Paul Schrader on Casting Richard Gere in ‘American Gigolo’

Paul Schrader, on the age of 78, is getting a bit philosophical, a trifle introspective and, if the reality be instructed, extraordinarily pessimistic in regards to the future.

The legendary former movie critic turned screenwriter-director — his lengthy checklist of credit consists of, as screenwriter, Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver (1976) and Raging Bull (1980) and, as writer-director, American Gigolo (1980), First Reformed (2017) and this 12 months’s Oh, Canada — will arrive in Tuscany this week, as a particular visitor of the Lucca Movie Pageant. On Sept. 25, he’ll train a grasp class to school college students, and the day after, on Sept. 26, he’ll obtain a lifetime achievement award. There will even be a retrospective of his best movies.

THR Roma caught up with Schrader in New York, simply earlier than he hopped his flight for Italy. Earlier than dishing the dust, and speaking in regards to the trials and tribulations of John Travolta, Schrader went all metaphysical.

Paul, you’re coming to Lucca. In a lifetime of monumental achievement, what would you prefer to be remembered for many?

I may reply that query, however my reply could be predicated on a perception sooner or later, which in actual fact I don’t have. So it’s slightly onerous to speak about one’s legacy when you don’t consider there will probably be any legacy. I believe we now have run out of fumes right here. Humanity is phasing itself out. Carbon-based life has had run, but when there are humanoids 100 years from now who will hear or learn these phrases, then I believe that what I’m most happy with is having created every little thing on spec. I began writing on spec with Taxi Driver, and I’m nonetheless writing right this moment on spec. I’ve written 4 movies within the final two years on spec. And that provides others a way that they’ll do it. Simply do it!

Inform me about writing Taxi Driver “on spec,” as you place it.

I wrote deal earlier than I met Martin. I wrote Taxi Driver in 1972. I met Marty in 1974. I used to be a movie critic on the time in L.A. and I had written a script, a type of existential cry. I didn’t do something with it. At some point I used to be interviewing Brian De Palma, and I stated to Brian: “You recognize, I wrote a script.” And Brian stated: “Oh, God, no, no, no, please!” After which afterwards, once we had been enjoying chess, he stated “OK, I’ll learn your script.” And he gave it to Marty. Brian instructed Marty the movie may be for him.

Other than Taxi Driver, your different most iconic movies are Raging Bull and American Gigolo. Giorgio Armani as soon as instructed me a narrative about the way you introduced John Travolta to Milano to be fitted by Armani for the function that ultimately Richard Gere would take over. Do you do not forget that?

I’ve {a photograph} of it. I actually have {a photograph} of Giorgio taking John’s measurements. And Sergio [Galeotti], who was Armani’s companion each in enterprise and in life for a lot of, a few years, was watching. John and I had come down from London, the place he had opened Grease. After which he dropped out.

However earlier than Travolta dropped out, he had already been fitted by Mr. Armani himself, proper?

Sure, sure, sure. The garments had been all within the works. They weren’t made to order or they weren’t bespoke, however they had been all from his upcoming line, and it was clearly one thing that he had in thoughts as a result of he was on the point of make his transfer into North America.

What occurred with John Travolta? He had a household disaster?

Three issues occurred. First, his mom died, which hit him onerous. Two, he had his first mega-flop, a movie known as Second to Second, and that rocked him. And the third was I believe he had rising nervousness in regards to the homosexual subtext [of the film]. The truth is, the best way the story goes, our pal Equipment Carson, who was alive then, was dwelling with Karen Black. Karen Black was going to Scientology [meetings]. She comes again and says, “Equipment, I believe John is gonna drop out of Schrader’s film. He’s been speaking about it in conferences.” And so I began sniffing round to see who was out there.

John Travolta was delicate in regards to the homosexual subtext as a result of he was in Scientology they usually didn’t approve of homosexual topics?

I don’t know if he’s out now, however he was firmly not out again then. I don’t know if was true or not, but when it had been, it was definitely not one thing that may be mentioned. Nobody, you realize, actually got here out till Rupert Everett. He was the primary. And he misplaced a bunch of labor due to it.

Anyway, John Travolta dropped out. What did you do?

I preferred the concept of Gere. I didn’t assume I may get Paramount to go for it.  Positive sufficient, John dropped out, on a Friday afternoon. I instructed Barry Diller [the boss at Paramount at the time] that I needed to method Gere. And he stated “No, we’re going to go to Chris Reeve.” So the following day, on Saturday, I known as up Chris Reeve’s agent and I stated: “I hear you have got been supplied the script, however I don’t assume Chris is correct for it.” So I poisoned the effectively. No means Chris was going to learn it! (Laughs mischievously.) After which, on Sunday I went to see Gere. He was staying on the seaside. So I am going out to Malibu and Gere is busy watching the Tremendous Bowl. I provide him the half. And he’s hesitating and says he can’t be rushed into such a giant resolution on such quick discover. So I instructed him: “The sport goes to be over in half an hour, but when I stroll out of right here the movie will in all probability fall via, and also you’re not going to have the prospect to decide once more.” And he stated OK, he would do it.

And Diller?

I went over to Barry Diller’s home and left a word in his mailbox. An hour later he known as me. I instructed him that Richard Gere was prepared to do American Gigolo, and I instructed him that Chris Reeve didn’t assume it was proper for him. I stated: “So tomorrow morning the information will hit the trades that John has dropped out. We are able to’t suppress that information any longer. It’s too large. Now after that headline, they’ll ask in your response, Barry. Now I can hold John Travolta tied up for 3 months, legally, as a result of he walked out 10 days earlier than taking pictures. Legally, I can hold him from working for 3 months. Or, there could possibly be one other announcement, Barry, as a result of I do know you need John for City Cowboy. And I do know John needs to do it. So the opposite announcement you could possibly make is that John has dropped out of American Gigolo, and we’re going ahead with Richard Gere.” And Barry known as me again an hour later and we made the announcement.