American Gigolo (1980)

American Gigolo (1980)

American Gigolo movie storyline. Julian makes a lucrative living as an escort to older women in the Los Angeles area. He begins a relationship with Michelle, a local politician’s wife, without expecting any pay. One of his clients is murdered and Detective Sunday begins pumping him for details on his different clients, something he is reluctant to do considering the nature of his work. Julian begins to suspect he’s being framed. Meanwhile Michelle begins to fall in love with him.

American Gigolo is a 1980 American romantic crime-drama film starring Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Hector Elizondo, Nina Van Pallandt and Bill Duke, written and directed by Paul Schrader. It tells the story of Julian Kaye, a high-price male escort in Los Angeles who becomes romantically involved with a prominent politician’s wife while simultaneously becoming the prime suspect in a murder case.

The film is notable for establishing Gere as a leading man, and was one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to include frontal male nudity from its main star. It is also notable for its accompanying soundtrack, composed by Giorgio Moroder and featuring the number-one hit single “Call Me” by Blondie. Schrader considers it one of four similar films, which he calls “double bookends”: Taxi Driver, bookended by Light Sleeper, and American Gigolo bookended by The Walker.

American Gigolo Movie Poster (1980)

American Gigolo (1980)

Directed by: Paul Schrader
Starring: Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Hector Elizondo, Nina van Pallandt, Bill Duke, Brian Davies, Carole Cook, Macdonald Carey
Screenplay by: Paul Schrader
Cinematography by: John Bailey
Film Editing by: Richard Halsey
Set Decoration by: George Gaines
Art Direction by: Edward Richardson
Music by: Giorgio Moroder
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: February 8, 1980

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