I recently saw The Ritz for the first time after hesitating for years. As a gay man who came out about 10 years after this film's release, I am well aware that the depiction of homosexuals in films from this period and before was never anything other than mocking or sinister or criminal. This movie tries hard to be funny. Jack Weston is, of course, a great comedian. Jerry Stiller as an Italian gangster tries but fails. Rita Moreno as a cabaret singer at the club is funny to some but foolish to me. While not "offensive" to gays, per se, it's very patronizing which is nearly as bad. This is because it's a product of it's time. The idea, for instance, that Moreno would work at this club and continually refer to the men as "maricon" and mean it isn't very funny to me. 2 of the 4 stars go directly to Treat Williams and his toweled body. He's stunning to look at and has his funny moments. Still, it's all "much ado about absolutely nothing" and it just goes on way too long. If it were a skit in a comedy revue lasting, say, 15 or 20 minutes then I might be on-board but at the end of the day this film lost me and it's jokes just don't stand the test of time.
Review of The Ritz
