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The Ritz Movie Review Summary

Actors: Jack Weston, Jerry Stiller, Rita Moreno, Treat Williams, F. Murray Abraham

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Ritz


On his deathbed, Mafia-tied Mr. Vespucci commands his insane son, Carmine (Jerry Stiller) to “get Proclo” (Jack Weston), his disappointing son-in-law. With the “hit” on, Cleveland-based Gaetano Proclo tells a cab driver to take him to “the last place on Earth that anybody would ever think of looking for him”. Gaetano's safe haven turns out to be The Ritz, a gay bathhouse/nightclub in lower Manhattan. Abe, the sympathetic bathhouse cashier, assures Gaetano that he will be safe and undisturbed at The Ritz … as long as he locks his bedroom door. Gaetano, using the name Carmine Vespucci as a cover, reluctantly checks in. Gaetano's evening turns out to be anything but peaceful as he contends with the off-the-wall characters that have also checked into The Ritz for the evening. First is Claude Perkins, an old army acquaintance and a “chubby chaser”, who tries to seduce plump Gaetano with candy bars, chocolate éclairs and mouth-watering descriptions of dinner menus. Next is Chris (F. Murray Abraham), who is desperate to score with anybody. Armed with his trusty megaphone, Chris unsuccessfully entices would be suitors and shouts out invitations to orgies and announces phony telephone calls for football legend, Joe Namath. Chris becomes Gaetano's unofficial tour guide, explaining the inner workings of The Ritz and of the gay lifestyle. Then there is Googie Gomez (Rita Moreno), a horrid singer/actress with a grating accent who performs in “The Pits”. Googie, on a false tip that Gaetano is a major Hollywood producer, spends much of the evening trying to seduce “Mr. Vespucci” into securing her a more glamorous job. Gaetano will have none of it, especially since he is convinced that Googie is a transvestite. Also lurking about The Ritz is Michael Brick (Treat Williams), a handsome private detective with an irritatingly high-pitched voice. The real Carmine Vespucci, hoping to catch Gaetano in an uncompromising position, has hired Brick to spy (but how did Carmine know Gaetano was hiding out at The Ritz?). As cases of mistaken identity and hilarity ensue, the unlikely friends begin to ban together to fool Carmine, who has recently checked into The Ritz.
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The review of this Movie prepared by Tara Dugan



Script Analysis of The Ritz

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Plot & Themes

Comedy, primarily    -   Yes Time/era of movie:    -   1960's-1970's Taboo Sex Story?    -   Yes Kind of sex:    -   Gay guys! Comedy or Parody about    -   imposter story How much humor v. drama    -   Nearly all humor

Main Character

Identity:    -   Male Age:    -   40's-50's Ethnicity/Nationality    -   White American

Setting

City?    -   Yes City:    -   New York Misc setting    -   resort/hotel

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   no torture/death Sex/nudity in movie?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   vague references only    -   kissing Any profanity?    -   Some foul language Is this movie based on a    -   play

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