Cruising

Sexual ambiguity and transformation

Pacino's character is read as moving through exposure, curiosity, and possible self-discovery, with the film blurring policing and desire.

Masculinity as performance

The film's leather, uniforms, limps, and stylized body language are discussed as signs of compromised or contested masculinity.

Policing as lawless culture

The movie is treated as a William Friedkin police film in which law enforcement itself is unstable, sexualized, and abusive.

Late-1970s New York as a layered ecosystem

The film is praised for showing nightlife, crime, apartments, clubs, and street life stacked on top of one another.

Controversy versus quality

The hosts argue that the film's original anti-gay controversy obscured a better, more humane movie than critics assumed.

Production note

Friedkin said the movie had to use different voices for the killer because of protest-related production damage.

Production note

The film was initially given an X rating and Friedkin said he took it to the ratings board 50 times.

Production note

About 40 minutes of footage were deleted, and Friedkin later said the missing material might have made Pacino's character seem more culpable.

Production note

The movie was shot in part with cooperation from New York mafia figures because they owned many gay bars.

Production note

The morgue scene was reportedly the first time a film was allowed to shoot in that location.

Production note

Karen Allen was never shown a complete script.

Production note

John Rechy is mentioned as a sounding board who helped with a line about a gay liberation slogan.

Production note

James Franco and Travis Matthews made Interior. Leather Bar as a fictionalized project about the missing footage.

The Warriors

Used as a comparison point for another controversial New York film from the era.

The French Connection

Cited as a Friedkin film that shows police lawlessness and urban urgency.

The Exorcist

Referenced as another Friedkin movie about institutional corruption and transgression.

Sorcerer

Mentioned as part of Friedkin's run before Cruising.

To Live and Die in L.A.

Used to describe Friedkin's continuing interest in rule-bound systems and corruption.

Star Wars

Pacino is said to have turned down the Han Solo role.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Another major role Pacino allegedly turned down.

Apocalypse Now

Another role Pacino allegedly passed on.

Kramer vs. Kramer

Cited as a part Pacino turned down before his 1980s pivot.

Slap Shot

Pacino reportedly wanted the part but could not skate.

Stardust Memories

Referenced in a discussion of Woody Allen moving backward into nostalgia.

Manhattan

Mentioned as part of Woody Allen's earlier New York nostalgia cycle.

Boogie Nights

Referenced during memorabilia talk as a comparison for collectible props.

The Watch

Referenced in a joking aside about Chris Ryan's other podcast.

Still Processing

Referenced in a joke about Wesley Morris's other show.

Naughty November

The hosts repeatedly frame the episode as part of a themed month of provocative movies.

Hanky code running gag

They keep returning to colored handkerchiefs as a symbol of the film's sexual subculture.

Shaving cream/cum joke

The ending shaving scene becomes a running joke about the closest thing the movie has to semen imagery.

Pacino's physical descent

They repeatedly track his clothing, makeup, and body language as signs of immersion.

What is going on with the NYPD?

The hosts keep returning to the police force's bizarre, sexualized behavior in the film.

Speaker not identified

“It's a movie about the police.”

Speaker not identified

“You have the wrong attitude.”

Speaker not identified

“Do you ever get your cock sucked”

Speaker not identified

“Blue hanky means blow job.”

Speaker not identified

“How big are you? Party size.”