How Paul Schrader “Persuaded” Barry Diller to Replace John Travolta with Richard Gere in ‘American Gigolo’

As a seasoned gamer of Hollywood’s intricate chessboard, I can’t help but marvel at Paul Schrader’s cunning moves in the making of “American Gigolo.” The way he played his pieces, from manipulating the studio bosses to outsmarting John Travolta’s agent, was nothing short of a masterclass in filmmaking politics. It’s a tale as old as time, where the underdog (in this case, Richard Gere) gets the role because the star (Travolta) dropped out due to… well, let’s just say the Scientology meetings were more enticing than the script.

At 78 years old, Paul Schrader has taken on a more contemplative stance, with a hint of self-reflection. To put it plainly, he expresses a rather gloomy outlook concerning what lies ahead.

The esteemed filmmaker who gained fame as a critic before transitioning into screenwriting and directing – with an extensive portfolio that includes the screenplay for Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” (1976) and “Raging Bull” (1980), and directorial works such as “American Gigolo” (1980), “First Reformed” (2017), and this year’s “Oh Canada” – is set to visit Tuscany this week, gracing the Lucca Film Festival as a special guest. On September 25, he will conduct a Masterclass for university students, followed by the presentation of a lifetime achievement award on September 26. Additionally, a retrospective of his most notable films will be showcased.

As a gaming enthusiast immersed in the world of virtual reality, I managed to snag a moment with director Schrader in the bustling cityscape of New York. Before sharing behind-the-scenes tales about John Travolta and his captivating performances, he veered off into philosophical territory.

Paul, you are coming to Lucca. In a lifetime of enormous achievement, what would you like to be remembered for most?

In simpler terms, I’m able to address your question, but my response would be based on a faith in the future, which isn’t something I hold. It’s challenging to discuss one’s legacy when there’s no expectation of one. As we seem to have reached the end here, humanity might be disappearing. Carbon life has had its day, but if there are human-like beings a century from now who encounter or read these words, then I’d say what I’m most content with is having produced everything on the assumption that it would be valued. I started writing with the expectation of success in “Taxi Driver”, and I continue to write today in the same way. In the past two years, I have written four films without a contract, and this gives others the impression that they too can achieve it. Just do it!

Tell me about writing Taxi Driver “on spec” as you put it.

Before my encounter with Martin, I had already penned a considerable amount of work. It was in 1972 when I authored “Taxi Driver”. In 1974, I crossed paths with Marty. At that time, I was a movie critic based in L.A., and I had written a script that could be described as an emotional appeal about existence. However, I didn’t take any action with it. One day, during an interview with Brian De Palma, I mentioned my written work, to which he responded negatively. Later, when we were playing chess, he suggested reading my script. He eventually passed it on to Martin, hinting that the film might suit him well.

Besides Taxi Driver, your other widely recognized films include Raging Bull and American Gigolo. I recall a story Giorgio Armani shared with me about how you arranged for John Travolta to visit Milano, where he was fitted by Armani for a role that eventually went to Richard Gere in the end. Is this a memory you share?

I’ve got a picture of that moment – specifically, it’s a snapshot of Giorgio measuring John. Interestingly enough, Sergio Galeotti, Armani’s long-term business and life partner, was there observing the scene. John and I had just come from London, where he had opened “Grease” on stage. Unfortunately, he then chose to withdraw from it.

But before Travolta dropped out, he had already been fitted by Mr. Armani himself, right?

Absolutely, the garments were all prepared. They weren’t custom-made or handcrafted, but rather, they belonged to his forthcoming collection. It was evident that this was a planned venture, as he was gearing up to expand his business into North America.

What happened with John Travolta? He had a family crisis?

Three significant events unfolded:

John Travolta had concerns regarding the implied homosexual themes due to his affiliation with Scientology, as they are not supportive of such topics.

It’s unclear if he’s currently open about his identity, but he definitely wasn’t open about it in the past. Whether the rumors were accurate or not, they certainly weren’t topics for conversation. People generally kept their sexuality private until Rupert Everett came out. He was the pioneer, and unfortunately, he suffered professional consequences as a result.

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

As a devoted admirer, I had high hopes for Gere’s involvement in our project. However, I doubted that Paramount would agree. Unexpectedly, John declined on a Friday afternoon. I then approached Barry Diller, my superior at Paramount, expressing my desire to pursue Gere. He was hesitant and wanted to consider Chris Reeve instead.

And Diller?

1) I visited Barry Diller’s residence, slipped a message in his mailbox. A short while later, he phoned me. During our conversation, I informed him that Richard Gere was keen to star in “American Gigolo” and shared that Chris Reeve felt it wasn’t suitable for him. I said: “Tomorrow, the news about John Travolta leaving the project will break. We can no longer hide this fact as it’s become too big. Once the headline appears, reporters will ask for your response, Barry. Currently, I have a legal hold on John Travolta for three months because he withdrew from filming ten days before production started. Legally, I can keep him from working during that period. Alternatively, there could be another announcement, Barry, as I know you want John for “Urban Cowboy” and I am aware that John is eager to participate in it. Therefore, the alternative announcement you might make is that John has withdrawn from “American Gigolo,” and we are proceeding with Richard Gere instead.” An hour later, Barry contacted me again, and we went ahead with the announcement.

2024-09-25 22:55

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