"The Ritz" is a comedy based on a successful Broadway play of the same name. One can imagine this story acted live on the stage, and how funny much of it may have seemed. Unfortunately, this is one of those instances when a film made from a stage play just doesn't have the same effect. Most of the efforts at humor here seem forced or blatantly contrived situations which defuse the comedy.
The setting had some potential for much humor - a hotel and entertainment spot for gays in the Big Apple. There is no actual nudity. Nor is there very much real comedy. There isn't any witty or outrageous dialog that might cause laughter. And most of the scenes that probably were intended for humor come across quite lame. It might have been different in 1976, but well into the 21st century, this film is mostly a bust for humor.
Jack Weston's Gaetano Proclo stumbles around the Ritz mostly with his mouth open and with a dumb look on his face. Rita Moreno's Googie Gomez overacts wildly. It may have been intended that way, but instead of generating any humor, it tends to tediousness and puts one off.
Jerry Stiller's Carmine Vespucci is the lone laughter character. But there's just a small amount of film time for him and the funny situations that surround his character. This isn't good a comedy, as it was promoted to be. It is definitely dated, and probably wasn't very funny even in its day.
The setting had some potential for much humor - a hotel and entertainment spot for gays in the Big Apple. There is no actual nudity. Nor is there very much real comedy. There isn't any witty or outrageous dialog that might cause laughter. And most of the scenes that probably were intended for humor come across quite lame. It might have been different in 1976, but well into the 21st century, this film is mostly a bust for humor.
Jack Weston's Gaetano Proclo stumbles around the Ritz mostly with his mouth open and with a dumb look on his face. Rita Moreno's Googie Gomez overacts wildly. It may have been intended that way, but instead of generating any humor, it tends to tediousness and puts one off.
Jerry Stiller's Carmine Vespucci is the lone laughter character. But there's just a small amount of film time for him and the funny situations that surround his character. This isn't good a comedy, as it was promoted to be. It is definitely dated, and probably wasn't very funny even in its day.