American Gigolo
Paul Schrader, hot off writing the scripts for Martin Scorsese’s immortal classics Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, stepped into the director’s chair for the third time with 1980’s American Gigolo, a gripping tale of intrigue and deception set against the backdrop of sultry late-70s Los Angeles and starring Richard Gere in a breakthrough performance.
In a world of wealth and desire, high-end male escort Julian Kay (Gere) offers his love and attention to women in need. But when a client, the wife of a sadistic finance magnate, is found dead, all eyes turn to Julian as the prime suspect. Realizing he’s being framed, Julian races to prove his innocence, determined to unravel the mystery behind the setup. As he digs deeper into the case, he embarks on a journey that forces him to confront his own identity.
American Gigolo is a feast for the senses thanks to cinematography by John Bailey and costume design by Giorgio Armani, not to mention a soundtrack courtesy of “Father of Disco” Giorgio Moroder including the Grammy-nominated anthem “Call Me” by Blondie. Co-starring Lauren Hutton, Héctor Elizondo, and Bill Duke, American Gigolo is presented here in a brand new 4K remaster and packed with bonus features.
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Supplements
- Brand new audio commentary with film critic Adrian Martin
- Brand new interview with writer/director Paul Schrader
- Six Ways to Sunday, a brand new interview with actor Hector Elizondo on detecting his character
- The Business of PLEASURE, a brand new interview with actor Bill Duke on Leon’s profession
- Montages and Monologues, a brand new interview with editor Richard Halsey on putting American Gigolo together
- The Non-Conformist, a brand new interview with camera operator King Baggot on American Gigolo
- Man Machine, a brand new interview with music supervisor & KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox on the music of Giorgio Moroder
- American Icon, a brand new interview with Professor Jennifer Clark on American Gigolo and the fashion landscape of the 80s
- Original trailer
- Image gallery
- Double-sided foldout poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tommy Pocket
- Six postcard-sized reproduction artcards
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Neil Sinyard, an archival article by Bill Nichols, and original pressbook materials