Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Playlists
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1980s
    Movies - 1980s Movies - A 3 Mins Read

    American Gigolo (1980)

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    When John Travolta dropped out of American Gigolo everyone said he was ruining his career.  But Travolta took a walk and Richard Gere stepped into his Georgio Armani suits. Travolta made the right decision . . .

    Julian Kay – the gigolo in American Gigolo – is a smarmy and immoral male prostitute with cool talk, swinging hips, and tiny brains who exercises his pectorals even while talking on the phone.

    You can hire him for anything at a price. He’ll translate foreign languages, act as a tour guide in the Hollywood discos, or beat you black and blue for sexual kicks.

    He’s got a snazzy sports car and a closet full of tight pants and a tax-free income that is completely illegal. But he doesn’t have a heart.

    americangigolo_003Richard Gere plays the part like he’s auditioning for porno flicks. Lauren Hutton plays the bored wife of a California politician who humiliates and trashes herself for one night in his hormone heaven.

    “Tell me everything about you,” she says after meeting him in a hotel bar. “We just made love, didn’t we?” he says with a smirk. “Then you know everything there is.”

    He’s right. And that doesn’t make for a very interesting movie.

    Gere poses in full frontal nudity, like a Playboy bunny, and there are X-rated love scenes accompanied by the filthiest dialogue this side of a Navy cargo ship.

    Gere finds himself framed for a violent sex murder he didn’t commit and seeks revenge on the black homosexual pimp who is trying to send him to the electric chair.

    Finally, the movie turns ludicrous when the Beverly Hills socialite races to his rescue and in a series of out-of-place dissolves stolen from the visual style of Chinatown (1974), we see a hardened criminal with no regard for human life learning the meaning of honesty, integrity and humanity through the love of a good woman.

    Richard Gere is a capable actor, but he’s just TOO arrogant in this film. Lauren Hutton has the fashionable look of a society girl, the right boutique clothes from Rodeo Drive, and a deep, throaty voice to match.

    It’s nice to see Hector Elizondo again as a savvy vice cop who secretly envies Gere while he’s booking him. And it’s always pleasant to see Candice Bergen’s mother, the soignée Frances Bergen, this time as a ritzy matron who enjoys the gigolo’s company on special occasions.

    Julian Kay
    Richard Gere
    Michelle Stratton
    Lauren Hutton
    Detective Sunday
    Hector Elizondo
    Anne
    Nina Van Pallandt
    Leon Jaimes
    Bill Duke
    Charles Stratton
    Brian Davies
    Judy Rheiman
    Patti Carr
    Mr Rheiman
    Tom Stewart
    Mrs Dobrun
    Carole Cook
    Mrs Sloan
    Carol Bruce
    Mrs Laudner
    Frances Bergen

    Director
    Paul Schrader

    Related Posts

    • Look Who's Talking (1989)
      Look Who's Talking (1989)
      James (John Travolta) is a genial New York taxi driver who comes to the rescue of thirty-something accountant Mollie (Kirstie…
    • John and Yoko: A Love Story (1985)
      John and Yoko: A Love Story (1985)
      This three-hour made-for-TV movie is as disturbing as it is fascinating. On the one hand, it really tries very sincerely…
    • House of the Long Shadows (1983)
      House of the Long Shadows (1983)
      An American writer goes to a remote Welsh manor on a $20,000 bet - can he write a classic novel…
    • Rebel (1985)
      Rebel (1985)
      A 20-year-old US Marine named "Rebel" (Matt Dillon) is on R&R leave in Sydney in 1942, recuperating from wounds suffered…
    • Grease 2 (1982)
      Grease 2 (1982)
      This unprepossessing sequel to the massive John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John hit is notable for a great title song by the Four…
    • Bagdad Cafe (1988)
      Bagdad Cafe (1988)
      Bagdad Cafe was the first American film made by German director Percy Adlon. Casting his German star, the flamboyantly overweight Marianne…
    • American Werewolf In London, An (1981)
      American Werewolf In London, An (1981)
      The archetypal wolf fable, An American Werewolf in London overshadowed equally good The Howling (1981) with Oscar-winning SFX and its classic man-to-wolf transformation. Two American…
    • Return of Captain Invincible, The (1983)
      Return of Captain Invincible, The (1983)
      "Into the blue!" In World War II, Captain Invincible (Alan Arkin) used his superpowers against gangsters and the Nazis, and…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleAmerican Flyers (1985)
    Next Article An American Tail (1986)

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    You May Also Like
    • Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990)
      Death has its limitations – This is the message in Truly, […]
    • A Man Called Shenandoah
      1 9 6 5 – 1 9 6 6 (USA) 34 x 30 minute episodes Wagon […]
    • Skidoo (1968)
      Imagine the following cast in a single film: Jackie Gleason, […]
    • Popswop
      The weekly British pop magazine Popswop was first published in […]
    • New Land, The
      1 9 7 4 (USA) 6 x 60 minute episodes This short-lived warm […]
    • Five Mile Creek
      1 9 8 3 – 1 9 8 5 (Australia) 39 x 45 minute episodes A […]
    Twitter Feed
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2022 Nostalgia Central
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.