American Gigolo (1980) on Netflix
Julian Kay keeps wealthy older women company in Los Angeles for money. He takes up with Michelle Stratton, a senator's wife, while Detective Joe Sunday questions him about a client's murder.
- Netflix3.3/5
- IMDb6.3/1031,435 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes73%
Trailer
Plot summary
Julian Kay supports an expensive life in Los Angeles by taking assignments from wealthy older women, arranged through his procurer, Anne. She sends him to a widow, Mrs. Dobrun, staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel. In the bar afterward he approaches Michelle Stratton, who says she is married to Senator Charles Stratton and knows what he does. Leon James, a pimp he sometimes works with, asks him to fill in on a job in Palm Springs. Mr. Rheiman, a financier there, hires Julian to perform sadomasochistic acts with Judy, Rheiman's wife, in Rheiman's presence. Julian objects to the rough trick and says he does not accept kink or same-sex jobs. Michelle comes to his apartment at midnight and he turns down the payment she offers. When Judy Rheiman is found murdered, Detective Joe Sunday questions Julian.
Cast
- Tom Stewartas Mr. Rheiman
- Patricia Carras Judy Rheiman (as Patti Carr)
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about American Gigolo (1980)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Richard Gere's brief nude scenes marked the first time a major Hollywood actor appeared frontally nude in a film, and according to Gere the nudity was not in the original script at all.
- John Travolta was originally attached to the lead role, was given a wardrobe by Giorgio Armani and appeared in a Variety photo spread announcing his participation, but the following year he dropped out to deal with his mother's death and his father's illness.
- Julie Christie was originally cast as Michelle Stratton but departed once Gere replaced Travolta, Meryl Streep was offered the part and declined because she did not like the tone of the film, and Glenn Close auditioned for a role while Travolta was still attached.
- With Travolta gone, Barry Diller of Paramount Pictures offered the part of Julian Kay to Christopher Reeve, who turned down the million-dollar offer, and Chevy Chase was also offered the role but declined.
- Paul Schrader made Richard Gere watch several films with Alain Delon for inspiration: "I screened Purple Noon for Richard Gere before American Gigolo. I said, Look at this guy. The way he walks. He knows that the room is a better place because he has just entered it."
- This was not the only role Travolta turned down only for Gere to take it: the same had happened with Days of Heaven in 1978, and it happened again when Travolta was offered the leads in An Officer and a Gentleman in 1982 and Chicago in 2002.
- Travolta is 6 ft tall, a few inches taller than Gere, so once Gere replaced him as Julian the designer's team had to make an entirely new set of clothing for the character.
