Saturday Night At The Baths

Another queer subject film from the 70s, whose name I had never heard of so far. It is the story of a bisexual triangle set against the backdrop of the legendary Continental Baths. This film depicts much of what I was familiar with as the struggle of coming out gay back before it was acceptable. With minimalistic production values and what seems like an independent film, I proceeded to watch this film with an open mind.

Michael is a young pianist who has recently moved from Montana to NYC along with his girlfriend Tracy. Looking for employment, he applies for the pianist job at the Baths, given that he has to start somewhere. The manager at the baths, a good looking lad named Scotti makes a pass at Michael who clears that he is straight. Scotti invites him to an art gallery opening along with his girlfriend so they can meet each other. Tracy and Scotti hot off every well and before you know the trio become friends. Michael is dealing with some internalized homophobia while Tracy seems to be a lot more open; not to mention intuitive. The trio come back home, to drink and smoke pot and Tracy can clearly notice sexual tension between the two men but ignores. The trio start hanging out and at some point Michael makes a comment on how Scotti is not normal, which neither Tracy and nor Scotti take well. He goes home to apologize to Scott and tell him a story from him being 12 years old and caught in a storm with Greg, an Air Force fighter pilot whom he idolized, and how they shared a sleeping bag to keep warm. Anyway, the night of Michael's first performance arrives, which goes really well and Scotti and Michael are hanging out when finally Michael kisses Scotti and they spend the night together. The next morning, thankfully, there is no awkwardness and Michael goes back home, tells Tracy what happens and they both hope that this will be the end of it.

The thing that is memorable in the film are two major and elaborate sex scenes; one heterosexual and one gay. They ar both done with taste and are very candid, sensual slow kisses. I was curious to see how the situation is going to play out since Michael is a bit homophobic and Scotti is very much into him, but I did like the way the eventual sex happens between the two men. The story is basic, but the premise was a bit interesting for me. The film screams 70s, with clothes, hairdo and everything from that era, an era when worries were still far from us. The whole, almost 15 minute sequence of the Saturday night performance at the baths was little too much for me. It could easily have been edited out. Similarly there are a lot of shots taken from far which clearly have bad dubbing too. As actors, all three of them do a good job and surprisingly the two men both are quite handsome and good looking too. Saturday Night At The Baths features a tour of a gay scene from long, long ago in a galaxy far away; it can be enjoyed simply as a historical document. Apparently the gay sex scene was edited out from the original film, so I am glad I saw this newer restored uncut version. As a film, it is no histrionics, but as a time capsule, it does show an interesting perspective and I surprisingly found myself being charmed despite its flaws. (5.5/10)