American Gigolo 4K UHD - Richard Gere / Lauren Hutton

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "An American Gigolo")

Directed by Paul Schrader
USA 1980

Paul Schrader, hot off writing the scripts for Martin Scorsese’s immortal classics Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, stepped into the director’s chair for the third time with 1980’s American Gigolo, a gripping tale of intrigue and deception set against the backdrop of sultry late-70s Los Angeles and starring Richard Gere in a breakthrough performance.

In a world of wealth and desire, high-end male escort Julian Kay (Gere) offers his love and attention to women in need. But when a client, the wife of a sadistic finance magnate, is found dead, all eyes turn to Julian as the prime suspect. Realizing he’s being framed, Julian races to prove his innocence, determined to unravel the mystery behind the setup. As he digs deeper into the case, he embarks on a journey that forces him to confront his own identity.

American Gigolo is a feast for the senses thanks to cinematography by John Bailey and costume design by Giorgio Armani, not to mention a soundtrack courtesy of “Father of Disco” Giorgio Moroder including the Grammy-nominated anthem “Call Me” by Blondie. Co-starring Lauren Hutton, Héctor Elizondo, and Bill Duke, American Gigolo is presented here in a brand new 4K remaster and packed with bonus features.

***

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.

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 1st, 1980

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Review: Arrow - Region FREE - 4K UHD

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Also available on Blu-ray from Arrow Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Arrow - Region FREE - 4K UHD
Runtime	1:56:35.863
Video	1.85:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 97,807,263,740 bytes Feature: 86,506,962,432 bytes Video Bitrate: 87.50 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate 4K Ultra HD:
Audio	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit DTS-HD Master Audio English 975 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 975 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 3224 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3224 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -30dB
Subtitles	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Arrow 1.85:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 97,807,263,740 bytes Feature: 86,506,962,432 bytes Video Bitrate: 87.50 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video Edition Details: 4K Ultra HD disc • Brand new audio commentary with film critic Adrian Martin • "Below the Surface" - Brand new interview with writer/director Paul Schrader (19:37) • Six Ways to Sunday, a brand new interview with actor Héctor Elizondo on detecting his character (10:45) • The Business of PLEASURE, a brand new interview with actor Bill Duke on Leon’s profession (15:26) • Montages and Monologues, a brand new interview with editor Richard Halsey on putting American Gigolo together (7:15) • The Non-Conformist, a brand new interview with camera operator King Baggot on American Gigolo (25:05) • Man Machine, a brand new interview with music supervisor & KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox on the music of Giorgio Moroder (15:03) • American Icon, a brand new interview with Professor Jennifer Clark on American Gigolo and the fashion landscape of the 80s (18:54) • Original trailer (1:57) • 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 4K Ultra HD Release Date: June 18th, 2024 Black 4K Ultra HD Case Chapters 12

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective discs.

ADDITION: Arrow 4K UHD (June 2024): Arrow have released Paul Schrader's "American Gigolo" to 4K UHD. It is advertised as a "Brand new 4K remaster from the original negative by Arrow Films". It is presented with Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible.) The 2160P image has probably reached its zenith for digital home theatre presentation. It is on a triple layered disc with a sky-high bitrate. The visuals can be thick, with deep colors - reds, yellows and oranges tend to dominate. It is not crystal sharp but the heaviness is consistent and film-like. I suspect this looks very similar to the theatrical appearance almost 45-years ago. Gere is now 74!

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: 48 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages recently: The Long Wait (software uniformly simulated HDR), Bound (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Valiant Ones (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mute Witness (software uniformly simulated HDR), Narc (software uniformly simulated HDR), Peeping Tom (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Terrors House of Horrors (software uniformly simulated HDR), High Noon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Picnic at Hanging Rock (Criterion) (software uniformly simulated HDR), I Am Cuba (no HDR), The Demoniacs (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Nude Vampire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Nostalghia (no HDR), Werckmeister Harmonies (no HDR), Goin' South (software uniformly simulated HDR), La Haine (software uniformly simulated HDR,) All Ladies Do It (software uniformly simulated HDR), Old Henry (software uniformly simulated HDR), To Die For (software uniformly simulated HDR), Snapshot (software uniformly simulated HDR), Phase IV (software uniformly simulated HDR), Burial Ground (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dark Water (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fear and Desire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf (no HDR), Paths of Glory (software uniformly simulated HDR), Southern Comfort (software uniformly simulated HDR)

On their 4K UHD, Arrow offer the options of a linear PCM (original) mono track (24-bit) plus DTS-HD Master tracks in 2.0 and 5.1 surround bumps - all in in the original English language. "American Gigolo" has no overt violence, although there is a murder in the film and the surround has a few sharp-ish separations. The film's atmosphere is almost always placid, austere and classy. The score is by Giorgio Moroder (Cat People Top Gun, Midnight Express, Scarface etc. etc.) famously with Blondie's "Call Me" used in the film. Some may recognize Smokey Robinson & The Miracle's The Love I Saw in You Is Just a Mirage and Mozart's Concerto in A Major (for Clarinet) K622. It suits the film and sounds clean and flat (in the mono.) Arrow include optional English (SDH) subtitles - and is, like all 4K UHD, region FREE, playable worldwide.

There are plentiful extras on the 4K UHD disc - stating with a new audio commentary, by one of my personal favorites, film critic Adrian Martin. He discusses his perceptions from 1980, and his writings on "American Gigolo". He tells us how his opinion has changed since he was 21-years old. He now see more in the film including art cinema, Bresson, Ozu, Bertolucci - minimalist, slow, cinema movement, and how "American Gigolo" has a mixtures. He talks about Schrader and, this, his third feature as a director, showing more confidence, an expressive touch to his characters and the world they inhabit, how Julian is constantly on the move - public spaces, social experiences etc. It its is at his analytical top form. Thank you Adrian. There are also almost 2 hours of new interviews. "Below the Surface" spends 20-minutes with 77-year-old writer/director Paul Schrader providing recollections of the production, his intentions etc. Six Ways to Sunday, is an 11-minute interview with actor Héctor Elizondo on detecting his character. The Business of PLEASURE, is a new 1/4 hour interview with actor Bill Duke on Leon’s profession. Montages and Monologues spends 7-minutes with editor Richard Halsey (Rocky) on putting American Gigolo together. The Non-Conformist, is a new 25-minute interview with camera operator King Baggot on American Gigolo. Man Machine, is a new 15-minute interview with music supervisor & KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox on the music of Giorgio Moroder and, lastly, American Icon, is a new 20-minutes interview with Professor Jennifer Clark (Producing Feminism: Television Work in the Age of Women's Liberation) on American Gigolo and the fashion landscape of the 80s. There is an original trailer and three image galleries. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tommy Pocket as well as a double-sided foldout poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Pocket. There are six postcard-sized reproduction artcards and an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Neil Sinyard (Fred Zinnemann: Films of Character and Conscience), an archival article by Bill Nichols (Engaging Cinema: An Introduction to Film Studies), and original pressbook materials

Paul Schrader considers "American Gigolo" to be bookended by his film The Walker, as he likewise considers Taxi Driver, bookended by his 1992 film Light Sleeper. Julian (Gere) provides sexual services in return for payment from his wealthy, upper-class, tier of often older clients. His materialistic lifestyle and desire to elevate himself socially dominate his restless existence. He doesn't want an exclusive "pimp" coordinating his 'tricks' and takes pride in his sex work. Julian finds that he is being framed for a murder and must channel his reluctant alibi resources to avoid being charged. His newly found girlfriend Michelle Stratton (Lauren Hutton) will destroy her marriage if she publicly supports him. "American Gigolo" is a curious neo-noir, existing in a world rarely addressed in cinema; the high-end male escort navigating his clients, meticulous attention to his appearance, and his self-improvement by learning languages and art. It's a film that seems to improve upon repeat viewings. Schrader wrote Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer and I enjoyed Adrian Martin's commentary where slow cinema, psychological realism etc. are discussed. Arrow 's 4K UHD has a a lot to offer; many new interviews, booklet, the invaluable commentary and a Paul Schrader piece of cinema that deserves reanalysis. Absolutely recommended!

Gary Tooze

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Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Also available on Blu-ray from Arrow

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Arrow - Region FREE - 4K UHD

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