It's finally coming out on dvd, September 18! I already pre-ordered my copy.

Released February 8, 1980, and directed by William Friedkin, Cruising was and is an extremely controversial film, which faced major opposition from protestors. Taking place in New York City, Pacino plays a cop going undercover in the underbelly of the gay subculture to catch a killer who has been targeting homosexuals, their dismembered parts turning up in the Hudson river. Though Pacino soon finds himself immersed in a world that was once foreign but is now familiar; he becomes obsessed with finding the killer at all costs, especially that of his personal relationships. The only thing that keeps him grounded is the brugeoning friendship between himself and his male neighbor, a beautiful young playwright stuck in a relationship with a moody dancer (James Remar).

The film is violent, dark, brutal, very appropriately sexual, and let's face it - arousing. It is a long standing claim that 40 minutes of footage was cut out by censors, and whether that footage has survived or not is unknown (it certainly isn't on the new dvd). Art Bell, writer for The Village Voice, was originally hired by Friedkin to write the film's script, but when Friedkin decided to go it alone, Bell began a smear campaign against the film and all involved. Groups of protestors gathered regularly during filming and interfered with the film's production, even going so far as to send out death threats. The film had bad press before it was even finished and released, but Friedkin, being no stranger to controversy, persevered. Upon the film's release, luke-warm reviews followed, along with a perplexed reaction from the mainstream. Cruising gave mainstream America an intimate look at gay S&M subculture, as filming locales included the interiors of gay clubs, where patrons went about their usual activities as the cameras rolled (including that of a man being fisted); something that many were not (and still not) prepared to see.

The film however, found an audience on home video, and word-of-mouth kept it going. The CBS home video release is the most complete version, though extremely high prices for a used copy kept it from being seen by many. That is, of course, until a few years ago when IFC began to run the film. That is how I was able to see it, out of complete curiosity and a little info on it from my dad. Al Pacino, being one of my favorite actors, thoroughly impressed me, as did Remar's brief (though very memorable) appearance at the end. My love for the film was re-sparked after I bought the soundtrack for Death Proof, which features one of Cruising's main tracks, It's So Easy by Willy De Ville. Around that period, Friedkin had Cruising re-shown at Cannes, to a great reaction (the film was especially championed by Mr. Tarantino, who was there as well for the showing of his longer cut of Death Proof). After all of this positive reaction and clamoring from the film's fans for a proper dvd release, now seems like a better time than any for Cruising, a film that many have tried to unsuccessfully dismiss and bury, a film with no inbetween: you either love it or abhor it. But make no mistake; however you feel, Cruising leaves an impression on you. Even though I have seen it only once, I have never forgotten it, numerous details sticking out in my mind. Believe me, if I had the means to, I would've watched it many times after.

And now I can!

Interesting trivia:
-Friedkin was so annoyed at cutting so much out of his film, that he interspliced footage of hardcore gay porn in with the film's first murder. This was confirmed by the documentary Inside the Celluloid Closet, wherein they suggest that the viewer play the scene on slow to see for themselves. I myself look forward to doing so when my dvd copy arrives.
-Brian De Palma really wanted to direct this film but his producers could not obtain the rights to the material, so he made Dressed to Kill instead.
-The L.A. punk band The Germs recorded five or so songs expressly for the soundtrack, although in the actual event, only Lion's Share was actually used. During the recording sessions, director William Friedkin was so energized by the Germs' playing that he took to pogo dancing around the engineer's booth.
-Karen Allen was never shown a complete script before she worked on this film. Director William Friedkin deliberately kept the actress in the dark about the events of the film since her character Nancy wasn't supposed to be aware of what was happening to Al Pacino's cop as he explored the gay underworld.

The best bit of trivia, however?
Joe Strummer was approached to have the Clash record a song for the film's soundtrack. Culling from their own personal experience, Mick and Joe wrote Somebody Got Murdered, and submitted it for their use. The song unfortunately went unused, as Joe figured it did not sound 'heavy' enough for the film.

I leave you now with the film's trailer and two scenes that helped the film garner controversy:



Some people claim this scene is real. It was also spoofed on SCTV, featuring a leather clad Dave Thomas greasing up his fist as he prepares to stuff a turkey strung up by its legs:

Note another Willy De Ville song, Pullin' My String playing in this scene. Also, the salesman there is none other than Powers "Jim Jones" Boothe!:


Comments, anyone?