American Swing

How could I possibly give this any score other than a 69? A tender, nostalgic, and oddly life-affirming look back at a scene that was more than just a club but a symbol for an era in NYC. God, I miss the real New York...

Aside from the icky feeling I get watching "American Swing", I really enjoyed it. It's a thorough examination of not only Plato's Retreat and it's owner, Larry Levinson, but of swinging itself. Interviews with, now aged, former club members brings insight into their motivation to share their spouses. The use of stock footage allows you to almost feel like your in between the sweaty bodies. Many interviews with people for the club and those against allows you to make your own judgements.

Watching, it suddenly clicked: Plato's Retreat was Spider Robinson's inspiration for Lady Sally's Place! After that, comparing the sf-fantastical version to the actual establishment made Levinson's joint seem even more revolting. Which cracked me up. An especial gag-laugh as the Plato's buffet Larry was so proud of got slagged by the regulars in retrospect. The more sordid bits were skipped over (Larry's girlfriend getting committed is a behind-the-hand mumble) so... funny, but sus as a doc.

Seems to give a pretty complete picture of the sleazy Plato's Retreat club. Nothing here is particularly shocking to me as I've seen reports of this kind of stuff my whole life. Sort of interesting, sort of "meh." Overall worth watching I guess.

Interesting portrait of a milieu.

"Can't get it up."

Interesting if predictable, the doc's most intriguing in its last 10 minutes, as it allows the Plato "survivors" (can't interview any1 who might have been lost to AIDS) to reminisce fondly on their ability to cast aside societal mores and take part in what amounted to 1 of the world's wildest parties. But as the last talking head reminds us: partying/having sex w/ some1 has very little 2 do w/ befriending them - an important difference 2 consider in our Animal House-Madonna-spawn-driven world.