The Ritz
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Movie Reviews of The Ritz
Movie Review: Googy Gomez the last of the real trash Queens
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the famous pre-aids gay movie from the great, now forgotten, Richard Lester who developed it from a Terence Mcnally off-Broadway play.
Without Lester there would have been no Bonnie and Clyde, no Godfather, nor The Graduate. An American in London (not Paris) Lester who presented the world with those incredibly 'up close' Beatles movies in 1964 and 66 teased Hollywood with the new 'Hollywood-Look-that-Could-Be' especially in lighting and editing when Hollywood was still muddling along with 50s style westerns and musicals, whose staple products often had dated, garish colors and frigid, distant editing.
By 1976 he had made his mark but not greatly his money.The wunderkinds of the seventies, Spielberg et al, would take all of the credit for the seismic shift of the early seventies but much was also due to Lester.
This movie was not popular on release but was and is fabulous all the same. Treat Williams and Rita Moreno develop the movie's tone. He a mild mannered eager to please detective with a disturbing high pitched voice,on the lookout for on-the-lam Jack Weston escaping from his Mafiosa brother in law; she, a he who is a she, drama monarch of the house, Googy Gomez the great Klutz-Queen of the New York bath house circuit. A young F Murray Abraham doing a very nice laid back Groucho Marx in undershorts, supports the insurgency.
There are no movies like this any more. The Beatles movies were full of that lovely Lennonesque self deprecation. People now want to laugh at others rather than themselves. Take a look at this movie and see how things used to be in some movies you could go to.
Movie Review: The Ritz is Greatz!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of those films that comes out of nowhere and unless you were lucky enough to catch it in the theater the first time around - or during it's half-life on cable in the mid-70's - you missed it. It's a Richard Lester-directed film and for anyone familiar with his work, that tells you you're in for a frantically funny ride. One of the great underrated comedians - Jack Weston - is the star, but in name only with co-stars such as Rita Moreno, Jerry Stiller, F. Murray Abraham and Treat Williams pulling their comedic weight. All of the action takes place one night in a (this is what "dates" the film) gay bathouse in Manhattan. An unsuspecting Weston takes refuge from his mob-boss brother-in-law Jerry Stiller who is trying to carry-out his father's dying wish to "Get Proclo!" Weston looks as "at home" with this "family" as a pair of brown shoes with a tuxedo. Trying to hide while fending off an ardent "chubby chaser", a fame-hungry Rita Moreno and Treat Williams as the high-voiced detective hired to find Proclo, the entire evening comes to a head during the club's amateur night show. Several nice twists throughout the film and just the joy of seeing Jack Weston in center ring is well worth the price of admission. Mr. Lester has never failed to truly entertain his audiences and this film is certainly no exception.Movie Review: A Ritzy "Ritz"
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was introduced to this film, the only things I knew were: it was originally a Broadway play, which starred several people who are in the film, including Rita Moreno, who won a Tony Award for her performance, that it is a farce, and that it takes place in a bathhouse, mid-1970's.
In the first scene, where the "family" is awaiting the imminent death of the patriarch, the son-in-law (Jack Weston) is sitting with his daughters, who are complaining that they're bored. The very first line in the film is delivered by one of the daughters: "I want to go back to Cleveland." As it turns out, this film was shot in England, and they hired local girls to play the roles of the daughters. One might think they would have hired girls who could at least fake an American "accent," but, as it was, this girl's delivery came out, "I want to go beck to Clayvlind." Too funny. And the camp begins.
Whether you are gay or straight or somewhere in between, track down this video (and I mean video...it seems it has not been released on DVD, which is a sin) and watch it repeatedly. Each time you watch, you will find things you never noticed before. I've watched it many times, and I still find new things to laugh about.
Margaret DuMont, we thought you were dead.
Peace, everyone!
Movie Review: Straight? Gay? Undecided? Who Cares? Great Fun with Lot's of Laughs.
Summary: 5 Stars
Your sexual preference will not eliminate you as an appreciative audience member. There is something here for everyone to relate to and watch the rest from that "safe place."
Perhaps the plot is a bit preposterous... perhaps a little over-the-top... maybe even silly, but... unless you've lived under a rock somewhere, you will start laughing and your laughter will roll on through the rest of the film.
Treat Williams is hysterical in his role as a private detective following his straight suspect into a gay bath house in New York. Cleverly similar to the real "Continental Baths" on the upper West Side in Manhattan, anyone who ever went to the "Tubs" will have an extra understanding of the funny situations happening there, but it is not neccessary to enjoy the story or activities showcased in this farce.
Treat Williams is a treat for the eyes in his skimpy towel worn throughout the film. The towels are less flattering on many of the other cast members, but that too, is part of the fun.
Rita Moreno is great as a "steamy" entertainer (please excuse the pun) with Jerry Stiller, Jack Weston and Kaye Ballard, all turning in perfect performances.
TAXI... Take me to The Ritz!!!
Movie Review: Lost gem of the 70's is coming to DVD in January 2008
Summary: 5 Stars
Warner Home Video is releasing this film as part of their "Directors' Showcase: Take Three" collection on 8th January 2008. This is not a boxed set, instead each film is released individually. The plot involves a Cleveland sanitation company owner who decides that a New York all-male bathhouse will be the perfect hideout. You see, as people in the sanitation business sometimes are, Gaetano Proclo (Jack Weston) is married to the mob, and his brother-in-law (Jerry Stiller) has been instructed to put the hit on him. This is very possibly one of the funniest movies I've ever seen, and yet it is seldom shown anywhere on cable. Also note a pre-Amadeus F. Murray Abraham is present in the cast. The special features are:
Vintage Featurette - You're an Actor, Jack Weston
Theatrical Trailer
Subtitles: English & Français (Main Feature. Bonus Material/Trailer May Not Be Subtitled.)
The list of extras come from a press release from Warner Home Video. I am somewhat disappointed that there is no commentary track for this film, though I am grateful that at last it will be available.