Episode 147: Reflections on “American Gigolo” (1980)

American Gigolo is an allegorical tale-cum-thriller that is very European in style, in that it focuses far more on observation of character and society than on plot, and as such it is much more insightful and successful as an allegory than as a thriller.

Julian Kay is a high-end male escort who is pretentious, materialistic and somewhat superficial, perhaps necessarily so due to his profession.

We see him as he charms his way through his life, providing an attentive service to his clients, but also grating on colleagues and business partners as he pursues his career and puts his ambitions above loyalty, gratitude or even true friendship.

His world is one of heartless transaction and reciprocation, in which ambition and self-promotion are set above compassion and values, and I suggest this is to be seen as an allegory for American society at that time.

Everyone, though especially Julian, appears to be content to be superficial and mercenary.

committed to the principle of quid pro quo and cold-bloodedly using one another for personal benefit.

As such, the choice of male prostitute as a central character is perhaps perfect, as Julian uses others and is also used by others to achieve personal satisfaction.

However, Julian learns the disadvantages of this state of affairs when he is suspected of the murder of a former client, and no one is willing to support him or tell the truth about their involvement with him.

He discovers that his entirely superficial existence, void of connection, depth and attachment, renders him entirely expendable.

Indeed, he may be seen as the perfect candidate for a frame-up, exactly because no one is willing to defend or support him, making him the perfect patsy, and the thriller element of the film involves his attempts to prove himself innocent, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.