Nina van Pallandt

Richard Bone (Jeff Bridges) is a handsome, over-aged beach bum living on a yacht in Santa Barbara, California. George Swanson (Arthur Rosenberg) wants him to sell yachts, but instead Bone makes a few extra bucks as a gigolo, sleeping with middle-age wives of prospective buyers. Bone's best friend is Alexander Cutter (John Heard), who lost an arm, an eye and a leg in Vietnam over 10 years earlier. Cutter resents Bone because while Cutter was off fighting in Vietnam, Bon had, as always, walked away form possible danger and commitment. But Cutter's real resentment is against wealthy men who sent him to fight a meaningless war. Cutter spends his nights at local bars drinking and insulting everyone around him. His neglected wife Maureen 'Mo' Cutter (Lisa Eichhorn) stays home and drinks alone. Bone would like to sleep with Mo, but she disrespects him too much. One evening after leaving a woman at a hotel (Nina van Pallandt), Bone drives home. His car stalls in an alley. A big car pulls up behind him, A figure, wearing all black clothing, sunglasses and a strange hat, gets out and dumps something in a trash bin before getting back into the car and driving away. The next morning, the police tell Bone that someone had brutally murdered a young hitchhiker named Vickie Duran. Bone says he could never really identify the person dumping the body because it was too dark. At a street parade, Bone spots oilman J.J. Cord (Stephen Elliott), known as one of the most wealthy and most powerful men in the area. He automatically says "That's him!" Later, Bone retracts his statement, still unsure if Cord was the man who was dumping the body that night. Cutter hopes to convince Bone that Cord was the killer. Cutter provides evidence that Cord often picked up hitchhikers and that he was in the vicinity where Vickie was killed. Cutter enlists the help of Valerie Duran (Ann Dusenberry), Vickie's sister, to try to convince Bone to trap Cord. When Mo finds out, she is furious at both Cutter and Bone for playing around with real danger, but she agrees to help them out. The three of them type up a blackmail note. Bone backs out of delivering it, but Cutter proceeds with the plan. If Cord agrees to pay, they will know they have the right man. Cutter reports that Cord will soon deliver a message to Bone, whose name is on the letter. After another argument between them over going after Cord, Mo throws Cutter out of the house. At a weak moment, she agrees to sleep with Bone who willingly shows up at the house and they have sex for the first time. Right afterwords, Bone leaves in the middle of the night, breaking his promise to Mo. The next day, Bone learns from Cutter that the house was blown up and Mo has been killed. Bone suggests that Mo killed herself after he left. Cutter thinks that Bone is egotistical and that Cord did it, thinking that Bone was inside the house. They discover that the bomb that blew up Cutter and Mo's house was in the message package that was supposed to contain blackmail money. At a polo match, Cutter spots Cord wearing a polo cat, in which he approaches Cord and threatens him for destroying his home and killing his wife, plus other women. Cord naturally denies committing any murder Mouring his dead wife, Cutter moves into George's guest house. He tells Bone that Cord took control of the marina by force several years ago from George's father and mother. Since Cutter lies constantly, Bone doesn't know whether to believe him. With the police unable to make any arrest of Cord without evidence, Cutter decides to take matters into his own hands by killing Cord. He is also obsessed with Cord's guilt. He gives Bone permission to back out, as Valerie has already done. But Bone goes with Cutter when they crash a party at Cord's house. Cord's bodyguards capture Bone. Meanwhile, Cutter steals Cord's horse. He eludes Cord's men and charges the house on the horse, crashing through the window of the room in which Cord and Bone stand. As Cutter lies on the floor dying from his injuries, he points a gun at Cord. Bone assures Cutter: "It was him!" Bone takes the gun out of Cutter's hand and points it at Cutter. He give Cord one last time to confess to the murders of Mo, Vickie Duran and other women by asking Cord, "Was it you?" Cord disdainfully puts on a pair of familiar looking sunglasses... thus confirming that he was the one in the alley that night and answers "What if it were?" Making a true commitment, Bone pulls the trigger.

Julian Kay (Richard Gere) is a gigolo, a young man who makes a living as a wealthy ladies' escort. His official pimp/employer, Anne (Nina Van Pallandt) realizes that he is her star prostitute despite not being faithful to her. A small 'chauffeur' gig is planned for the next day, but Julian looks more interested in getting a higher percentage of the profits than in the practical contact details. After bargaining some more, Julian leaves and refuses to suntan with other two girls (Michele Drake and Linda Horn). We learn that Anne has been carefully preparing a highly-paid job with a Swedish woman who is about to arrive in Los Angeles. Julian trains at home to keep in good shape when a gay pimp, Leon James (Bill Duke) calls to ask him to act as a sub for an urgent gig to be played the next day in Palm Springs, some 110 miles - 2 hours drive from Los Angeles. Reluctantly, Julian finally accepts for 90% of the fees agreed with client. Leon chokes but has no other choice than greedy Julian... Julian does his chauffeur gig for a rich widow. He looks forward to meet the lady again for more and so reports to Anne afterwards. Sometimes, Julian tries to find his own clients, so he makes a pass at Michelle Stratton (Lauren Hutton), who is sitting alone at a high-end restaurant. In the ensuing conversation, Michelle sees Julian for what he is, although he claims to be only hired as a guide, a translator or a chauffeur. No deal is closed that night, and Julian leaves alone. Later in Palm Springs, Tom Rheiman (Tom Stewart) wants Julian to beat his wife Judy (Patricia "Patti" Carr) while making love to her from behind. Although Julian does not like that kind of jobs (S&M and bondage), he's already been paid, and he's already there, so it's understood that he complies. Two nights after that, Julian learns in the papers that Judy Rheiman was assaulted and murdered in Palm Springs. He later goes with Lisa Williams (K Callan) at Sotheby's Parke-Bernet to choose the bric-a-brac needed to redecorate her mansion. They have fun and laugh together. There is then an incident when Julian pretends to be gay in front of a casual, embarrassing acquaintance of Lisa (Faye Michael Nuell) and he almost breaks a valuable porcelain into pieces in the attempt to quickly get rid of the lady. Right after that, Julian and Lisa leave the place laughing. Michelle appears at Julian's apartment. Many people know who he is and where he lives, so she only had to ask. At first, he says to her that he doesn't work in his own apartment, but she talks to him and they end up going to bed together. Afterwards, Michelle talks about how her marriage to politician Charles Stratton (Brian Davies) is void of love or emotion. He advises her to start thinking about herself, because it looks that the only reason for the marriage to stay together is because it would be damaging to Stratton's political career. The next day, LAPD Detective Joe Sunday (Hector Elizondo) arrives at Julian's apartment in Los Angeles to question him about the death of Judy Rheiman in Palm Springs. She was killed, and Julian says (quite arrogantly), that she was with Lisa Williams choosing the decorations at the time of the crime. Detective Sunday leaves without arresting Julian, but warns him not to leave town for he may return to ask more questions. Julian keeps on seeing his clients. For example, Mrs Laudner takes him to a political party where the main guest is Stratton. He greets him and his wife, pretending not knowing her (and vice-versa). When Julian inquires about gossips concerning the Strattons, Mrs Laudner says that Michelle is very sad. As Michelle keeps on meeting Julian whenever she can, something which gets noticed by her husband, Julian starts being followed by a political aide of Stratton. Julian decides to face the beat and talk to Stratton directly. Charles Stratton tries to buy him up with $5,000 to stop seeing his wife, which Julian refuses, as he has begun to feel really interested in Michelle. Stratton warns him about the good graces of his small HiSo supports to end soon, if he persists to see Michelle. Another day or two later, Sunday follows Julian to his usual shoeshine parlor. He says there were handcuff marks over previous handcuff bruises on Judy's wrists, meaning Julian lied when he said he never handcuffed her during the gig done for Leon. Since Lisa Williams had said to the detectives that Julian left her at 7:00 pm in the evening, not later, and basically denying that they had a sexual relationship together, Sunday states there was enough time for Julian to drive to Palm Springs back and forth plus commit the crime... Julian has to go to the police station for a line-up, but the witness is not sure about him being the person who went to Judy Rheiman's home earlier that day. Julian feeds a protestation from a fellow inmate obliged to participate in the line-up. Sunday and Lt. Curtis (David Cryer) later talk with Julian again at the LAPD. Sunday laughs at the situation, because in his previous visit Julian had given him some advice to be more attractive to ladies and he is trying to improve his overall appearance. Julian stays free after the key witness could not formally identify him during the line-up. Julian begins to get worried. He needs an alibi for the night of the crime. Next, he goes to the Williams' house, but Lisa doesn't want to acknowledge that she ever met him: the police has been to her home with a restraining order against Julian. Mr. Williams (Richard Derr) also appears, and he coldly dismisses Julian saying that on the night of the crime Lisa was with him all the time. Julian meets Leon at a gay disco and asks him to give him an alibi, what he finally seems to agree. Leon even suggests that Rheiman is the real culprit, as he is a 'freak'. The police search Julian's apartment during his absence, leaving it in a total mess. Julian later meets Michelle in a botanical park; she must leave for two months in Europe on her husband's orders, until the polls are over. Julian states the news are hard to stand. Once back home, Julian recognizes Leon's blonde boyfriend (Gordon Haight) leaving quickly the garage in his vintage Porsche 911. Julian gets really paranoid and he creates havoc in his apartment to find the jewels who have been said stolen at the Rheimans' in Palm Springs and are still missing. He finally finds them hidden in his luxurious car - a car he had to tear to pieces in order the find the jewels. He grabs the plastic pouch and decides to leave quickly for downtown, where he rents a plain Ford Pinto to pursue his quest for help. Julian calls Anne for help and accepts a short notice rendezvous at the Perino's. Calling Jill (Jessica Potter) at his reception, he learns that the police are sitting there waiting for him and that Michelle tried to meet him urgently. Showing dirty and jacketless at the Perino's, he is rebuked by the maître d'hôtel (Harris Weingart) because of his untidy look. There, Anne does not want to know anything about him: Julian forgot about picking the European lady at the airport, destroying a big deal arranged months ago. Anne gets really mad at him, and she does not want to work with him again nor help him through. As she has always been disappointed with Julian, who got clients on his own, and worked for other bosses sometimes now it's her opportunity to let him go. Julian, who had told Jill about the place he would be, notices Michelle at a table near. They meet shortly in the restroom and Julian requests from Michelle that she forgets everything about him, since he is framed and lost. Julian stalks Leon in the red light zones, but to no avail. He waits until the dawn near his home and finally sees him arriving along with his blonde BF. He shows up at Leon's flat, is granted access while his blonde boy hides then leaves discreetly; Julian argues again about the alibi he needs now. But Leon states that some things from the Rheimans' house, linked to the murder, have appeared at Julian's apartment and have being seized by the police; that the 'bitch' from Palm Springs reviewed definitely her eyewitness report about Julian having been seen at the Rheimans' house... So that Julian is obviously the ideal culprit and thus will fall alone. Julian throws the jewels pouch at Leon who ignores the thing. Julian tries to explain the case: blonde boy may have killed Judy Rheiman during a hardcore gig, then the husband arranged with Leon to frame him. Leon does not say anything. Julian offers to work for Leon the way he wants, to break in new boys, do any tricks... As this doesn't work, he offers to pay Leon a great deal of money, but Leon says that the person who's framing him will always rise the bet higher than him. As an answer to Julian's "why me?" question, Leon reveals he was precisely the lonesome, self-centered and toe-crushing guy ideal for the role. Leon then asks Julian to leave while he greets the blonde boy from the balcony. In an ensuing rage, Julian runs after him, pushes him so Leon ends up falling down the balcony; but he is grabbed at the latest moment by Julian who holds tight Leon's legs - but his feet slip out of his boots and he falls many floors below. Julian remains stunned in Leon's apartment, all his hopes to escape the frame being lost. Since a maid who happened to be around testified that Julian tried to pull Leon to safety, he goes to prison on the sole charge of Judy Rheiman's murder. There is a great deal of media interest on Julian's case, as his profession has been disclosed. Michelle visits Julian in prison to inform him that she is willing to give up everything to be with him. Feeling that all has been lost, Julian asks Michelle not to see him again. However, Michelle pays for Julian's defense who changes his old-time lawyer (Peter Turgeon) for a new one (William Dozier). However, Julian will not be freed until Michelle finally faces Lt Curtis. The detective already knows that she's paying for Julian's defense lawyer. She says that doing so, she wants to show Julian's innocence, because she was with her that night of the crime. In the final scene, Michelle has already revealed her secret, and media immediately has set camp in front of the Strattons', so she cannot go back anyway. Although they are still talking through a glass, it's implied that Julian will soon be freed and that they will be together.

Private eye Philip Marlowe (Elliot Gould) wakes up in the middle of the night when his pet cat wakes him up, wanting to be fed. He goes out to an all-night supermarket somewhere in west Los Angeles, but can only buy a brand his cat hates. His cat runs out on him. Marlowe's friend Terry Lennox (Jim Bouton) comes by and gets Marlowe to drive him to Tijuana. In the morning, the L.A. police arrest Marlow for helping Terry escape. They tell Marlowe that Terry is a fugitive who beat up and killed his wife Sylvia. Marlowe doesn't believe his friend is capable of such a crime. Another day later, Marlowe is freed from jail and the case has been closed. According to Mexican newspapers, Terry Lennox committed suicide. Marlowe is hired by Terry's ex-neighbor, Eileen Wade (Nina van Pallandt) to find her husband, author Roger Wade (Sterling Hayden). Marlowe tracks Wade to sanatorium where he is being treated for alcoholism by Dr. Verringer (Henry Gibson), a money-hungry quack. Marlowe brings Wade home and observes that the Wades are at odds with each other. Eileen has a bruise on her face to prove that she is being abused by her husband. Wade is full of self-pity and haw writer's block. Marlow wonders if Wade, a big, powerful, violent, depressed man, might have known Sylvia Lennox. Gangster Marty Augustine (Mark Rydell) threatens Marlowe, telling him to return the money that Terry was running for him but took to Mexico. Marlowe says that he knows nothing about any money, but Marty tells him to go find it. Suspicious, Marlowe follows Marty's car to the Wades' house. The next day, Wade tells Marlowe that Marty owes him a lot of money. A day or two later, the Wades throw a party where Dr. Verringer shows up and demands that Wade pay him the money they he owes. When Wade refuses, Verringer slaps Wade greatly embarrassing him. As a result the party ends. Eileen makes dinner for Marlowe where she tell him that she doesn't believe Terry was violent enough to have killed Sylvia. Wade walks into the ocean and commits suicide by drowning. Afterwords, the tearful Eileen tells Marlow that Wade and Sylvia were having an affair and that she thinks that he killed her and set up Terry as the fall guy. Marty's men pick up Marlowe. Marty threatens to beat him up for failing to find the money that Terry stole. But when the money Terry owned turns up, they let Marlowe go. Marlowe is accidentally run down by a car while following Eileen's car on foot. When he gets out of the hospital, he discovers that Eileen has moved. Marlowe takes $5,000 he received in the mail from Terry on the day Terry went to Mexico and goes back to Mexico himself. There, he bribes the local coroner and learns that Terry's death and funeral was all fake. Terry really is still alive. Terry is not surprised to see Marlowe. He admits that he really did kill his wife because she was going to squeal on him for running money for Marty. "No one cares," Terry says. But Marlowe says that he cares. Upset that Terry would brutally kill his wife and that Terry would play him for a fool, Marlowe pulls a gun out and shoots Terry dead. In the final scene, Marlowe dances back up the road for the USA, passing Eileen, who has been living with Terry, her new lover.