The Ritz (Redux)
The Ritz -- I can't say enough about this gem of a movie. I've had the VHS for many, many years, and each time I watch it, I still end up laughing out loud ...it's just as hilarious every single time.
The plot is simple. Jack Weston plays "Gaetano", a garbage man who's on the run from his mob brother-in-law who's put out a hit on him. He hides out in the last place his pursuers would look for him ...a bath house ...a gay bath house. Unbeknownst to him, the bath house is actually owned by "the family".
The laughs ensue and don't let up -- you don't have to be gay, or have ever been to a bath house to "get it". But if you are, and you have, then all the better. Although the original play wasn't written specifically for a gay audience, it was written by a gay man (Terrence McNally), and for those with gay sensibilities, it's sort of an "inside joke". To paraphrase Barbra Streisand (as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl"), "...it's our joke, so even though the laugh is on us, you're laughing with us, not at us".
A blond Treat Williams, (in one of his first film appearances), is priceless as "Brick", the detective with the falsetto voice. He's been hired by Carmine (the brother-in-law) to track down Gaetano in the bath house and, under the pretense of being gay, seduce him. Rita Moreno as "Googie Gomez", the in-house entertainment, will leave you aching from laughter. While at the bath house, Gaetano ...very much a heterosexual, runs into, and is persistently pursued by, an old gay army buddy. So now he's hiding from Carmine, and "Get-away-from-me Claude".
Jerry Stiller as the mob brother-in-law, and Kay Ballard as his sister, (Weston's wife), round out the ensemble. Oh, let's not forget a pre-Amadeus F. Murray Abraham, who's way over the top as "Chris" the resident bath house queen who takes the newbie Weston under his wing.
You may want to set aside your "political correctness" for awhile. This film does exploit a few stereotypes ...but never in a mean-spirited manner. Besides, it "IS" so very, very funny.
When I realized this title had finally been released on DVD, with improved picture and sound, and easy access to specific scenes, I brought a copy to add to my home library. Although, I just became aware of it's availability yesterday, this was released on DVD 8 January '08 and is available at most DVD retail outlets ...as well a rental services like Netflix etc. I'm patiently waiting for my delivery from Amazon. If you haven't already had the experience, treat yourself to a gay old time at "The Ritz".
The plot is simple. Jack Weston plays "Gaetano", a garbage man who's on the run from his mob brother-in-law who's put out a hit on him. He hides out in the last place his pursuers would look for him ...a bath house ...a gay bath house. Unbeknownst to him, the bath house is actually owned by "the family".
The laughs ensue and don't let up -- you don't have to be gay, or have ever been to a bath house to "get it". But if you are, and you have, then all the better. Although the original play wasn't written specifically for a gay audience, it was written by a gay man (Terrence McNally), and for those with gay sensibilities, it's sort of an "inside joke". To paraphrase Barbra Streisand (as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl"), "...it's our joke, so even though the laugh is on us, you're laughing with us, not at us".
A blond Treat Williams, (in one of his first film appearances), is priceless as "Brick", the detective with the falsetto voice. He's been hired by Carmine (the brother-in-law) to track down Gaetano in the bath house and, under the pretense of being gay, seduce him. Rita Moreno as "Googie Gomez", the in-house entertainment, will leave you aching from laughter. While at the bath house, Gaetano ...very much a heterosexual, runs into, and is persistently pursued by, an old gay army buddy. So now he's hiding from Carmine, and "Get-away-from-me Claude".
Jerry Stiller as the mob brother-in-law, and Kay Ballard as his sister, (Weston's wife), round out the ensemble. Oh, let's not forget a pre-Amadeus F. Murray Abraham, who's way over the top as "Chris" the resident bath house queen who takes the newbie Weston under his wing.
You may want to set aside your "political correctness" for awhile. This film does exploit a few stereotypes ...but never in a mean-spirited manner. Besides, it "IS" so very, very funny.
When I realized this title had finally been released on DVD, with improved picture and sound, and easy access to specific scenes, I brought a copy to add to my home library. Although, I just became aware of it's availability yesterday, this was released on DVD 8 January '08 and is available at most DVD retail outlets ...as well a rental services like Netflix etc. I'm patiently waiting for my delivery from Amazon. If you haven't already had the experience, treat yourself to a gay old time at "The Ritz".
posted 10 February 2008
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