"Crusing" - Al Pacino (1980) on Warner Bros. - when? (1 Viewer)

[Jay E]

I'd also like to see this on DVD.

Warner seems to avoid releasing "controversial" or films with explicit material, as I'm also waiting eagerly for them to release The Devils & Performance on DVD.

I'm not holding my breath on any of these appearing anytime soon.

 

[paul_goz]

Performance is in process NOW for a SE DVD. (see the IMDb webpage for performance, then look at the board for Performance DVD.

The devils is also in process according to the last Warners chat.

 

[DeanR]

I remembered that I recorded Cruising off of cable back around 1980. I went on a search mission tonight and found it in storage in my house. The quality is pretty good considering it is a VHS recording at the LP speed. I am copying it right now to my Panny burner. I have not seen the movie since 1980 and boy does Al Pacino look young. I also found a tape with Student Bodies on it! I am going to have to check that movie out again.

 

[GerardoHP]

I remember people talking about a hardcore BJ in the disco scene (I think) when CRUISING was first released. I also remember not seeing anything hardcore in the rental video version from a decade ago. But I did spot a couple of 1970's gay porn stars in the disco scene. Anyone know what's on the footage that got cut out of the theatrical release version?

 

[TonyDale]

THREE OPINIONS ON CRUISING
Bright Lights on CRUISING

I'm sure that there is a book around my office somewhere, possibly 'THE CUTING ROOM FLOOR,' which details the cuts which were made to CRUISIN to get in an American R rating.

 

[Brian W.]

I think it does, partly because negative gay stereotypes are almost nonexistant in movies and TV these days... which I find almost as annoying as the opposite.

And how ironic that the cult following for "Cruising" is almost all gay men. Even in the early eighties, I was surprised to see that they showed scenes from it on the video monitor in a local gay bar! I thought, "But I thought we were supposed to hate this movie."

 

[Martin Jeeves]

From what I remember... most of the people involved in the filming of "CRUISING" dislike the film.

AL PACINO doesn't talk about it.

KAREN ALLEN who played his girlfriend has totally disowned it (even removing it from her resume!)

I think there are many reasons for this not being released on DVD and from what I've heard from WHV, I don't expect to see it anytime soon.:frowning:

 

[RaulR]

I know what you're saying, but it's not really that ironic. Who else would be interested in this movie for its milieu? In fact, what other reason is there to see it except for its status as the first high-profile movie to depict that particular subculture? It certainly falls flat as a suspense thriller.

Another thing that irritates me about Cruising is that they went to the trouble of shooting on location and hiring authentic-looking extras, but everyone with a speaking part (including the villain) is straight out of Central Casting and sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

[Kevin M]

I've heard gay people I've known say this as well, I always assumed that it was along the same lines of why pot smokers love Reefer Madness, it's so over the top that it becomes comedic.

 

[GerardoHP]

I don't mean to speak for all gay men, obviously, but I never found CRUISING comedic. Inaccurate and over the top, yes, but funny, no. The murder scene where the killer ties up and stabs one of his victims (a very sweet and trusting guy, by the way) made me sick. Years before I saw CRUSISING, another movie with a "sordid" gay theme, THE DETECTIVE, frightened me so much that I probably stayed in the closet an extra decade because of it.

 

[Kevin M]

Yes, but the reason they gave was along the same lines as Richard Pryor's de-empowering of the N-word, to see it as a joke is to take it's strength away from those who would use it against you.
This is from back in 1988 when I worked in the restaurant industry and there was a large gay contingent among the staff, I engaged in discussions like this quite a lot & at least three of these folks made it clear that they found the film so ridiculous as to be hilarious, along the lines of Reefer Madness.

You may not find it that way but they certainly did and had no qualms about saying so.