American Swing

Larry Levenson managed to grab onto a part of the sexual revolution at the right time, to build Plato’s Retreat into a NYC phenom. This documentary with quite a collection of people contributing, traces it from the beginning to the end. One may cringe at some of the descriptions of what happened there, but it certainly drew in a crowd. While most of those who participated or helped run look upon their times with satisfaction, it really has to be looked upon as to the time it happened, which is a unique time in history of sexual freedom. The documentary is a combination of interviews and film taken at the time. He got careless with the books, and got convicted of tax evasion, and was sentenced to 8 years, but got out in 32 months. But when he got out, and tried to reassert the Club, AIDS happened, and then with the attacks on the Gay community, Plato’s Retreat got caught up with the crackdown, and never recovered. However, as one of the interviewed persons said, in NYC, most clubs last 6-8 years, and then people move on to the next newest thing. So it is really looking into a time capsule that will never be repeated. And that is for the best.

Because to Larry Levenson's ability to capture a piece of the sexual revolution at the perfect time, Plato's Retreat became a NYC sensation in the 1970s. With contributions from many different people and a collection of old video, this documentary follows it from start to finish.Although some of the accounts of what happened there makes one shudder, there was usually a sizable crowd there. While the majority of those who participated or helped with the event's administration are satisfied with their experiences, it's crucial to remember that it took place during a unique time in the history of sexual freedom.In the late 1970s, I wasn't old enough to know anything about places like Plato's Retreat, but I still found the documentary to be interesting. The visitors' candid descriptions were fascinating, and the archived video was just what I wanted to see. The one thing I didn't enjoy was the music that the creators inserted behind a lot of the dialogue. Typically, it's overly loud and a little distracting.I must admit I enjoyed this film.

Having suffered through the seventies once already (as a child and teen) I wasn't sure I was up to the task of enduring this. I did manage to enjoy it despite my misgivings. Mostly because the interviewees were so catastrophically stereotypical "swingers" (which is always amusing) and partly because there was a strong dose of Libertarian idealism which appeals to free thinking souls. The interviews were at times comical, at times enlightening and occasionally disturbing. I found it interesting to see what that world was like in the days before the 4 Letter Acronym ruined everyone's sex lives. The 70's (or at least this aspect of it) was exactly as I think remembered it but was too young to make a judgement. I saw a bunch of trashy, self- serving, children of Bacchus engaged in nihilistic pursuits with a complete lack of consideration for the consequences of their behavior. I also saw a fledgling movement of idealists who soundly believed that your life belongs to you and no one else, and to live it in a manner less than satisfying to you is criminal. They believed in the notion that as long as you are not harming someone else (which of course they did but why nitpick) than you should be free to do as you please. These seemingly disparate concepts fueled this movement, gave it momentum and then eventually led to it's demise. The underlying themes still thrive (sexual and personal freedom) but with significant, real world modifications. Swinging isn't dead, it's just grown up. They would probably cringe at today limitations, just as the wife and I cringed at their narcissistic excesses.

If you set aside the judgements of whether you approve or disapprove of the lifestyle for a moment and view it objectively, you'll find a fascinating record of a bit of history from a bygone era in New York City. The interviews are of people who were there, not the babbling uninformed ranting that overwhelms so much of the internet, and social media in particular. I recommend it.

So glad I was happily involved in a productive life and monagomous happy relationship instead of spending time in a mattress room with crabs , copious amounts of body fluids and discharges. Interviews with elderly bags of cellulite certainly didn't impress but did make me grateful I wasn't a participant. There are numerous interesting topics to explore. This wasn't one of them.

Jon Hart and Mathew Kaufman's American Swing tells the story of the rise and fall of the legendary swinger's club Plato's Retreat but it does more than that. It tells the sory of the rise and fall of its creator and owner Larry Levenson the self proclaimed King of Swing. In a sad way the film also tells the story of the decline of the American dream.Plato's Retreat was a club ahead of its time and yet also behind the times caught in the swirling decade of the 1970's and early 1980's. Billed as a club for adult couples to live out their fantasies and to strengthen marriages the club became the epicenter of New York's nighlife for a short period. This was the place where to locals rubbed elbows (and other body parts) with the superstars. Beset with tax issues, drugs, and prostitution the empire came crumbling down by the mid eighties.The film presents a fond rememberance of the club by many of the club's former patrons and employees. If there is a flaw it is that the memories are all good. Nothiung really relates the problems that the club faced in its later years. The film is pieced together interviews with slightly sleazy footage shot in the club for a cable TV show. This is perhaps exactly as it should be.The film features about 30 minutes of additional interview footage and is well worth watching as either a walk down memory lane or a somber reflection on a lost period of American culture.

A great which really helps what it was like to be into the lifestyle in 1970’s New York. Full of humour and interesting stories.

I have a Multi-region DVD player - this DVD isnt recognised.