When thinking of ‘80s filmmaking, most fans often point to the usual suspects: John Hughes teenage dramedies, over-to-top action spectacles, along with a few (now iconic) slasher flicks. But one early example of the decade deserves its flowers just as much as those mentioned above. That movie is Paul Schrader’s (Touch) sexy thriller, American Gigolo, starring Richard Gere (Longing). Released on February 1st, 1980, this material-driven look into the world of male escorts took audiences on a neo-noir adjacent ride, fueled by an excellent soundtrack, bold editing choices, and a memorable male lead who (literally) left everything on screen.
Now with Arrow releasing the film on 4K for the first time, cinephiles the world over can experience this Richard Gere classic in a format befitting of the movie’s signature style. But does this remaster breathe new life into a project often overshadowed by other blockbusters from the decade? Or does it come across as just another run-of-the-mill 4K treatment? Luckily, in the perspective of this ‘80s connoisseur, Arrow’s release propels American Gigolo’s legendary status in the most spectacular of ways.
For those unaware, American Gigolo centers around Julian Kaye (played by Gere), a male escort who is the definition of “confident”. From his excellent Giorgio Armani wardrobe to his lavish taste in cars, Julian presents himself as the early-‘80s equivalent of a Disney prince — a man who is a glorious fantasy from head to toe. But behind the scenes, Julian’s life is far from glamorous, especially when he becomes a suspect in a murder case involving a past client. Now, with his every move being examined by the police (including Detective Sunday, played by Hector Elizondo), and his intimate involvement with the wife of a local politician, Michelle Stratton (played by Lauren Hutton) accelerating, Julian’s well-crafted life becomes anything but perfect.
Beginning with its first frame, American Gigolo establishes itself as a movie defined by its style. Whether it be the disco-infused Giorgio Moroder (Scarface; The NeverEnding Story) score, or Richard Gere’s on-screen presence, every visual within this film is sleek, inventive, and undeniably cool. Yet the secret sauce underneath the layers of designer suits and aesthetic furniture is Paul Schrader’s screenplay. Much like his work with Martin Scorsese, like Taxi Driver (1976) and Raging Bull (1980), this Schrader tale focuses on yet another isolated figure who refuses to make a genuine connection. Yet unlike the other men within Schrader’s scripts, Julian embraces his lifestyle and will do anything to propel it forward with no bumps on the road.
But the brilliance in Schrader’s work, and Richard Gere’s performance, is how they combine to show the deep vulnerabilities within Julian as the film unfolds. On the surface, Julian is an expensive Ken doll without a flaw in sight, who uses the art of intimacy as his superpower, much like a Marvel hero would. But when his defenses are down, and he allows genuine affection to enter his mind, Julian transforms into everything he’s tried to avoid becoming — a pure mess. And with Schrader’s excellent storytelling talents, along with Gere’s willingness to peel the layers of Julian’s psyche, the movie becomes more than just “a vibe,” but rather a fascinating character study.
An essential part of this study is Julian’s relationship with Michelle. Beginning with their pink and red meet-cute up to their final sequence, the evolution of this pair is far from the typical romantic formula. Not only is their first encounter a failure on the part of their communication, but much of their entanglement is thanks to Michelle’s obsession with breaking down Julian’s emotional walls. Granted, by modern standards, Michelle’s behavior is a little taboo (or perhaps “problematic,” as TikTok might label), but it’s hard to deny that any of the film’s wild twists and turns would happen if it weren’t for Michelle’s insistence towards being with Julian.
AMERICAN GIGOLO 4K UHD expanded packshot. Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment Group.
This leads to some of the film’s most dated aspects. Regardless of the way they’re shown, it’s obvious that Gere and Hutton (Once Bitten) sizzle as an on-screen couple. But cinematographer John Bailey (The Big Chill) seems to go out of his way to pick some of the oddest angles to put these actors in, evoking the cringy sides of late-‘70s on-screen sensuality. This is particularly the case during the famous montage featuring the two laying on a blue bed sheet, when, even with the pair’s legendary chemistry, it’s almost impossible not to chuckle at its comical presentation.
Similarly, it might be hard for modern audiences to stomach the film’s approach to queer representation. From uncomfortably brutal terminology used within the walls of a gay nightclub to Julian’s own awkward approach to bi-sexuality, these are the moments within American Gigolo that feel the least timeless and continue to age as bad as rotten bananas in a garbage can. Still, these messy sequences act as an important time capsule for how far we’ve come in LGBTQ+ representation, and how far we still have to go.
Yet despite these less than polished elements, American Gigolo remains an iconic staple of 1980s media. Not only does it serve as one of Paul Schrader’s crowning achievements, but it developed the trends that would become the fundamental building blocks of the decade in terms of its fashion, its musical score, and, most importantly, gave a glimpse into how big a star Richard Gere was going to become. And in the case of this new 4K edition, Arrow clearly understands how noteworthy this movie is to both ‘80s pop culture and, more importantly, to the landscape of modern filmmaking.
As soon as you pop in the disc, it’s clear that this 4K version (remastered from the original negative) makes American Gigolo look more delicious than ever before. The rich color palette of key scenes (like Julian and Michelle’s first encounter) pop with an almost pastel hue that enriches the film’s signature aesthetics. The Dolby Vision presentation also adds to the luxurious quality of the film, especially in the way it makes Moroder’s music (along with Blondie’s “Call Me”) seem as if it’s punching you through the chest in the best way possible.
But easily the best part of this new American Gigolo release is its amazing bonus material made especially by Arrow. From a variety of interviews with director/writer Paul Schrader, actors Héctor Elizondo (The Princess Bride) and Bill Duke (Predator), along with a multitude of other essential crew members, there’s plenty of content to give fans a new appreciation for the craft that went into making the movie. Plus, there’s a great audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin which gives even more insight into the significance of American Gigolo.
There is one piece of content that stands shoulders above the rest on this disc. Because as any Arrow fan would know, past releases (such as their Ridley Scott’s Legend box set) have included incredible music-focused featurettes, and American Gigolo 4K is no different. Featuring KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox, this short but wonderful exploration into Giorgio Moroder’s work on the movie makes one of the coolest aspects of the film even cooler, especially when it includes great behind-the-scenes stories of Blondie’s involvement in the creation of the Golden Globe nominated song, “Call Me.”
Overall, Arrow clearly understood the assignment when it came to this American Gigolo release. From the wonderful remaster to the equally great collection of additional content, everything on this disc matches the luxurious quality of the movie as a whole. And for a film that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough in the ‘80s media conversation, it’s great to have this set prove why it deserves to be mentioned more. So, if you’ve never seen American Gigolo, consider this your reason to change that.
American Gigolo Special Features:
- Brand new 4K remaster from the original negative by Arrow Films
- High Definition Blu-ray presentation
- Original mono, stereo and 5.1 audio options
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- 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 Héctor 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
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tommy Pocket
- 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
Available on 4K UHD and Blu-ray June 18th, 2024.
For more information, head to the official Arrow Video American Gigolo webpage.
To purchase, head to the official MVD Entertainment Group American Gigolo webpage.
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Categories: Home Release, Recommendation
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