Today we want to throw it back to the 1980film that brought the term "cruising" to mainstream culture. Yes, we're going to do a deep dive into the making of Cruising and look at the leather bulges we got to enjoy in this William Friedkin film!
Director William Friedkin was coming off of two major hits - The French Connection and The Exorcist - when he decidedto adapt the Gerald Walker novel "Cruising" that was inspired by a real serial killer who was preying on gay bars and dumping the bodies in the Hudson River in plastic bags. Gruesome and horrible stuff! In some fascinating film lore, Friedkin was inspired by a real radiologist visit to recreate the angiogram for The Exorcist, including having the technicians play themselves in a scene where Linda Blair's character gets a brain scan. Friedkin soon learned that the radiologist's assistant, Paul Bateson, was awaiting trial for stabbing gay film critic Addison Verrill. It turned out that the X-ray technician was the real-life killer (or so he claimed after already being in prison and the police were satisfied enough with that semi-confession) and this odd connection pushed Friedkin to direct the film.
Okay, so none of that is particularly sexy, but it's interesting that the director had a potential connection to the real-life killer. Still, that's not why we're here! Let's delve into the hot men in leather, shall we? The film was shot in several real leatherbars like The Anvil and The Mine Shaft, both owned by the Mafia at the time, so Friedkin had to buddy up with Mafia members to gain the access he wanted. Psh, we think if he just donned a harness hot pantshe would have been just fine.
Al Pacino starred as the undercover cop although protests from the gay community made him feel uncomfortable with the role. But we think he looks very comfortable with his hands bound behind his back!
Despite the protests, we think the movie turned out great because Arnaldo Santana's ass is prominently displayed in several shots.We'd love to go undercover deep inside of his perky buns!
Our favorite hunk has to be Henry Baker Judd whose bulge is incredible. We're Cruising for more hot Henry's hunky bod throughout the film that we feel constantly #blessed to witness.
The film was released to mixed reviews. To some it was offensive and to others, it wasn't gritty enough. It ended up being banned in several countries like Finland, Iran and South Africa. We do think it's an interesting time capsule into a bygone era of SM nightclubs in New York and it is certainly a bygone era of Henry's hulking bod. #TBT to Cruising, controversy and all!
