‘American Gigolo’ Arrow Video 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – A Stylish & Enthralling Cinematic Breakthrough

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.

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Video Quality

Arrow Video presents American Gigolo with a dynamite 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. This new remaster was handled completely by Arrow Films with a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative restored and graded in 4K HDR10/Dolby Vision. The previous Blu-Ray release of American Gigolo from Paramount was derived from an ancient master that really left you wanting more from the material. This new remaster preserves the vital natural film grain as it resolves impeccably without a hint of clumping or swarming. Everything is completely organic with no lingering print damage or stray specks. The movie looks incredible with more subtle details on display than ever before. The texture present in the clothing and within the setting is astounding. When it comes to encoding, there are no digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or other such nuisances. Even bright, sunny skies avoid any spiking or other stray encoding issues. 

The benefits of Dolby Vision for increased color output are apparent from the earliest moments. This narrative straddles the line between luxury and grittiness, and the shades unleashed between the two worlds are a treat for the senses. The evocative lighting and the costumes make the most of the technology with more depth than ever. Black levels are formidable with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights are locked in with no signs of blooming. The striking compositions within the frame are a pleasure to explore anew with this disc. You can appreciate the complexities in the landscapes along with some more dazzling hues. This presentation from Arrow Video is what dreams are made of.  

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of the film comes with an LPCM 1.0 mono track, a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track, and a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio surround sound track, all of which represent the film to its fullest potential. Arrow Video usually does an amazing job of ensuring the original theatrical audio is presented, but it is nice to also give fans a more immersive option if they desire. The iconic score from Giorgio Moroder establishes a mood of the story that is represented perfectly in the mix. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overshadowed by the sound effects or music. 

The urban nightlife is brought to life with a lively soundscape that creeps through to provide some favorable ambient details. Moments of confrontation ratchet up the tension without becoming a muddled mess, as everything is delineated with precision. All of the various sounds in the mix seem faithfully rendered so that nothing ever feels inauthentic. Everything is presented with a first-rate fidelity that never stumbles. This presentation is free of any hiss, distortion, or other age-related wear and tear. Arrow Video should be proud of what they accomplished here. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

The Limited Edition Collector’s Set of the Arrow Video 4K UHD Blu-Ray of American Gigolo comes beautifully packaged in a hard outer case and includes a 58-page bound book featuring new writing on the film by Neil Sinyard, an archival article by Bill Nichols, and original pressbook materials. These works provide a great analysis of the film in a thoughtfully written style. This package also includes a double-sided poster and six double-sided collector’s postcards. The on-disc special features are as follows: 

• Audio Commentary: Film critic Adrian Martin provides a great commentary track in which he discusses the career of Paul Schrader, the influences on his work, the production of this film, the recurring themes in his work, the background of the performers, the world-building within the film, and much more that is well worth a listen. Martin admits that he initially didn’t think much of the film when he first saw it earlier in his life, but he has gained a great appreciation for it. 

• Interviews

• • Below The Surface: A new 20-minute interview with director Paul Schrader in which he discusses his interest in occupational metaphor, the exploration of superficial life, the film’s success, developing the main character, the ending of the film, and more. 

• • Six Ways to Sunday: A new 11-minute interview with actor Héctor Elizondo in which he discusses his early entry into performing, his love of theater, working with Richard Gere, the direction of Paul Schrader, what he learned from John Bailey, the impact of the film, and more. 

• • The Business of Pleasure: A new 16-minute interview with actor Bill Duke in which he discusses falling in love with performing, how American Gigolo stood apart when it was made, finding the humanity in his character, and more. 

• • Montages and Monologues: A new seven-minute interview with editor Richard Halsey in which he discusses the types of films he likes to make, working with Paul Schrader, the look of the film, the scenes he was most concerned about, and more. 

• • The Non-Conformist: A new 25-minute interview with camera operator King Baggot in which he discusses his background, tragedies that occurred in his family, collaborating with Paul Schrader, the complications of the shooting locations, and more. 

• • Man Machine: A new 15-minute interview with music supervisor & KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox on the music of Giorgio Moroder, the innovative nature of the score, the artist who almost sang “Call Me”, the legacy of the score, and more. 

• • American Icon: A new 19-minute interview with Professor Jennifer Clark on the fashion of American Gigolo, the state of society at this point in time, how the clothes inform the character, and more. 

• Theatrical Trailer: A two-minute trailer is provided here.

• Image Gallery:  A collection of stills, posters and press, and lobby cards is provided here.

Final Thoughts

American Gigolo is one of the finest movies to come from director Paul Schrader. Through this feature, the filmmaker was able to balance a populous execution with a thoughtful script and thematic layers ready for unpacking. Richard Gere is in his prime as a character who goes through a range of emotions while simultaneously trying to keep everything together. The supporting cast impresses almost as much with their turns. The movie maintains a good pace, looks gorgeous, and has a soundtrack that would be a hit even if the movie never existed. This movie is a truly blissful cinematic experience. Arrow Video has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a fantastic A/V presentation and a sterling assortment of special features. If you are a fan of the film, this release is not to be missed. Highly Recommended 

American Gigolo is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. 

Disclaimer: Arrow Video has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.