Let’s Discuss American Gigolo (1980)

It needed a stronger plot. A mystery if you will.

[quote]but I absolutely love it as a time capsule of 1979/1980.

I agree - it caught the moment.

But this look had been around for a while as you can see from this 1977 book cover.

It's amazing to me that the title role was offered to Chevy Chase (among others), who turned it down.

Glad Travolta dropped out. Gere was much more believable. But the female lead needed a Julie Christie or Natalie Wood.

R2, I meant more the clothes, cars, buildings, furniture, and music as a whole.

So, was getting this role the reason Stallone tagged him with the gerbil story?

Loved the scene where Gere makes love to his clothes. Two hours of that would have been good.

To make the story plausible, the older woman would have to be unattractive. Also, hard to imagine Richard Gere being attracted to any woman.

The movie jumped the shark when he was framed for murder.

Strange but at the 1:01 mark Lauren Hutton somewhat resembles Francis Mcdormand.

Straight guy here, but Richard Gere is just impossibly attractive in this film. Hard to imagine that he couldn’t have had anyone he wanted of either sex at that time.

Who does R9 think he's kidding?

The soundtrack is still a favorite, especially when driving on L.A. freeways late at night.

I love that flashy, trashy seedy 80s thriller/noir . They were stylish and weird and edgy enough you didn't give a fuck re: the lack of plot, etc. De Palma was good at it.

That sex scene with Lauren Hutton is what I remember - it was peculiar, do you remember, with her head back and forth, like WE were fucking her.

[quote]hard to imagine Richard Gere being attracted to any woman.

Plus, has anyone ever known a straight man named Julian?

I have.

Negative: The whole "gay thing " was avoided like the plague and those gawd awful unstructured Armani sack suits. Positive: Dick did show dick.

R14 just identified R9.

This is the first time I have seen a male whore not only elegant, but well-educated and talented. Yea, Julian was a sad character, but Richard was stunning in his silence.

Lauren Hutton looks jarringly like a female Willem Dafoe.

R9 "straight guy here"

Along with Making Love, perfectly captures turn of the decade LA style/lifestyle. Bland story but Gere was a star. Like a Ryan Murphy show - it had so much potential but it wasn’t found. Still a great time capsule.

I went to New York for a high school theater trip in April of 1980 and saw Gere in Bent. I came face to face with him after the show when he was signing programs at the stage door.

He was stunning.

Gere was hot.

I think Gere is terrific in the movie. He's very handsome but he brings a touch of elegance and class to the role.

Bill Duke is also great in this. Very intimidating but still charismatic.

The sex scenes, though, are truly unsexy and oddly choreographed.

I guess the Showtime TV series reboot of "American Gigolo" is still forthcoming?

It exuded a "Moonlighting" vibe before the mid-1980s "Moonlighting" TV series.

I remember it well.

R24 I think he improved by leaps and bounds over his career but the acting all around in this movie is hilariously bad.

The epitome of a style over substance movie - but so much style that it doesn’t matter - it’s enjoyable.

And agree it’s a great time capsule - similar to FOXES in that it’s the end and begin getting of an era (well, FOXES much more an end, and this much more a beginning, but released at the same exact time.)

The music, a stripped down instrumental of Call Me, sounds pretty cool in this trailer. The acting looks really cheesy. I was a kid when this came out, saw only previews of this film at the Drive-In. Remember those?

They really went overboard ensuring that no one could POSSIBLY think an "American Gigolo" might also service men. Quite a few references to how he "doesn't do fags" and derogatory references to "faggots."

I fell deeply in love with him because of this movie. Im not one for fan crushes either,but he was so hot in this I went and saw it 4 times. Of course back then nudity wasnt everywhere,especially from a "star" so that was added cachet.

I think Blow Out (1981) was really the last film of the '70s

[quote]I think Blow Out (1981) was really the last film of the '70s

Good point. The ending is a major downer, very nihilistic, and has more in common with the endings of '70s films. Also a great film.

"I know a whore when I see one."

Yeah baby ! Thats what Im talking about !

Such a stylish film. It's dated, but still incredibly chic. The clothing, the interiors, the setting, the music: it definitely captures a moment in time just right (the script and storyline is flimsy, but who cares). Richard Gere was beyond gorgeous in this and maybe the most flawless looking leading man in the past half century of film.

I know a Breck Girl when I see one, r34.

There's also intimation that the escort service for which Julien works supplies teen meat for wealthy people; there are two bare-breasted girls on the balcony who look underage.

I like how Michelle makes a point about having pumped her own gas.

I drove to Anaheim,

then I drove to Long Beach.

I pumped my own gas in Long Beach.

Yes Richard Gere was quite the flirt, so charming, and extremely nice to me.

Loved this movie! It just sucked in my 20 yr. old self and I feel like I forgot to even breathe throughout the movie. I have enjoyed every movie he made. If Richard is gay, it proves that you guys get the best ones!

I do think Breathless should be included in this topic. Those natural pictures of Gere made my day! Thanks!

OMG R2 I had that book and a young gayling! First time I bought a book with hot men not yet realizing how gay I was. The fact that I felt I had to hide it even though it was just about grooming should have been a clue.

You may not have noticed because you have heard it a million times but the opening song with Blonde was a big deal at the time. They just started adding pop music to movies during that era and she was a brand new rising star. I believe it was written for the movie. Topped the charts after the movie came out. That's what made the opening intro cool on it's own. I blast that song at least once every time I drive to PS for the weekend.

[quote]They really went overboard ensuring that no one could POSSIBLY think an "American Gigolo" might also service men

Dont agree with that. They filmed a scene at the Probe, a popular leather bar at the time. With actual gay men as extras. And the protagonist who Richard was being framed by had some blond boy toy doing his dirty work.

I think it was the first two “Emmanuelle” movies (74/75) that captured late 70s/early 80s styles in their early stage.

Every young guy of athletic ability ran out and got some Gravity Boots after this scene. I know I did.

In the movie, Julian has a bowl full of avacados and oranges. I always thought that was so tasteful and elegant.

[quote]They really went overboard ensuring that no one could POSSIBLY think an "American Gigolo" might also service men. Quite a few references to how he "doesn't do fags" and derogatory references to "faggots."

Except when he gets desperate and says he'll even do fags.

Lovely money shot.

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🐒 Cock-a-doodle-doo, R50 !

R13 and R24, the sex scenes are odd and clumsy, with no chemistry, because Gere is gay and Hutton is a self loathing lesbian.

If you want to see some real heat, watch him in Sommersby with Jodie Foster! lol

The teenie boppers of 1980 thought Richard Gere was such a FOX 🦊 in this movie.

To me he seemed like a STEREOTYPICAL faggot. He was fussy about his wardrobe had lots of female friends was NOT passionate about the sex

I think a young Nick Nolte would’ve made a more credible gigolo.

This is the movie that made me fall in love with Lauren Hutton.

And yes, I do think she's a lesbian.

Richard Gere

and yes, I do think he's a GAY

R50 Photoshopped

So many straight & bi men were convinced that they could make women pay them for sex after seeing this movie.

Didn't realize that most of their clients would have very undesirable personalities, plus they would have to be ultra charming even when they were sloppy drunk.

Yes couples hire bisexual gigolos to fulfill very kinky fantasies. I've encountered quite a few.

I'd love to see this remade except with the lead character male escort who services wealthy men. Much more realistic and you could do a lot with the power games.

Saw this again recently. I enjoyed it. I like Paul Schrader films.

R50 Would it be re-titled "American Manwhore"?

^^^ R60

I liked the poorly reviewed THE WALKER with Woody Harrelson. Richard had his ties, Woody had his hairpieces and his DC society matrons.

Thanks for resurrecting this.

I was the first kid at my middle school to have those sunglasses.

I was too young to see it in the theatre but still had the famous poster in my room and I remember when it catapulted Armani into worldwide fame.

R7- The teenyboppers of 1980 thought Richard Gere was such a FOX 🦊 in this movie 🎥

but looking at it now he comes across as such a

Homosexual

I can’t imagine guido John Travolta in this role

I could watch Richard Gere drive around 1980 LA with Blondie playing for hours.

I love the creepy old guy who pays Gere to have sex with his wife, admonishing him: "No, no! From behind!"

EVERYONE loves him, R70!

I just rewatched for the first time since initially seeing it once in 1998. It's hypnotizing I might go for another round tonight.

This version of Richard Gere could plow me all night long.

I thought Gere was much better in "Breathless," and I liked the movie too.

[quote]I can’t imagine guido John Travolta in this role

Gere is the only one.

I want nothing more than to put on a vintage Armani suit and go for a cruise.

At time of its original release I found the film awkward but watched it again recently and it really has aged so well.

^ I agree. It was ahead of its time.

2025 remake starring Timothée Chalamet?

^ This remake will include an abundance of fag stuff.

Dylan Geick was made for the role.

Are Hutton and Beverly D’Angelo still friends?

What is going on with Gere's accent in this movie?

"Slap that cunt!"

What male prostitute doesn't do fag stuff? Fag stuff keeps the lights on.

I watch it every Easter.

It’s my Easter tradition.

Julian certainly knew his way around the gay leather bar.