American Gigolo (1980)

Director:

Paul Schrader

Writer:

Paul Schrader (written by)

Release Date:

8 February 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

His business is pleasure!

Plot:

Julian makes a lucrative living as an escort to older women in the Los Angeles area. He begins a relationship with Michelle...

Plot Keywords:

Framed | Police | Gay Slur | Sex Scene | Drugs

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes.

Cast

Richard Gere	...	Julian
Lauren Hutton	...	Michelle
Hector Elizondo	...	Sunday
Nina Van Pallandt	...	Anne
Bill Duke	...	Leon
Brian Davies	...	Charles Stratton
K Callan	...	Lisa Williams
Tom Stewart	...	Mr. Rheiman
Patricia Carr	...	Judy Rheiman (as Patti Carr)
David Cryer	...	Lt. Curtis
Carole Cook	...	Mrs. Dobrun
Carol Bruce	...	Mrs. Sloan
Frances Bergen	...	Mrs. Laudner
Macdonald Carey	...	Hollywood Actor (as MacDonald Carey)
William Dozier	...	Michelle's Lawyer
Peter Turgeon	...	Julian's Lawyer
Robert Wightman	...	Floyd Wicker
Richard Derr	...	Mr. Williams
Jessica Potter	...	Jill
Gordon Haight	...	Blond Boy
Carlo Alonso	...	Salesman
Michael Goyak	...	Jason
Frank Pesce	...	Suspect #4
Judith Ransdell	...	Cloak Room Girl
John Hammerton	...	Perino's Maitre d'
Michele Drake	...	1st Girl at Beach
Linda Horn	...	2nd Girl at Beach
Faye Michael Nuell	...	Woman at Juschi's
Eugene Jackson	...	Bootblack
Roma Alvarez	...	Maid
Dawn Adams	...	Coed
Bob Jardine	...	College Professor
Harry Davis	...	Parke Bernet Representative
Nanette Tarpey	...	Waitress
Maggie Jean Smith	...	Girl at Daisy
Pamela Fong	...	Girl at Daisy
Randy Stokey	...	Boy at Sorel
Harris Weingart	...	Maitre d' Cocktail Lounge
James Currie	...	Bartender Cocktail Lounge
Norman Stevans	...	Waiter Cocktail Lounge
Betty Canter	...	Woman at Political Dinner
Laura Gile	...	Woman at Political Dinner
Brent Dunsford	...	Man at Political Dinner
Barry Satterfield	...	Street Hustler
Sam L. Nickens	...	Waiter Country Club
William Valdez	...	Prison Guard
Mary Helen Barro	...	Reporter
John H. Lowe	...	Reporter
Kopi Sotiropulos	...	Reporter
Gordon W. Grant	...	Reporter
Ron Cummins	...	Reporter

Directed by
Paul Schrader

Writing credits
Paul Schrader		(written by)

Produced by
Jerry Bruckheimer	....	producer
Freddie Fields	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Giorgio Moroder

Cinematography by
John Bailey		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Richard Halsey

Casting by
Vic Ramos

Art Direction by
Edward Richardson		(as Ed Richardson)

Set Decoration by
George Gaines

Makeup Department
Christine Lee	....	hair stylist (as Chris Lee)
Daniel C. Striepeke	....	makeup artist (as Dan Striepeke)

Production Management
Neil A. Machlis	....	unit production manager
Lindsley Parsons Jr.	....	executive production manager: Paramount (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William S. Beasley	....	second assistant director (as Bill Beasley)
Peter Bogart	....	assistant director
Duncan Henderson	....	trainee assistant director

Art Department
Matty Azzarone	....	assistant property master (as Matti Azzarone)
R. Gilbert Clayton	....	production illustrator (as Gil Clayton)
Kenneth Crawford	....	assistant property master
Tim Donelan	....	assistant lead person
Mark Fabus	....	set designer
Mike Grover	....	set dresser
Mike Higelmire	....	lead person
Gus Kanelakos	....	constructor
Gary Kudroff	....	assistant lead person
Pat O'Connor	....	property master
Ferdinando Scarfiotti	....	visual consultant
Julian Zutz	....	construction coordinator
Steven Kerlagon	....	gangboss painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ray Alba	....	sound effects editor
Carolyn Colwell	....	assistant sound effects editor
Robert Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bob Glass)
Janice Hampton	....	dialogue loop editor
Carl Mahakian	....	sound effects editor
Bert Schoenfeld	....	sound effects editor
Pat Suraci	....	boom operator
Wynn Tennison	....	second boom operator
Robert Thirlwell	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bob Thirlwell)
Barry Thomas	....	sound mixer
John Wilkinson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Doc Wilkinson)

Stunts
Jeoffrey Brown	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
King Baggot	....	camera operator
Kirsten Glover	....	camera technician
Marlin Hall	....	key grip
Leslie Hill	....	camera technician
George Holmes	....	gaffer
Larry Keys	....	best boy electric (as Larry Keyes)
Dan Mazzola	....	best boy electric (as Dan Marzola)
Steve Pellant	....	electrician
Víctor Pérez	....	electrician
Dennis Rotta	....	dolly grip
John R. Shannon	....	still photographer (as John Shannon)
Rodney Veto	....	second grip
Richard Walden	....	camera technician
Larry Yates	....	grip
Ron Grover	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Dolores Chevron	....	casting assistant
Carl Joy	....	extras casting
Bob Kindelon	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Giorgio Armani	....	costumes: Richard Gere
Bernadene C. Mann	....	costumer (as Bernadene Mann)
Alice Rush	....	costume coordinator

Editorial Department
Patricia Lee	....	editorial apprentice
Priscilla Nedd-Friendly	....	assistant film editor (as Priscilla Nedd)
Bruce Pearson	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music editor
Allison Caine	....	vocal effects advisor
Harold Faltermeyer	....	music advisor

Transportation Department
Mike Avisov	....	transportation captain
Howard A. Small	....	transportation coordinator (as Howard Small)

Other crew
Irene Berkman	....	secretary
Tony Cacciotti	....	trainer: Mr. Gere
Beverly Davis	....	assistant: Mr. Schrader
Lois Kramer Hartwick	....	location manager (as Lois Kramer)
Tom Jacobson	....	technical advisor
Eric Jewett	....	assistant: Mr. Schrader
Patti Kaling	....	assistant: Mr. Bruckheimer (as Patti Kailing)
Gary Kalkin	....	publicist
Cynnie Troup	....	script supervisor (as Cynne Troup)
John Weismuller	....	craft service

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• CIC (1980) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1980) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1980) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1980) (Finland) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1983) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Phillips (1991) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• C.I.C. (198?) (Norway) (theatrical)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (19??) (UK) (video)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Dan Perri  title design

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Swedish

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Singapore:M18 | Portugal:M/16 | USA:R (Certificate #25613) | Norway:15 (TV rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Hong Kong:III | Norway:16 (1980) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | West Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

100 N Oakhurst Dr,Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Chevy Chase didn't like the erotic nature of the film and claimed that the part was largely rewritten at Richard Gere's request.

Quotes:

Anne: Julie, I made you! I taught you everything you know! How to dress, table manners, how to move, how to make love...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in An Officer and a Gentleman: 25 Years Later (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Love and Passion

Death of LA in the 80s

It's hard to precisely depict the impact of the smoky undertow of 1980s LA mores on the emotional and cultural landscape of the city, but Richard Gere's subversive topsy-turvy solo show comes close. Weird, well-shot and intriguing. The queasy feeling it leaves is hard to remove even days later. A/A-