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American Gigolo [1979] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Starring: Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Hector Elizondo, Nina Van Pallandt, Bill Duke
Director: Paul Schrader
Format: Anamorphic Closed-captioned Colour Dolby DVD-Video Widescreen NTSC
Released: 23 May 2000
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

One Classic Movie and an average one - By: , 18 Sep 2003
This is a highly watchable 80's romantic melodrama where the usual boy-girl relationship gets involved but Set against a military training environment. The acting performances from a great cast in this movie is what makes this movie what it is, a classic. And the movie is one of those that keeps you watching until the end. A subplot is included to add to the movies goodness & together this makes for a great alll time classic movie.

The main character in American Gigolo plays a role that is of average performance & the movie is one that starts lively at the beggining & then dies down. The storyline is balanced out rather well & the movie is one that keeps you watching but this isn't as good as An Officer & a Gentleman. There is a lot of good parts to this movie but that would ruin the movie. Average movie, average acting for American Gigolo. Gigolo is a pretty good title. This would be a great buy!!!!

An example of Schrader's 'high style'. - By: Jason Parkes, 08 Aug 2002
Paul Schrader in Kevin Jackson's 'Schrader on Schrader' (1990) talks about the effect of Bertolucci's 'The Conformist' on American cinema. It is evident in films like 'The Godfather' (check out 'The Conformist's confession scene & framing to the opening of 'The Godfather') to the works of Michael Mann. Schrader sees this as 'high style' inflected by Bertolucci from 30's Hollywood.

'American Gigolo' takes this emphasis on design & framing- as well as the look of expense- & applies it to a typical Schrader loner. Gere's Julian, 'Jools', is the next yuppie step on from 'Midnight Cowboy'- but is not unrelated to Travis Bickle or Defoe's character in 'Light Sleeper'. THe Moroder score adds to the proceedings, though the classy repetition of shots down an LA street feel like a fusion of 'A bout de Souffle' & 'Taxi DRiver'.

THe thriller part is slightly confused, a more venal world- between Altman's 'The Long Goodbye' & De Palma's 'Scarface'. As yuppies have resurfaced & consumerism is the new religion (again), this is a presient film to watch- as Julian is alll surface. Schrader captures California in a wholly original way, though this film is a companion more to 'Hardcore' or 'Light Sleeper' than his masterpieces 'Blue Collar', 'Mishima' & 'Affliction'.

'American Gigolo' is worth checking out- the 'high style' & depiction of gay subculture would inform the 'high concept' of Bruckheimer & lead to the shalllowest form of cinema. Here, at budget price, you get the 'high style' reflecting the veneer of its lead character. Not unlike 'THe Conformist'...

The best plot of any Richard Gere's films - By: Mrs. P. L. Meeson, 11 Apr 2001
Julian Kay (Gere) is an male escort, with alll the physical attributes & attitude, oozing charm, who takes his work very seriously. When helping out a friend, the nature of his work changes & the plot becomes much darker. Lauren Hutton is superb too. A must see for Richard Gere fans