The Ritz (1976)

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

Terrence McNally (play)
Terrence McNally (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 December 1976 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

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

Plot:

On his deathbed Carmine Vespucci's father tells him to "get Proclo". With "the hit" on, Gaetano tells...

Plot Keywords:

Gay Bathhouse | Gay | Brother In Law | Entrapment | Homosexual

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 nominations

Cast

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 Mark Everson) (as John 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
John Ratzenberger	...	Patron
Hal Galili	...	Patron With Cigar (as Hal Gallili)
Chris Harris	...	Patron
George Coulouris	...	Old Man Vespucci
Leon Greene	...	Muscle Bound Patron
Freddie Earlle	...	Disgruntled Patron (as Freddie Earle)
Hugh Fraser	...	Disc Jockey
Bart Allison	...	Old Priest
Samantha Weysom	...	Gilda Proclo
Richard Holmes	...	Pianist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Sherman	...	Patron (scenes deleted)
Laurie Goode	...	Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Nicholas Mele	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Lester

Writing credits
Terrence McNally		(play)
Terrence McNally		(screenplay)

Produced by
Denis O'Dell	....	producer

Original Music by
Ken Thorne

Cinematography by
Paul Wilson		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
John Bloom

Casting by
Mary Selway

Production Design by
Philip Harrison		(as Phillip Harrison)

Costume Design by
Evangeline Harrison		(as Vangie Harrison)

Makeup Department
Colin Jamison	....	hair stylist
Paul Rabiger	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Barrie Melrose	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dusty Symonds	....	assistant director
Terry Madden	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Gareth Tandy	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Bill MacLaren	....	construction manager
Tony Reading	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Roy Charman	....	sound recordist
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound recordist
Don Sharpe	....	sound editor
Mike Tucker	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Colin Chilvers	....	special effects

Stunts
Paul Weston	....	stunt arranger

Camera and Electrical Department
Maurice Gillett	....	gaffer
Bob Penn	....	still photographer
Ron Robson	....	camera operator
Chic Waterson	....	camera operator
Stephen Smith	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Peter Boyle	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ken Thorne	....	music arranger
Ken Thorne	....	music conductor
Colm Wilkinson	....	singer: songs (as C.T. Wilkinson)

Other crew
Gordon Arnell	....	publicity director
Arthur Davey	....	supervising accountant
Adela Holzer	....	produced on Broadway by
Ann Skinner	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Courtyard Films (as Courtyard Films Limited)
• Warner Bros. (as Warner Bros. Inc.)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1977) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1982) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:R | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Courtyard Films

Trivia:

F. Murray Abraham, Rita Moreno, Jerry Stiller, Jack Weston and Paul B. Price play the roles they created in the original Broadway production. Treat Williams replaced Stephen Collins as Brick.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Carmine's goon pretends to talk to Abe, Abe takes his earpiece receiver out of his chest pocket and holds it before him. When the camera cuts to the wide shot, it's back in his chest pocket and he takes it out again.

Quotes:

Chris:As strange as it may seem, no one is going to attack you.
Gaetano Proclo:Someone already has!
Chris:Eh, beginner's luck.

Movie Connections:

References The Three Caballeros (1944)

Soundtrack:

Everything's Coming Up Roses

Just possibly the funniest film ever made

No one shows this since the advent of AIDS. That's a pity, because if it isn't the funniest movie ever made, it's awfully close. Great adaptation of the Broadway hit play, with wonderful performances by Jack Weston, Rita Moreno, Jerry Stiller, F. Murray Abraham, Paul Price, and Treat Williams. I can't praise this one highly enough.