INTERIOR. LEATHER BAR. trailer from Travis Mathews on Vimeo.
In order to avoid an X rating, 40 minutes of gay S&M footage was rumored to be cut and destroyed from the 1980 film, “Cruising.” Inspired by the mythology of this controversial film, filmmakers James Franco and Travis Mathews collaborate to imagine their own lost footage.
Amid the backdrop of a frenzied film set actor Val Lauren reluctantly agrees to take the lead in the film. Val is repeatedly forced to negotiate his boundaries during scenes on and “off camera,” as un-simulated gay sex happens around him. The film itself is constructed as a play with boundaries remaining queer in subject and form. As much a film about filmmaking as it is about an exploration of sexual and creative freedom, “Interior. Leather Bar.” defies easy categorization.
The film stars Lauren and Christian Patrick and will make its official debut at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.
more info @ INTERIOR. LEATHER BAR.
Looks hot! Can’t wait.
James Franco in a gay leather movie,I got what I want for Christmas,wood!
This will probably never be shown here in OZ, pity.
Oh well
Franco’s hot, he should call me if he wants to research a sequel!
The men are enjoying having fun time to be safe sex.
Let’s hope Franco is more into this than his Oscar hosting gig.
I think I will have to sit in the back row at this movie.
I question why they are making it almost 30 years after the original. Cruising is one of my favourite movies of all time. It had enough controversy back in the 70s when it shot and Al Pacino took a lot of heat from the gay community for making it. From what I know about the original film it is true, the studio DEMANDED that the graphic 40 minutes be cut out or get the X-rating. But now when bareback, piss porn is only a click away, why make it now? I will still go see it but Al Pacino made is statement with the film and moved on. But the other question I have is, in a world where you can get fisting porn off the net, will anyone really care about the 40 minutes? And will it be considered too “mainstream” now. Remember Cruising was extremely controversial back then because being gay was extremely controversial. In the past 30 years the world has changed. Will it matter now?
One of the perks in consulting for the Studios is viewing films before they’re released to the public. I think the members will be intrigued by this film if you have seen the original “Cruising”. This Matthews/Franco film will debut at the Sundance Film Festival next month.
The general concept concerns the missing 40 min. of Wm. Friedkin’s 1980 film “Cruising”. The film is based on a novel of the same title by N.Y.Times reporter Gerald Walker. This was inspired by a rash of grisly gay murders with dismembered body parts floating in the river. These were traced back to the Meatpacking district which was then the center of the BDSM scene in N.Y.C. with bars like the Anvil, Manhole, Mineshaft and Hellfire Club. This area is now gentrified and one of the toniest neighborhoods. In Friedkin’s original cut there was 60+ min. of essentially documentary footage of real leather bars with full-on sex acts that were part of the plot development. Needless to say this got the film an “X” rating which basically kept it out of mainline theaters..a financial death sentence. Friedkin made about 50 different cuts to get it down to a “NC-17”, then finally a “R” rating. This meant he had to cut 40 min. of the most explicit footage out. Friedkin has been ambivalent about the cuts saying both it was incidental and of no consequence and that it altered the character development of the undercover cop played by Al Pacino. He has also intimated occasionally that Pacino had a more interactive role in these missing scenes as well. Pacino rarely, if ever, acknowledges this film more less comments on it. Originally this part was to go to Richard Gere.
When Friedkin went back to restore the film for the 30th anniversary release on DVD, he wanted to replace the missing minutes he had stored in the vaults at United Artists…they were gone.
Now director Travis Matthews and actor James Franco have made a 60min. film about this gap. Both are noted for their sympathetic exploration of gay issues on film. Franco has played gay roles in “Milk”,”Howl” about poet Allen Ginsberg and “The Broken Tower” about poet Hart Crane and others. Matthew has his ongoing documentary gay series “In Their Room” with London 2012 just finished, “I Want Your Love” and now “Interior Leather Bar”. Travis, that’s him next to the bareass in chaps, described the film as more of an interactive play and a psychological study of both the audience and the actors. It’s not a remake nor re-imagined creation of those missing minutes, though that is the subject around which the play is constructed. Instead, it’s about the audience looking for an authentic glimpse of the leather lifestyle and their reaction to it and the actors exploring their boundaries in playing these BDSM roles and their own sexual identities. There are 2 cuts…as Franco says..dirty and very dirty. I saw the latter…sorry, nothing hardcore. Usually, the Sundance channel will eventually show the Festival films. Because of the subject matter it will be released through art theaters or in predominantly gay neighborhoods. Do see the original first as you will then be up to speed to fully enjoy this interesting conceptual film.
BTW, Friedkin was the director of the iconic and groundbreaking gay film “The Boys in the Band” in 1970.
Speaking more as a fan of film in general–than considering its “gay” aspects—it looks to be a compelling film and one that looks to be worthwhile to see on many levels.