Just a Gigolo Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		2.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

Just a Gigolo Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 17, 2021

It’s a film star David Bowie has gone on the record as disliking, and he’s not wrong. 1978’s “Just a Gigolo” spends a lot of time and money to go absolutely nowhere dramatically, with director David Hemmings (who appears in a supporting role) focusing more on recreating Germany in the 1920s than dealing with the obvious shortcomings of a tedious endeavor.

“Just a Gigolo” tracks the life of Paul (David Bowie), a Prussian solider who survives World War I, returning to Germany to find how drastically his world has changed. The screenplay establishes an odyssey for the main character, who meets many people and absorbs several life-changing experiences, but this loose approach to storytelling isn’t managed well by Hemmings, who appears to be trying to make a comedy with the material, while the screenplay delivers darker events for the players. Uneven doesn’t even begin to describe parts of “Just a Gigolo,” which makes time for politics, war, romance, family, and even musical numbers, also trying to add some uniqueness to the endeavor with the hiring of screen legend Marlene Dietrich, who appears in a few short scenes. It’s interesting to see the actress in front of a camera 17 years after her last performance, and she certainly brings a little extra life to a deeply confused picture.

Just a Gigolo Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Just a Gigolo" does pursue a period look to best dig into the atmosphere of Germany in the 1920s, but something isn't quite right about the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Encoding issues are present, with grain becoming blocky at times, lacking a film-like quality, and blacks emerge with a milkier appearance, washing out evening events and formalwear. Colors are satisfactory, showcasing period fashion and occasional moviemaking flamboyance. Exteriors retain colder hues, and skintones are natural. Detail is there, just not represented well on this disc. Source is in good condition, with a few flappy hairs and light scratches.

Just a Gigolo Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix shows some age, with mild hiss present during the listening experience. Dialogue exchanges enjoy dubbed clarity to preserve story information, but crispness isn't present. Music also lacks precision, but the period sounds of the feature are appreciable, with piano and orchestral moods set.

Just a Gigolo Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (30 pages) includes production notes from Joshua Sinclair and an article by Graham Rinaldi.

• Commentary features assistant to director David Hemmings, Rory MacLean.

• Making Of (28:41, HD) for "Just a Gigolo" features interviews with writer Joshua Sinclair and assistant to director David Hemmings, Rory MacLean. The men have much to share about the initial shaping of the picture, describing the screenwriting process and casting efforts, with certain choices leading the production to David Bowie, who was already in West Berlin working on his music career. The saga of Marlene Dietrich's appearance takes up most of the featurette, with the aging star having difficulty agreeing to take the part, which initially involved her return to Germany after decades in exile. Sinclair details the German response to "Just a Gigolo," which was boycotted by the country for its depiction of Nazi life, while the general release was ultimately ignored by the public. MacLean describes the endeavor as a "failed attempt" to merge tones, but he's careful to celebrate the movie's limited achievements and tremendous casting.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (4:29, HD) is included.

Just a Gigolo Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Bowie isn't pushing too hard in the lead role, content to stand in place while supporting actors come and go, including Kim Novak and Curd Jurgens. It's interesting to watch the music icon attempt to make sense of Hemmings's vision, but he's mostly along for the ride, with the production struggling to make sense of tone to help encourage emotional investment. Such a response isn't likely to happen with "Just a Gigolo," which is reserved strictly for film historians and Bowie fans curious to watch a feature he basically disowned.