American Gigolo – Trailer
American Gigolo was released in 1980 and features Richard Gere as a male escort who gets himself entangled in a murder case. It was one of the first cinema-bound movies to include frontal male nudity and kickstarted Gere’s career as a Hollywood leading man. However, if it wasn’t for Paul Schrader, Gere might never have starred in the film. The role of Julian Kaye was offered to Christopher Reeve by Barry Diller at Paramount Pictures, but Schrader was so against the casting that he contacted Reeve’s agent to get him to persuade Reeve to decline the offer. Reeve eventually did turn it down and Gere’s memorable character was born. But not before John Travolta briefly stepped into the role before declaring it wasn’t the right movie for him.