Cruising [1980] dir William Freidken

!!!! WARNING THIS FILM CONTAINS SCENES OF SWEATY MEN IN TIGHT LEATHER DANCING IN HOMOEROTIC FRENZY AND CONVERTING HETEROSEXUALS INTO GAY LIFESTYLE. BE SURE TO TAKE NOTES!!!!!!!!!!!



http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080569/




Cruising



Directed by William Friedkin

Produced by Jerry Weintraub

Written by William Friedkin

Starring Al Pacino

Paul Sorvino

Karen Allen

Distributed by Lorimar Productions / United Artists

Release date(s) February 8, 1980

Running time 106 min.

Language English



Cruising is a 1980 film directed by William Friedkin and starring Al Pacino. The film is loosely based on the novel of the same name by New York Times reporter Gerald Walker, about a New York City serial killer targeting gay men in the 1970s.



Poorly reviewed by critics, Cruising was a modest financial success, though the filming and promotion were dogged by gay rights protesters.





Over 40 minutes of footage were cut from the original release. Friedkin delivered the original cut to the studio, which was found by the MPAA to have provocative content.[citation needed] In an effort to make the scenes of gay "leather bars" as real as possible, actual gay bars were used in the film that existed in New York City at that time. Movie extras in full black leather and chaps and other leather subcultural erotic attire were actual gay patrons of the bar recruited for the scenes a few days before filming began. Extras were instructed to act as they would normally act in gay bars but to tone down sexually-oriented activities because of the likelihood these acts would give the film an "X" rating.



The movie also represents the only film soundtrack work by the seminal Los Angeles punk rock band The Germs. The band recorded a number of songs for the film, of which one, "Lion's Share" appeared.







A deluxe collector's edition on Region 1 DVD was distributed by Warner Home Video on September 18, 2007. This release is not in its original director's cut, but does include some extra scenes not seen in the original VHS release and additional visual effects added by Friedkin. Friedkin also added a commentary track to accompany the DVD. In the commentary, Friedkin states that much of the 40 unused minutes in the theatrical release have been lost. The only visible omission in this re-release, as compared to the theatrical and VHS releases, is the absence of the disclaimer at the beginning of the film stating that Cruising depicts a gay S&M subculture and is not representative of mainstream gay life.



Runtimes

Part 1 51:27

Part 2 50:23

Documentary 43:37