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Ritz (The)
- Director: Richard Lester
- Writer: Terrence McNally
- Producer: Denis O'Dell
CGiii Comment
It's a farce set in a bath-house in the 70s - very tongue-in-cheek and really quite funny...in places.
Remarkably, the stereotypes are not bog-standard stereotypical and, mostly, are the most sane characters in the film.
A light, refreshing look at the pre-AIDS era.
Well worth a visit.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
On his deathbed Carmine Vespucci's father tells him to "get Proclo". With "the hit" on, Gaetano tells a cab driver to take him where Carmine can't find him. He arrives at the Ritz, a gay bathhouse where he is pursued amorously by "chubby chaser" Paul B. Price and by entertainer Googie Gomez who believes him to be a broadway producer. His guides through the Ritz are gatekeeper Abe, habitue Chris, and bellhop/go-go-boys Tiger and Duff. Squeaky-voiced detective Michael Brick and his employer Carmine do locate Gateano at the Ritz, as does his wife Vivian.
Cast & Characters
Jack Weston as Gaetano Proclo;
Rita Moreno as Googie Gomez;
Jerry Stiller as Carmine Vespucci;
Kaye Ballard as Vivian Proclo;
F. Murray Abraham as Chris;
Paul B. Price as Claude Perkins;
Treat Williams as Michael Brick;
John Everson as Tiger;
Christopher J. Brown as Duff;
Dave King as Abe Lefkowitz;
Bessie Love as Maurine;
Tony De Santis as Balloon Man;
Ben Aris as Patron With Bicycle;
Peter Butterworth as Patron In Chaps;
Ronnie Brody as Small Patron