American Gigolo (1980): Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Brian Davies, Hector Elizondo, Nina Van Pallandt, Bill Duke, Tom Stewart, K. Callan, David Cryer, Patricia Carr, Macdonald Carey, Carole Cook, Carol Bruce, William Dozer, Richard Derr, Jessica Potter, Peter Turgeon, Robert Wightman, Faye Michael Nuell, Pamela Fong, Randy Stokey, James Currie, Roma Alvarez, Dawn Adams, Bob Jardine, Nanette Tarpey, Barry Satterfield, William Valdez, John H. Lowe, Ron Cummings, Gordon W. Grant...Director Paul Schrader, Screenplay Paul Schrader.
Director Paul Schrader directed and wrote the 1980 film "American Gigolo" by now an old film, and a Richard Gere classic, in fact, the film that launched his career. This is Richard Gere early in his career, in his first "attention-getting" role, flexing his acting muscles and even boldly doing a nude scene. He portrays Julian Kaye, a charismatic, seductive Beverly Hills escort/male high-class prostitute for older women. Life's a party for him until a turning point - his affair with the wife of an esteemed Senator Charles Strutton (Brian Davies), portrayed by Lauren Hutton. The chemistry between Hutton and Gere carries this film, but it is also a number of things. Yes, Gere is always paired with a superb actress in most every film of his - Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman" for instance- but this film, released in 1980, was breaking new ground. Julian Kaye's profession is exposed to the most sordid detail and for a while it appears to be like some kind of soft core erotic film. That is until the mystery/drama unfolds. A murder. A senator's blackmail. Before long, Kaye's being framed for a murder he may or may not have committed. Everyone's inclined to believe he did not do the murder. The slow-moving mystery, happening in Los Angeles in 1980, begins to take on the feel of a film noir. With darkly somber music by Giorgio Moroder and stern-looking cinematography by John Bailey, the look of this film pays homage to thrillers of olden days but with a more modern touch and feel. Modern for 1980. It's also interesting to note that not only did this film spell good things for Gere but for its young producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who would go on to a bigger career in Hollywood in the 1990's. This film is not raved about anymore but it's very underrated. It was setting the bar high for other films. It would pave the way for similar films later in the 80's and early 90's. As far as some people are concerned, 1998's "Palmetto" is clearly influenced by this film, and some would say 1997's "L.A. Confidential". Richard Gere is doing a terrific job, breaking new ground as an actor and emerging as a new star in Hollywood. This is no date movie, despite the romantic element of the relationship between Kaye and Strutton. Rather, this is a film for adults who can enjoy a good soft core erotic thriller with crime, mood, Los Angeles setting and scandal among the upper classes. A film that may not appear realistic now (some call it clichéd and contrived) but a film that benefits from a solid script, fine acting and overall wholeness. It's never really very dirty or base (Basic Instinct has more of that kind of stuff) and in its subtle way it packs a punch. So ultimately this is a film for people with certain tastes and definitely a film for Richard Gere fans.
Director Paul Schrader directed and wrote the 1980 film "American Gigolo" by now an old film, and a Richard Gere classic, in fact, the film that launched his career. This is Richard Gere early in his career, in his first "attention-getting" role, flexing his acting muscles and even boldly doing a nude scene. He portrays Julian Kaye, a charismatic, seductive Beverly Hills escort/male high-class prostitute for older women. Life's a party for him until a turning point - his affair with the wife of an esteemed Senator Charles Strutton (Brian Davies), portrayed by Lauren Hutton. The chemistry between Hutton and Gere carries this film, but it is also a number of things. Yes, Gere is always paired with a superb actress in most every film of his - Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman" for instance- but this film, released in 1980, was breaking new ground. Julian Kaye's profession is exposed to the most sordid detail and for a while it appears to be like some kind of soft core erotic film. That is until the mystery/drama unfolds. A murder. A senator's blackmail. Before long, Kaye's being framed for a murder he may or may not have committed. Everyone's inclined to believe he did not do the murder. The slow-moving mystery, happening in Los Angeles in 1980, begins to take on the feel of a film noir. With darkly somber music by Giorgio Moroder and stern-looking cinematography by John Bailey, the look of this film pays homage to thrillers of olden days but with a more modern touch and feel. Modern for 1980. It's also interesting to note that not only did this film spell good things for Gere but for its young producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who would go on to a bigger career in Hollywood in the 1990's. This film is not raved about anymore but it's very underrated. It was setting the bar high for other films. It would pave the way for similar films later in the 80's and early 90's. As far as some people are concerned, 1998's "Palmetto" is clearly influenced by this film, and some would say 1997's "L.A. Confidential". Richard Gere is doing a terrific job, breaking new ground as an actor and emerging as a new star in Hollywood. This is no date movie, despite the romantic element of the relationship between Kaye and Strutton. Rather, this is a film for adults who can enjoy a good soft core erotic thriller with crime, mood, Los Angeles setting and scandal among the upper classes. A film that may not appear realistic now (some call it clichéd and contrived) but a film that benefits from a solid script, fine acting and overall wholeness. It's never really very dirty or base (Basic Instinct has more of that kind of stuff) and in its subtle way it packs a punch. So ultimately this is a film for people with certain tastes and definitely a film for Richard Gere fans.