The Ritz (1976)

On his deathbed, Carmine Vespucci's mobster father tells him to "get Proclo" - Carmine's brother-in-law Gaetano. With "the hit" on, Gaetano tells a cab driver to take him where Carmine ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

Terrence McNally (screenplay by), Terrence McNally (based upon the play by)

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) (as 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 mobster father tells him to "get Proclo" - Carmine's brother-in-law Gaetano. 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" Claude and by entertainer Googie Gomez, who believes him to be a Broadway producer. His guides and protectors 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 Gaetano at the Ritz, as does his wife Vivian, but family secrets come out.

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Plot Keywords:

gay stereotype | pretending to be gay | nightclub singer | brother sister relationship | rainstorm | 

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Taglines:

Hiding out from the Mafia can be an awful drag!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Italian Spanish Portuguese

Release Date:

26 December 1976 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

The Ritz

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Courtyard Films

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.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Carmine Vespucci: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.

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Alternate Versions

CBS edited 5 minutes from this film for its 1982 network television premiere.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Can't Stop the Music (2014)

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Soundtracks

The Three Caballeros
(uncredited)
Music by Manuel Esperón
English lyrics by Ray Gilbert
Performed by The Andrews Sisters

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..!