Sunday, September 6, 2009

American Swing (2008)


The sexual revolution goes down in flames in this fascinating documentary from Magnolia Films.
It's the story of Larry Levenson and his swing club, Plato's Retreat. For a brief time, the late 1970's, Plato's Retreat, was the destination in New York City for people who wanted to dance, party, and fuck each others' spouses. From the film, which features numerous interviews by the people who frequented the place, Larry was a big-hearted Jewish guy who thought he was creating something unique in the history of American sexuality. And he was. But Larry was also a lousy businessman.
Around 1980 the IRS raided his club and busted Larry and friends for tax evasion. Larry ended up doing less than half of the 8 year sentence he received, but by the time he returned in full glory to his palace of orgasms, Plato's had turned sleazy. In 1985 the city of New York raided Plato's and closed it down for multiple unsafe sex practice violations. This was at the height of the AIDS epidemic and the city was cracking down on all kinds of sex establishments.
Larry would pass away years later, living in a basement, trying to make a living as a taxi driver. He was largely forgotten by his former friends and clientele. In American Swing, one lady who frequented Plato's remembers getting in his cab and being shocked to discover who was driving her to the next location.
Most of the documentary is filled with people talking about how great Plato's was in it's full glory. Larry had taken over the basement of a swank old hotel in NYC and turned it into a full service swing club. Lines would wind down the street. People from all walks of life would line up to get in on the action. A tight set of rules (couples only!) kept the gawkers and strokers to a minimum.
An excellent documentary about the rise and fall of one fortress in the sexual revolution with a somber reminder of responsibility.

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