“American Swing” Pages Through The Sexy, Seedy History Of Plato’s Retreat

Some thirty years ago, a magical place existed on the Upper West Side of New York. A place where all your sexual fantasies could be fulfilled, in one single night. A place called Plato's Retreat.

A palatial nightclub, complete with a swimming pool, shows, and all the naked bodies that could cram into one place, Plato's Retreat was a libertine's dream—at least for the first few years. In the early eighties, Plato's was struck by a series of troubles, beset first by charges of tax evasion, and then permanently shut down by an HIV-inspired public health crackdown.

"American Swing" tracks the rise and fall of this swinger's paradise, using exclusive interviews with former patrons, employees, and family members and archival footage from the center of the action to tell the story of Plato's Retreat and its larger than life owner, Larry Levenson.

Because it contains (gasp!) uncensored footage of actual sex action, "American Swing" has had some difficulty achieving wide release; but if you're in New York City or LA, be sure to catch this riveting documentary about a very important part of swing (and American) history.

"American Swing" opens March 27th in NY at the Quad Cinema, and April 3rd in LA at the Sunset 5.

· "American Swing" (magpictures.com)