Script review – “American Gigolo” by Paul Schrader

I think I’m getting to understand the Schrader template – take an old hokey Hollywood formula and apply it to a new, sordid, grimy world. So you’ve got an avenging gunslinger hero driving a taxi cab and wanting to assassinate people (Taxi Driver), a heist movie set in Detroit auto factory (Blue Collar), a variation of The Searchers set in the world of pornos (Hardcore). Here we have that old standby, a hooker with a heart of gold, who finds true love – only here the hooker is a guy who sleeps with women (no men or couples he says – which I didn’t buy and felt hurt the realism of it but maybe that was a compromise Schrader needed to cast it and get it made. Although to be fair it is established that he used to be a street prostitute). They have a murder plot – one of our hero’s clients is murdered and he’s framed for it 0 to give extra conflict and tension.

This is one of Schrader’s most entertaining scripts. It’s very Hollywood – it's easy to follow, there's a lot of sex and nice clothes as well as a murder mystery. Most of all the role of Julian is a great one for a star: he’s in most of the scenes; there are plenty of comments on how attractive and well dressed he is; he has lots of monologues and scenes with him seducing women; all he needs is the love of a good woman; he’s tough enough to knock out a pimp. Basically he’s a gigolo super hero (speaks several languages, knows art and music, is a fantastic lover, etc). There are several juicy support roles, too: Michelle, the girl who loves him (despite paying for him to sleep with her the first few times); his different pimps, Annie and Leon; a smart detective.

The big print is occasionally florid and the love story between Julian and Michelle is occasionally melodramatic (eg “I can’t help loving you”) – but it’s structurally sound. It’s a 1980 version of an old Joan Crawford movie, with similar attention played to things like costumes, music, décor and drinks.