nikoloslvy
02-13-2009, 10:45 AM
American Swing.
http://www.theyshootactorsdontthey.com/search?q=american+swing
In the summer of 1977 a New York entrepreneur named Larry Levenson decided to take "the lifestyle" out of the shadows with the opening a Plato's Retreat: a swinger's club operating very publicly. American Swing chronicles the rise and fall of that club (and the death of the sexual revolution) through interviews with many of the club's frequenters themselves.
The first portion of the film feels light and amusing as the former Plato's Retreat clientele, now senior citizens, recount the heady days of the club's peak (among the glowing memories are those of the plentiful buffet). As the story of the club rolls on, however, its atmosphere grows far darker as jealousy, heavy drugs, and the spectre of AIDS begin to encroach on the scene. Larry Levenson clearly loved the spotlight and jumped into it every chance he had. Sadly, he was very reluctant to let that spotlight go and when AIDS began to threaten the life of his club Levenson took on a propagandist's role in underplaying its threat. Add to that the details of mob investors and marital revenge, and the story becomes very shady and very compelling.
Culled from a surprising amount of footage and photographs from inside Plato's Retreat, American Swing provides some remarkable visuals. There is some news program and talk show footage included, but most of the material is essentially filthy home movies. Peering into very private lives in an open club is a bizarre experience and provides more than a slight voyeuristic thrill. American Swing is an outstanding time capsule of a long gone era that is hard to imagine today.
__________________________________________________ ______________
American Swing
Mathew Kaufman
Jon Hart
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Language: English
Runtime: 81 minutes
Format: Colour/HDCAM
Rating: 18A
Production Company: Zip Dog Productions
Executive Producer: Jason Kliot, Joana Vicente
Producer: Gretchen McGowan, Christian Hoagland
Cinematographer: Christian Hoagland
Editor: Keith Reamer
Sound: Michael Yessian, Brian Yessian
US Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
International Sales Agent: Magnolia Pictures International
TIFF Tags: Documentary
PUBLIC SCREENINGS
whoops apparently this had public screenings in september.oh wellz.still i doubt anyones herd of it.
In 1977, New York City was scorched by stifling heat waves, enervated by energy crunches and inflation and hurtling toward social unrest. But its citizens partied on. Nightlife flourished, disco and cocaine ruled at the exclusive Studio 54 and punks smashed guitars at CBGB. Meanwhile, a raging orgy was underway at Plato's Retreat. Chronicling the rise and fall of this notorious sex club and its quixotic owner Larry Levenson, American Swing captures the glorious last gasp of the (mostly hetero) sexual revolution that had been birthed in the sixties.
Plato's Retreat evolved from a desire to have straight sex out in the open, a privilege flaunted by the city's gay clubs. At first glance, Levenson appeared to be a regular family man, but in reality he was “a runaway tiger of sex,” frequenting swingers clubs behind his wife's back. Bankrolled by shady investors with mob links and promoting the club through spots on public-access cable, Levenson and his swinger girlfriend Mary created a relaxed atmosphere where inhibitions were cast aside in favour of free, wild behaviour. Walking into Plato's Retreat was like walking into a stag film.
Directors Mathew Kaufman and Jon Hart have unearthed footage of a lost era chock full of chest hair, gold medallions, platform shoes and a multitude of penis and bra sizes. Club founders, patrons, employees, journalists and friends – including Melvin Van Peebles, Buck Henry, Ed Koch and porn legend Jamie Gillis – relate humorous and oddly sentimental recollections. Sexagenarian former regulars reminisce about the glorious (if hygienically questionable) dinner buffet, while others recount anecdotes about the pool, the “mattress room” and more.
The city government was so repulsed by what went on inside Plato's that they tried to pass ordinances to close it. As the AIDS epidemic hit, gay bathhouses were shut down, and pressure was put on Plato's, which was finally closed on New Year's Eve, 1985.
American Swing. It's sweaty. It's sleazy. It's sexy. It's the seventies, baby.
Colin Geddes
Mathew Kaufman was born in Mount Kisco, New York, and graduated in film from the Tisch School of the Arts. He has directed the documentaries Swap Meat (94), Domestic Differences (97) and American Swing (08).
Jon Hart was born in New York City and studied political science from the University of Vermont. As a journalist, he has contributed to numerous publications, including The New York Times, The New York Post, Time Out New York, Maxim, Details and The Village Voice. American Swing (08) is his first feature documentary.
http://www.theyshootactorsdontthey.com/search?q=american+swing
In the summer of 1977 a New York entrepreneur named Larry Levenson decided to take "the lifestyle" out of the shadows with the opening a Plato's Retreat: a swinger's club operating very publicly. American Swing chronicles the rise and fall of that club (and the death of the sexual revolution) through interviews with many of the club's frequenters themselves.
The first portion of the film feels light and amusing as the former Plato's Retreat clientele, now senior citizens, recount the heady days of the club's peak (among the glowing memories are those of the plentiful buffet). As the story of the club rolls on, however, its atmosphere grows far darker as jealousy, heavy drugs, and the spectre of AIDS begin to encroach on the scene. Larry Levenson clearly loved the spotlight and jumped into it every chance he had. Sadly, he was very reluctant to let that spotlight go and when AIDS began to threaten the life of his club Levenson took on a propagandist's role in underplaying its threat. Add to that the details of mob investors and marital revenge, and the story becomes very shady and very compelling.
Culled from a surprising amount of footage and photographs from inside Plato's Retreat, American Swing provides some remarkable visuals. There is some news program and talk show footage included, but most of the material is essentially filthy home movies. Peering into very private lives in an open club is a bizarre experience and provides more than a slight voyeuristic thrill. American Swing is an outstanding time capsule of a long gone era that is hard to imagine today.
__________________________________________________ ______________
American Swing
Mathew Kaufman
Jon Hart
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Language: English
Runtime: 81 minutes
Format: Colour/HDCAM
Rating: 18A
Production Company: Zip Dog Productions
Executive Producer: Jason Kliot, Joana Vicente
Producer: Gretchen McGowan, Christian Hoagland
Cinematographer: Christian Hoagland
Editor: Keith Reamer
Sound: Michael Yessian, Brian Yessian
US Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
International Sales Agent: Magnolia Pictures International
TIFF Tags: Documentary
PUBLIC SCREENINGS
whoops apparently this had public screenings in september.oh wellz.still i doubt anyones herd of it.
In 1977, New York City was scorched by stifling heat waves, enervated by energy crunches and inflation and hurtling toward social unrest. But its citizens partied on. Nightlife flourished, disco and cocaine ruled at the exclusive Studio 54 and punks smashed guitars at CBGB. Meanwhile, a raging orgy was underway at Plato's Retreat. Chronicling the rise and fall of this notorious sex club and its quixotic owner Larry Levenson, American Swing captures the glorious last gasp of the (mostly hetero) sexual revolution that had been birthed in the sixties.
Plato's Retreat evolved from a desire to have straight sex out in the open, a privilege flaunted by the city's gay clubs. At first glance, Levenson appeared to be a regular family man, but in reality he was “a runaway tiger of sex,” frequenting swingers clubs behind his wife's back. Bankrolled by shady investors with mob links and promoting the club through spots on public-access cable, Levenson and his swinger girlfriend Mary created a relaxed atmosphere where inhibitions were cast aside in favour of free, wild behaviour. Walking into Plato's Retreat was like walking into a stag film.
Directors Mathew Kaufman and Jon Hart have unearthed footage of a lost era chock full of chest hair, gold medallions, platform shoes and a multitude of penis and bra sizes. Club founders, patrons, employees, journalists and friends – including Melvin Van Peebles, Buck Henry, Ed Koch and porn legend Jamie Gillis – relate humorous and oddly sentimental recollections. Sexagenarian former regulars reminisce about the glorious (if hygienically questionable) dinner buffet, while others recount anecdotes about the pool, the “mattress room” and more.
The city government was so repulsed by what went on inside Plato's that they tried to pass ordinances to close it. As the AIDS epidemic hit, gay bathhouses were shut down, and pressure was put on Plato's, which was finally closed on New Year's Eve, 1985.
American Swing. It's sweaty. It's sleazy. It's sexy. It's the seventies, baby.
Colin Geddes
Mathew Kaufman was born in Mount Kisco, New York, and graduated in film from the Tisch School of the Arts. He has directed the documentaries Swap Meat (94), Domestic Differences (97) and American Swing (08).
Jon Hart was born in New York City and studied political science from the University of Vermont. As a journalist, he has contributed to numerous publications, including The New York Times, The New York Post, Time Out New York, Maxim, Details and The Village Voice. American Swing (08) is his first feature documentary.