American Gigolo-Sexual Chic!

Recently after reading the Architectural Digest piece
 'Must See Films Starring Architecture and Design'
I started to contemplate which films
 have left an impression on me.....

 Paul Schrader's 1980 film
 American Gigolo is definitely one of them
apart from the obvious attraction of watching the young Richard Gere on screen...

the muted colour palette of beige, grey and ivory synonymous now with the Armani aesthetic
 (although only new to America at the time),
was no more beautifully captured than in Julian Kaye's (Richard Gere) apartment in the film
 created by production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti.

  The entire colour palette and mood flows seamlessly throughout the film.

Here are some of the design elements/concepts which have stayed in my memory all these years....

the curved deco inspired blond veneered floating bedhead
 with its built in drawers on the reverse side where Julian keeps his collection of Armani shirts and ties

 art books and magazines

  left open where Julian makes love to

 Lauren Hutton's

Michelle.

the pale caramel, blue and cream finely quilted spread
 with its coordinating bolster
 that play a supporting role in possibly the most memorable scene from the film:

where Julian lays out his elegantly co-ordinated Armani collection to the sounds of
  Smokey Robinson's
'The Love I Saw in You Was Just A Mirage'

The deco inspired curved joinery of Julian's kitchen

and the floor to ceiling swathe of book shelves

Julian's desk and torch ere...

and the Le Corbusier LC 2 armchair upholstered in grey wool

the beautiful biomorphic Vladimir Kagan style sofa
 upholstered in grey wool which goes on forever 

the 'leaning' of artworks against the wall
 as if they have only just been acquired,
 awaiting appraisal and hanging....

something I always think of when an artwork is waiting to find its ultimate home
 often looking its best just left leaning nonchalantly against the wall

the ceramic urns and vessels just unpacked....
the packing cases seeming just as chic as the vases themselves.

Although the apartment was fully constructed for the film,
 I always imagined it to be a bungalow at the
 Beverly Hills Hotel
and that the character Julian was a permanent resident.

I may have come to this conclusion because of the scene where Julian and Michelle meet at the
 Polo Lounge which of course, is situated in the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel.

words J Watson-Evans

images from Paul Schrader film stills American Gigolo via
2 the Walls.com