Productions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=November 12, 1959 |title=The Evening Sun from Baltimore, Maryland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/367544265/ |access-date=February 11, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Now that his contract with Universal-International Pictures was about to end, he used his company to lease his acting services to Universal-International Pictures (and others), retaining a percentage of his film's profits, and with the added freedom to pick his own roles.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=March 8, 1962 |title=Brooklyn Daily from Brooklyn, New York |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/576070397/ |access-date=February 12, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The previously formed 7 Pictures Corporation was only briefly used because its assets were co-owned by Hudson's ex-wife Phyllis Gates; after the divorce, Hudson only produced through Gibraltar Productions, but Gates sued for a share in that company, too.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=June 5, 1961 |title=Los Angeles Evening Citizen News from Hollywood, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/684258640/ |access-date=February 11, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Hudson later sold his assets of 7 Pictures Corporation to MCA, in exchange for stock in MCA/Universal-International Pictures.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=April 6, 1965 |title=The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/382083376/ |access-date=February 12, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

After ''[[The Last Sunset (film)|The Last Sunset]]'' (1961), co-starring [[Kirk Douglas]] and produced for Douglas' company [[Bryna Productions]], Hudson made two comedies: ''[[Come September]]'' (1961) with [[Gina Lollobrigida]], [[Sandra Dee]] and [[Bobby Darin]], directed by [[Robert Mulligan]]; and ''[[Lover Come Back (1961 film)|Lover Come Back]]'' (1961) with Day; both films were produced through his 7 Pictures Corporation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 18, 1960 |title=The Hastings Daily Tribune from Hastings, Nebraska |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/701138050/ |access-date=February 11, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

He made two dramas: ''[[The Spiral Road]]'' (1962), directed by Mulligan, and ''[[A Gathering of Eagles]]'' (1963), directed by [[Delbert Mann]]. Hudson was still voted the third most popular star in 1963. Hudson went back to comedy for ''[[Man's Favorite Sport?]]'' (1964), directed by [[Howard Hawks]] and co-produced through Gibraltar Productions,<ref name=":4" /> and ''[[Send Me No Flowers]]'' (1964), his third and final film with Day. Along with [[Cary Grant]], Hudson was regarded as one of the best-dressed male stars in Hollywood and received Top 10 Stars of the Year a record-setting eight times from 1957 to 1964.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}