American Swing

Released Mar 27, 2009

1h 21m

Documentary

List

55%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

48%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

In 1970s New York, clothing-optional nightclub Plato's Retreat becomes a haven for swingers and individuals who cared to indulge in public sexual excess.

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Critics Consensus

While American Swing covers a fascinating subject, its amateur documentary treatment does it no favors.

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David Fear

Time Out

Rated: 2/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

The film treats Levenson's rapid descent as if someone had turned on the lights at a sex party: scurrying away with pity and irritation that the good times had to end.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 3, 2009

Full Review

Lou Lumenick

New York Post

American Swing doesn't have a particularly well-defined point of view, but it is a succinct, entertaining and valuable record of a time that in some ways now seems as remote as the Roaring '20s.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 27, 2009

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

There are lots of interesting tidbits here, but I can't help but feel that the real meat of the story has yet to be explored.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 7, 2019

Full Review

Cynthia Fuchs

PopMatters

Certainly, the sex was exciting, as well as controversial. But Plato's Retreat also represented an effort to think through the mores behind monogamy, to challenge assumptions and imagine an alternative.

Rated: 6/10

Apr 7, 2009

Full Review

Kam Williams

NewsBlaze

A scary reminder of the potentially-disastrous physical and emotional consequences of indiscriminate mating.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 6, 2009

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Max M

Series of interviews with former swingers. Sad decline and early death of swing-club owner. Briefly mentions that AIDS likely spelled the end of that era, and mentions how his wife enthusiastically supported him but later fell out of love and had a breakdown; we aren't told what later became of her.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not Something That Completely Interested Me. A Fast-Paced Doco Exploring A Subject Where Your Imagination Can Pretty Much Fill The Gaps (Unintentional Pun There). Nothing Really Else Surprising Other Than The Bizarre List Of Celebrities Caught Up In Taboo, 70s-Disco & Smutty Kink For Hedonistic Immature "Adults"..

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I found it interesting.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Candid and interesting look at the '70s swinger lifestyle in New York (particularly surrounding this one club), but a broader, more comprehensive look is begged for here, some grander statement about sexual mores, because this documentary only skirts the edge of the truly interesting commentary on the times in favor of a narrower focus on one dude.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Worth it simply to watch Buck Henry complain about the free buffet at the sex club. It is time for the second coming of Buck Henry!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Batter, batter, batter!!! Swing batter!!!!!!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Jon Hart

Director

Matthew Kaufman

Director

Christian Hoagland

Producer

Matthew Kaufman

Producer

Gretchen McGowan

Producer

Jason Kliot

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

In 1970s New York, clothing-optional nightclub Plato's Retreat becomes a haven for swingers and individuals who cared to indulge in public sexual excess.

Director: Jon Hart, Matthew Kaufman
Producer: Christian Hoagland, Matthew Kaufman, Gretchen McGowan
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: HDNet Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 27, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $28.6K
Runtime: 1h 21m

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