Cruising -- the murder thriller that is set against the gay S & M subculture of the late '70s and prompted widespread community protests when it opened in 1980 -- makes its long-awaited DVD debut September 18 as a Deluxe Edition DVD from Warner Home Video (WHV). Acknowledging years of consumer requests, Cruising will receive a limited theatrical release in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco the first week of September, prior to its DVD release at $19.97 SRP.

Directed by Academy Award winner William Friedkin (The French Connection) from his own screenplay adaptation of Gerald Walker's novel, the film has as its magnetic centerpiece Academy Award-winner Al Pacino's (Scent of a Woman) performance as an undercover cop who infiltrates New York City's leather bar scene, and whose identity and relationships are hauntingly affected by his assignment. Pacino, no stranger to tough cop roles (Heat, Serpico and Sea of Love), currently can be seen in Warner Bros.' Oceans 13 and recently received an AFI Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Friedkin has personally supervised the creation of an all new high-definition master and new 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track for the release with new director commentary. Also included are eminent documentarian Laurent Bouzerou's two new featurettes containing interviews with actors and filmmakers who provide thorough perspective on the incidents surrounding the production. In addition to Friedkin and producer Jerry Weintraub (Ocean's 11 series), participants include editor Bud Smith (The Exorcist), actors Don Scardino (now a top TV director) and James Remar (48 Hours) and real-life cops Randy Jurgensen and Sonny Grosso.