American Swing
- Director: Jon Hart; Matthew Kaufman
- Writer: Jon Hart
- Producer: Christian Hoagland; Matthew Kaufman
CGiii Comment
Ever heard of Plato's Retreat? You have! Then this will be of some interest.
Otherwise, it's a bunch of unattractive 50+ year olds spouting on about how they swung in the 70s - free love for the straight community.
It's possibly an important piece of social history...but, it really is rather boring to watch - if the club was that exciting...then, surely the documentary could have been a little more peppy rather than this dreary result.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
The parallel stories of Plato's Retreat, a Manhattan sex club for straight couples that operated from 1977 until the mid 1980s, and of Larry Levenson, the club's impresario. In present-day interviews, Larry's family talks about him, while writers, reporters, and clients talk about the club. Mixed with these interviews are still photographs and archival footage of the club, Larry's appearances on talk shows, and newspaper articles. By the late 70s, the club was in full swing, with talk of Plato's Retreats in other cities. By the end of the decade, tax problems had Larry in trouble with the IRS and changing mores gave the club a different vibe. Then AIDS became an epidemic.
Cast & Characters
Bryce Britton as Herself;
Irwin Corey as Himself;
William Davidson as Himself;
Dan Dorfman as Himself;
Donna Ferrato as Herself;
Joe Franklin as Himself;
Jamie Gillis as Himself;
Al Goldstein as Himself;
Dian Hanson as Herself;
Buck Henry as Himself;
Ron Jeremy as Himself;
Edward I. Koch as Himself;
Steve Kraus as Himself;
Fred J. Lincoln as Himself;
Dr. Robert L. McGinley as Himself