Jack Flowers is an American hustler trying to make his fortune in 1970s Singapore in small time pimping. His dreams of building a fortune by running a brothel himself and returning to the States is materialized when he is offered the opportunity by the CIA to run a brothel for the R&R activities of U.S. soldiers on leave in Singapore.
Acting
Ben Gazzara's grin hides oceans of loneliness
Direction
Bogdanovich's last great film, shot guerrilla-style in real Singapore
Cinematography
Robby Müller captures humid neon longing like nobody else
Director
Peter Bogdanovich
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Orson Welles secretly directed some scenes uncredited; Bogdanovich was in his chaotic post-Cybill Shepherd era and needed the help.
The CIA really did run brothels for R&R in Southeast Asia—this isn't satire, it's barely fiction. Jack's based on a real American pimp who consulted on the film then hated the result.
US
