From lost footage to killer connections: 20 surprising facts about controversial thriller ‘Cruising’
The French Connection and The Exorcist, but the late director also staged one of the most controversial queer-themed films of all time.
The dark crime thriller Cruising was released in 1980 and starred Al Pacino as Detective Steve Burns, a straight cop who goes undercover in the gay S&M scene to solve a series of murders.
Cruising was and is still a hot topic among film buffs. With its brutal violence and unsympathetic portrayal of queer kink and sexuality, many see the film as homophobic, including Pacino.
But while it may be problematic, the production of Cruising is almost as interesting as the movie itself.Below, check out 20 surprising facts about the cult classic Cruising…Patrons of the infamous Mineshaft club in Manhattan were featured heavily in the film’s club scenes.Friedkin said in an interview that the scenes were not simulated and included actual extras engaging in sexual activity.Friedkin believes the footage was destroyed by United Artists.The cost for the constant submissions was a whopping $50,000!Because the film largely shows the queer community in a taboo, negative light, it begins with the following text: “This film is not intended as an indictment of the homosexual world.
