William Friedkin on "Cruising", Franco's "Interior. Leather. Bar." & Mineshaft footage

Director William Friedkin conducted a Q&A after the screening of a restored print of his "Sorcerer" film on September 19, 2013. The event was held at the California Theatre in Berkeley, CA, and was sponsored by the Pacific Film Archive.

[@benjijack22]

R.I.P - What a film maker he was! 29/8/35 - 7/8/23

[@Shane661]

Friedkin, as self-evident as this might seem, is a wonderful storyteller. I mean, we see it on film, but it is so interesting to me to watch it manifest in his personality as well.

[@enricovankeeken1624]

*!He´s Also a grEAt wrIter ...he writes as he talks..i´m reading The Friedkin Connection again*

[@plev10]

What a fascinating, exciting life Billy Friedkin had. Imagine calling denizens of The Mineshaft and Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianniello "friends" and "fella". Talk about nonjudgmental ... no wonder he was a brilliant filmmaker. RIP Billy Boy!

[@dp6876]

Thank you to the guy who asked Friedkin about this. A lot of great background information about this movie.

[@18boxy]

I was totally at this screening. Friedkin is a hell of a nice guy

[@jordangerner]

***** well lucky I met old friedkin

[@TheIndependentLens]

I'm glad that you weren't just AT this screening. You were TOTALLY AT this screening, PJ Soles.

[@kengruz669]

I just totally read this comment and I am so totally stoked. Taytuhlee, huhn!

[@charliesierra6919]

Friedkin's a genius director. Cruising was a masterpiece that almost plays like found footage. Many layers to discover. Fantastic soundtrack too.

[@johndeagle4389]

Masterpiece? LOL!

[@FrancoisDressler]

@@johndeagle4389 Yes.

[@ameliabedelia7018]

I didn’t see any lawyers. A lot of cops and detectives though.

[@robfuzz]

At the time it was seen as lurid and exploitative but in hindsight it IS a classic of late 70s cinema and as a detective thriller that only Friedkin could make. It's also an incredibly chilling and accurate piece of gay history. I speak from experience.

[@EddieHenderson92]

I'll give you interesting but not masterpiece.

[@JohnInTheShelter]

Friedkin and Pacino had balls. What have we got today? Superhero movies. Yawn.

[@nicolaskokich7369]

What a storyteller, through cinema or by the campfire. RIP

[@jimgarrison7340]

What a great story teller Billy is.

[@MediaBuster]

LOVE William's storytelling... I could listen to him for hours..

[@frtw4428]

Great director - and boy, does he know movies! Cruising is one of 5 films set in NYC which I personally think have the grittiest, seediest depictions of the city itself (the other 4 are Midnight Cowboy, Taxi Driver, Prince of the City, and The Warriors).

[@msinthrop]

+Fr W I agree with you 100%

[@nuwanliyanage5684]

You should check out Ms. 45, King of New York and Bad Lieutenant. King of New York isn't a good movie but the other two are great.

[@danielgrimes8312]

French Connection?

[@dmanbigd1]

you are right on my friend. nailed it.

[@joseph7988]

Also watch The Goodbye Girl.

[@garycambridge5513]

What a fascinating story here - never seen the film cruising but might give it a watch and I echo the interviewer who says what a great memory Friedkin has too ❤

[@coolti44]

Amazing story teller and director. RIP

[@seanahmed9079]

OMG!!! This is a crazy story!! Love how Freidkin can tell a killer story

[@TheIndependentLens]

Look up the video of him discussing the screening of "Exorcist 2." LOL!

[@seanahmed9079]

@@TheIndependentLensthanks. I'll check it out. That movie was such a mess 🤣🤣

[@Capronice]

That cut footage would be priceless.

[@ericandy88]

I wonder if it will turn up someday (imagine footage being lost even back then, as I am sure film preservation had been a key cause for a while). Obviously, it would have to be NC-17 or unrated if the movie was restored with it

[@ThokoXaba]

I grew up in NYC in the 70’s and Cruising is one of the greatest films about NYC ever made and it is based on true life events. Personally I think it was Pacino’s greatest role with a star turn by James Remar as, “Gregory Milanese”..

[@johndeagle4389]

You cannot be serious.

[@ThokoXaba]

@@johndeagle4389 Why can't I be serious?

[@johndeagle4389]

@@ThokoXaba I give up.

[@ThokoXaba]

@@johndeagle4389 That's probably best

[@johndeagle4389]

@@ThokoXaba Did you go to the scatting room at the Mine Shaft?

[@automaticdog144]

This is gold, priceless upload.

[@Stiert]

i love this theater. and went to berkeley high 2 blocks away. so bummed i missed this

[@georgewaters8592]

WOW... Thanks for posting this.... lot's of good info that I did not know !! [*edit...] I cannot understand why CRUISING does not fall into the category of ...being selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" because to me, CRUISING was a very important film which needed to be made - and shown.

[@methaqualone5191]

I thought it was Brian DePalma that was originally going to make 'Cruising,' but he ended up making 'Dressed to Kill' instead.

[@hifrommike2120]

Some of this information was in the director's commentary for the 2005 DVD release of the film. But some of it is new. For the new info, thank you.

[@ZackGarcia-ci2by]

RIP William Friedkin

[@tonystinkmetal]

Just one other note: the leather bar scene in cruising was NOT shot at The Mineshaft as Mr. Friedkin says. it was filmed around the corner at a place called The Hellfire/ The Vault (a not specifically gay S&M club) on 9th avenue owned by the same mobster.

[@rubaidaallen2764]

Correct. No filming was allowed at the Mineshaft

[@kentallard8852]

they filmed in a number of different locations and after 30 years his memory wouldn't be sharp about something that trivial

[@miti314]

In the ''Lure'' i think, and maybe in original Eagle ⛓️🧤

[@Smudgeroon74]

Wonder do any heavy leather S + M bars exist in Manhattan today?

[@barflytom3273]

@@enricovankeeken1624 do you have a problem with your keyboard?

[@metatron1970]

I don't always trust the authenticity of Friedkin's stories on his films. He's been known to contradict himself on his facts, but there's no denying he's always an entertaining storyteller. Franco's "Interior. Leather. Bar" was a terrible film that hardly captured the dark mystique of Cruising. Friedkin politely avoids making a judgement call on it. He couldn't denounce it as swill outright, since it was after all an ode to one of Friedkin's less appreciated efforts. I'm very pleased there's been far more interest in Sorceror and Cruising in recent years. The sorry state of American cinema now makes one pine for the days when talented filmmakers like Friedkin were willing to take on original subject matter and take risks we rarely see on the screen now.

[@JacobLomax]

Greatest director!

[@plasticweapon]

YES!

[@FrancoisDressler]

Indeed.

[@jota55581]

I love cruising

[@AdrianMendoza23]

Great talk

[@ericjarry7663]

Absolute genius

[@09nob]

The murderer is covered in an episode of the brilliant show Mindhunter.

[@jessediaz1293]

3:50 the Exorcist/Cruising serial killer connection.

[@jessediaz1293]

@Stephen Murphy yeah knowing what Mr. Friedkin and everybody else knows now, it is real creepy. Also a fun fact you could point out when watching with friends next time. Lol

[@SquabbleBoxHQ]

How about the fact the Exorcist is also mentioned in one of the Zodiac letters, and was also an influence on the Son of Sam?

[@Johnelhadjmi]

Great movie

[@blinderII]

I wonder how accurate Franko's version of the lost footage was....? I wish he would have said.

[@latrolettteeeeeee]

He talks about very horrible murders and the audience laughs ? WHAT THE HELL ?

[@GouchHard]

Laughing at the end when Friedkin kids on that the guy asking the question was his dad

[@robertoacciarini2844]

What's the Germs .They played the soundtrack, didn't they?

[@LesbianVampireLover]

Just an awesome story. I don't believe any of this was in the "Making of..." DVD. This makes the whole thing even more creepy, if that is possible.

[@enricovankeeken1624]

*why creepy?*

[@charleswinokoor6023]

After all these years it’s not possible to add in the 40 minutes of footage that was cut from “Cruising”? That’s surprising. I’ve heard him tell the background story on how he came to make the movie in other interviews. It’s an interesting story.

[@enricovankeeken1624]

*...it got lost ..i´d lOve to see it ..who wouldn´t? ~~ i dOn´t think it would make the movie bEtter though ..i Also prefer the original Exorcist ..i th?nk he did his FRIEND ( Blatty ) a favor adding mOre to it..~*

[@steves9905]

from what i understand, the studio destroyed the cut footage...no possibility of a 'directors cut'

[@eraserhead8646]

The killer in the exorcist has a leather studded bracelet, like something from cruising....

[@jasonpeng33]

Hi Bill

[@androlibre9661]

should get a directors cut unrated version

[@vaughnmild4467]

I signed a petitioned YEARS AGOto have the film restored. But honestly after hearing WF saying the cuts were all hard core gay porn. Im ok with the cut that's available

[@ericandy88]

I have read his description of what was in that footage & yikes! A film containing it would probably not have aged well within a year or 2 once HIV was discovered & publicized.

[@enricovankeeken9503]

@@ericandy88 *At least ~ back then ~ the main party drugs were poppers & cocaïne ~ Why not have a look inside some hardcore BDSM club, and maybe participate in a meth drug fueled bareback group sex party?? ~ If you're lucky, with your own smartphone, you or someone else could film the whole thing..+*

[@jason6010]

Matty The Horse was Genovese. He wasn't affiliated with another family. That's not how the mob worked lol. And he wasn't the boss. The Chin or Fat Tony were the boss then.

[@TheApexPredatorRKO]

He was acting boss for awhile.

[@robfuzz]

Still can't figure out if Friedkin was bisexual. Did he not say he hung out at the Mineshaft?!

[@plasticweapon]

in preperation for the film (obviously). but he probably was bisexual, if not gay.

[@europamacmillan9498]

interesting interview, what's with the falling down pants move?

[@wolfstar675]

I don't know it's kind of Friedkin's signature move. He does that in every interview.

[@enricovankeeken1624]

@@wolfstar675 *?Does he..Í love it!!!*

[@vikingsong2068]

I assumed it was because he had lost weight.

[@andrewmiller5621]

I think this video is from Brooklyn in 2013.

[@andrewmiller5621]

Or he just wore the same exact clothes to that Crusing screening in April of 2013 in Brooklyn. And told the same stories.

[@Norfolk250]

Unsettling to hear the audience laugh when it was revealed the first man who was viciously killed and dismembered was a film critic ... I can laugh at irony, too, but that was horrible. The folks gathered for this interview are those who ‘would’ be customers at The Mineshaft for crying out loud.

[@THEremiXFACTOR]

Just a few pretentious types trying to be edgy. "Hehehe, he killed a theater critic"

[@plasticweapon]

@@THEremiXFACTOR eh, i thought it was pretty funny.

[@enricovankeeken9503]

*!What if I told ya... I was **#Lured** into the Mineshaft ~ 15 yrs old ~ And I Líked it?*

[@MrHmjg]

a great liberating film; then and now. the franco film was a sad flop!

[@attackofthecopyrightbots]

this bateson guy has a weird ass wikipedia it says hes convicted but then says "there is no other record of incriminating evidence mentioned by Friedkin in that interview. Despite this, Bateson is often inaccurately described as a serial killer."? and noone knows if hes dead or alive?

[@enricovankeeken9503]

*Ask **#BonJovi** ?*

[@enricovankeeken1624]

@@enricovankeeken9503 *i probably wrote this because dEAd OR AliVE is the Only Bon Jovi song i like..+*

[@plasticweapon]

he was convicted of killing addison verrill, not the trash bag killings. i understand he was released.

[@enricovankeeken9503]

*+*

[@belladonna131]

NO ONE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NURSE WHO COMMITTED THE ONE MURDER WHO WAS IN "THE EXORCIST?" I REMEMBER HIM IN THE MOVIE I KNEW NOTHING OF THIS. HIS STORY WOULD BE INTERESTING, BUT HE PROBABLY WOULD WANT TO KEEP IT UNDER WRAPS. I'M SURE HIS NAME APPEARS ON THE CREDITS, BUT HE PROBABLY CHANGED IT. CAN A CONVICTED CRIMINAL CHANGE HIS NAME? LIKE SID VISCIOUS/SIMON JOHN RICHIE?

[@andrewlampe6116]

What is going on with Friedkins seemingly ill fitting pants? Take a shot every time he pulls them up

[@andrewlampe6116]

And the belt is not helping at all

[@Capronice]

Franco's movie was boring. You would think Franco would coordinate the movie people who actually are into the leather scene.

[@markant9534]

Franco is a pervert and probably only made the movie because he`s obsessed with sex.

[@anthonydileonardo8156]

Interior Leather Bar.....shit....turned it off after 15 minutes

[@TJ68LA]

Franco showed his complete lack of respect for the film, gays and the leather subculture by doing NO RESEARCH, the actors showed up knowing nothing about the culture they were supposed to be representing and looked ridiculous. It was really a film about what heroes straight guys were for being associated with that "weird gay stuff". What a pathetic attempt at PC appropriation to get a pat on the head for how "tolerant" he is.

[@Capronice]

Yup Franco's film was very disappointing. Childish homophobia.

[@vikingsong2068]

Culture? We have vastly different ideas of what constitutes as "culture" if you think dudes screwing randoms dressed in leather remotely constitutes culture. As for appropriation, how comes it isn't classed as appropriation for gay men to dress up as misogynistic caricatures of women? Especially as you call women "fish."

[@andrewlesterthomas5581]

What are all these 'a.. holes' laughing at. This is horrific.

[@paulvoorhies8821]

Do you suppose James Franco is gay?

[@obionekenobi7401]

The story has a “Dexter-ish” similarity to it……….

[@chegeuvera]

Close your eyes I swear it's Donald Trump.

[@TheMrmojo23]

He only gets films made now because his wife is the head of the studio

[@enricovankeeken1624]

*and If so...what´s it to y0u*

[@patrickdelaney1786]

Meatpacking huh?

[@Capronice]

Interior leather bar was completely horrible.Homophobic and childish.

[@michaelcooter828]

Reality.... 1980. That's the way it was in the leather bars... reality.

[@enricovankeeken9503]

@@michaelcooter828 Ánd I stíll Love #james-franco +

[@enricovankeeken1624]

@@enricovankeeken9503 *?Well..~*

[@ZZ-hu8gu]

❤Cruising is Great ! ❤