Made in 1975, the creators of this film tried to present to your average movie goer of that very closeted era that a gay bath house rocked with laughter and edgy humor that didn't offend anyone.
Trying to watch THE RITZ today is an exercise in cringe-worthy futility. The cast isn't very attractive. The main character played by John Weston spends all his time in open-mouthed, eye popping expression--as if he can't believe he's actually in a--Gay Bath House. He wears a hideous wig that he keeps misplacing and we wonder why this is a sight gag exploited throughout the film.
The usually reliable Rita Moreno spits out every word of dialogue in high drama, rolling her eyes, gritting her teeth, twisting her mouth and wildly over-playing her role as an entertainer. She's like a cartoon character who you wouldn't want to be around after a minute or two in her arch and artificial company.
It's like everyone is silently screaming: Look at Me! I'm Brilliantly Funny! I visited several gay baths during that time. Even the smallest ones revealed handsome, well-muscled hunks from small towns. In this movie, even the extras look as if they'd never visited a gym. If looking for vintage beefcake, you won't see anything pulse pounding here.
Then there's the case of the handsome, talented Treat Williams. For reasons we don't know, he is forced to talk in a high infantile voice which the film makers probably thought hysterical--but it just becomes tiresome after awhile.
The gay house phenomena at that time is one loaded with story possibilities--from high drama to earthy humor. The AIDS epidemic closed most of them although urban areas now have them again but they've been drastically changed because of the Corona Virus and more attention paid to safe sex.
The humor here is heavy and witless and the drab, miscast performers certainly don't help.
THE RITZ is better appreciated as a relic of its time: seen once and then hopefully forgotten.
Trying to watch THE RITZ today is an exercise in cringe-worthy futility. The cast isn't very attractive. The main character played by John Weston spends all his time in open-mouthed, eye popping expression--as if he can't believe he's actually in a--Gay Bath House. He wears a hideous wig that he keeps misplacing and we wonder why this is a sight gag exploited throughout the film.
The usually reliable Rita Moreno spits out every word of dialogue in high drama, rolling her eyes, gritting her teeth, twisting her mouth and wildly over-playing her role as an entertainer. She's like a cartoon character who you wouldn't want to be around after a minute or two in her arch and artificial company.
It's like everyone is silently screaming: Look at Me! I'm Brilliantly Funny! I visited several gay baths during that time. Even the smallest ones revealed handsome, well-muscled hunks from small towns. In this movie, even the extras look as if they'd never visited a gym. If looking for vintage beefcake, you won't see anything pulse pounding here.
Then there's the case of the handsome, talented Treat Williams. For reasons we don't know, he is forced to talk in a high infantile voice which the film makers probably thought hysterical--but it just becomes tiresome after awhile.
The gay house phenomena at that time is one loaded with story possibilities--from high drama to earthy humor. The AIDS epidemic closed most of them although urban areas now have them again but they've been drastically changed because of the Corona Virus and more attention paid to safe sex.
The humor here is heavy and witless and the drab, miscast performers certainly don't help.
THE RITZ is better appreciated as a relic of its time: seen once and then hopefully forgotten.