The Ritz (1976)

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 ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

Terrence McNally (play), Terrence McNally (screenplay)

Stars:

Jack Weston, Rita Moreno, Jerry Stiller

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Weston	...	Gaetano Proclo
Rita Moreno	...	Googie Gomez
Jerry Stiller	...	Carmine Vespucci
Kaye Ballard	...	Vivian Proclo
F. Murray Abraham	...	Chris
Paul B. Price	...	Claude
Treat Williams	...	Michael Brick
John Everson	...	Tiger (as John Everson, John Mark Everson)
Christopher J. Brown	...	Duff
Dave King	...	Abe
Bessie Love	...	Maurine
Tony De Santis	...	Balloon Man
Ben Aris	...	Patron With Bicycle
Peter Butterworth	...	Patron In Chaps
Ronnie Brody	...	Small Patron

Storyline

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

gay bathhouse | gay | brother in law | entrapment | homosexual | 

---

Taglines:

The funny season begins when you check in for a night at The Ritz.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 December 1976 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

A Sauna das Loucas

Filming Locations:

Twickenham Film Studios, St Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Courtyard Films, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Ratzenberger's movie debut.

---

Goofs

When the patron with bicycle is signing the register, Abe turns to unlock his locker twice.

---

Quotes

Gaetano Proclo: A person can catch Athlete's Foot in a place like this!
Duff: You're lucky if that's all you catch.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Unknown Peter Sellers (2000)

---

Soundtracks

"Lady of Spain"
(uncredited)
Written by Tolchard Evans

User Reviews

Hilarious from start to finish !

This has got to be one of the funniest films I've seen, Rita Moreno is excellent as Googie Gomez failed Broadway star and now singing in "the pits" at the Gay bathhouse "The Ritz"...Treat Williams had me in stitches with his voice and Jack Weston is superb as the man on the run and hiding "in the last place anyone would look for me"...Although this harks back to a time now gone the comedy is still as fresh as ever. Look out for the "Chubby Chaser" who constantly refuses to have anything to do with Lean muscled Treat because he's too skinny and chases Jack Weston around from start to finish! And the Andrews Sisters skit is a hoot.... If you haven't seen this film what are you waiting for..!