Schrader called "Pickpocket" (1959) by the French director Robert Bresson an influence on the film; the composition of the final shot pays homage to that film, as does the final dialogue. Schrader later provided an introduction to the Criterion Collection DVD of "Pickpocket". On the film's ending, Schrader writes: "At the end of "American Gigolo", I wanted to perversely plunge my lizardy protagonist into icy Bressonian waters, so I lifted the ending of "Pickpocket" and gave it to Julian Kaye. A grace note as unwarranted as Christ's promise to the thief on the cross". Schrader re-visited many of the themes of "American Gigolo" in his 2007 film, "The Walker" and says the idea for that film came about while wondering what would have become of the Julian Kaye character.