American Gigolo
| American Gigolo | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Paul Schrader |
| Produced by | Jerry Bruckheimer |
| Written by | Paul Schrader |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Giorgio Moroder |
| Cinematography | John Bailey |
| Edited by | Richard Halsey |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
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Release date
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February 8, 1980 |
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Running time
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117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $4,800,000 |
| Box office | $22,743,674 (domestic) |
American Gigolo is a 1980 American romantic crime-drama film starring Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Hector Elizondo, Nina Van Pallandt and Bill Duke, written and directed by Paul Schrader. It tells the story of Julian Kaye, a high-price male escort in Los Angeles who becomes romantically involved with a prominent politician's wife while simultaneously becoming the prime suspect in a murder case.
The film is notable for establishing Gere as a leading man, and was one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to include frontal male nudity from its main star. It is also notable for its accompanying soundtrack, composed by Giorgio Moroder and featuring the number-one hit single "Call Me" by Blondie.
Schrader considers it one of four similar films, which he calls "double bookends": Taxi Driver, bookended by Light Sleeper, and American Gigolo bookended by The Walker.
Julian Kaye (Richard Gere) is a male escort in Los Angeles whose job supports his expensive taste in cars and clothes, and his plush Westwood apartment. He is blatantly materialistic, narcissistic and superficial; however, he claims to take some pleasure in his work from being able to sexually satisfy women.
Julian's procuress, Anne (Nina Van Pallandt), sends him on an assignment with a wealthy old widow, Mrs. Dobrun (Carole Cook), who is visiting town. Afterwards, he goes to the hotel bar and meets Michelle Stratton (Lauren Hutton), a senator's beautiful but unhappy wife, who becomes interested in him. Meanwhile, Julian's other pimp, Leon (Bill Duke), sends him to Palm Springs on an assignment to the house of Mr. Rheiman (Tom Stewart), a wealthy financier. Rheiman asks Julian to have rough, sado-masochistic sex with his wife Judy (Patricia Carr) while he watches them. The next day, Julian berates Leon for sending him to a "rough trick" and makes it clear he does not do kinky or gay assignments.
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Wikipedia