'You gotta realize, man, where I'm comin' from, see. Where I come from, what you do with fags is punch 'em in the mouth.'
Michael
As a lover of films from the 70's, I was looking forward to diving into 1974's Saturday Night at the Baths. I'd seen a few caps from the nude scenes, and was intrigued by the story description. The plot reminded me a little bit of 1982's Making Love. It had me wondering whether producers at the time had an easier time including a 'straight' relationship in a gay film. It's possible to get a gay film made, the question of sexuality had to be some sort of a struggle.
At the core of this film is the exploration of Michael’s sexuality. Although living in New York, he was raised on a air force base in Montana, and is open about his own intolerance for gay men. Michael, (Robert Aberdeen) is a musician, and lads a job playing piano at a bathhouse in the city. He is encouraged to take the job by his partner Tracy.(Ellen Sheppard) After his first day, Michael doesn't hesitate using the word 'fag' and sharing his disgust at thinking his male co-workers are hitting on him. Tracy for her part, seems to role with it, seemly understanding why people would be into her man.
We quickly learn of course, that Michael's verbal homophobia comes from something deeper. It doesn't take long for Michael to form a relationship with Scotti, (Don Scotti) one of his co-workers at the bath. Now I stated the film was bout Michael's sexuality struggle, and it is, yet there were so many missing elements. The film begins with a sex scene between Michael and Traci, and ends with one between Michael and Scotti. In the middle, were various scenes of parties at the bathhouse, and for me, not enough of connecting the two.
Still, I enjoyed the film, not so much for the acting or the story, but for the visuals, and the time in New York that it featured. Director David Buckley, and writer Buckley and Franklin Khedour did a decent job of visually capturing the feel, or at least what I imagine the feel, of that time in New York. Many of the scenes were actually shot at some of the iconic Continental Baths. The homophobic slurs didn't bother me in the least, I remember growing up in the 80's and 90's with older brothers, and remember the word 'faggot' being unfortunately bantered around our house liberally, especially during our early teenage years.
After watching the film, and when thinking of posting about it, I went online to read and check out a few reviews and reactions to the film. For the most part, they mirrored what I was thinking. Low budget, cringy dialogue and just passable performances. Yet, most comments I read also commented that there was something about the feel and look of the film, that saved it from being completely unforgettable.
I think part the male nudity was also seen as refreshing. Aberdeen was incredibly hot to me, but certainly didn't have the buff bodies we so much today. It was also wonderful to see an average size penis, and not some modified mutant member we see so much of today. We also had nude scenes from each of the three leads, and full frontals from both of the male leads.
Some of the most interesting commentary came from a thread at DreamCap, one of my favorite sites focused on the male form. One of the posters, DavidAsset, actually work on the film for a few days. Many longtime FH readers may remember that not only has David helped me with several posts, specifically Broadway Bares related pieces, I also focused on his own love of being naked in a post from back in 2011. (David does Donkey Beach) I quickly got in touch with David and asked if had any memories from his time on the set that I could share.
'I was working as a production manager at New York's public television station, and a fellow production manager named Roy, if I would help out for a few days on a low budget film he was working on called Saturday Night At The Baths, which was to be filled around New York City locations such as Central Park and the Ansonia Hotel and of course, the infamous Continental Baths.
Aside from serving as production/location manager on the film, Roy was also appearing in the film as a football player. I agreed to help out for a few days as a gaffer with the lighting crew, since I knew Ralf Bode, who was an up-and-coming lighting director in NY. (He later went on to be the Director of Photography on Saturday Night Fever.) '
'As is often the case, people recruited as non-union extras frequently don't show up on set at the time they are requested for filming. In a panic, Roy asked several of us helping out to double as extras for the day, wearing only towels for a scene at the Continental Baths. I agreed. At one point, we were asked to jump in the pool for a scene. I remember thinking that this has to be the first film in which the gaffer crew went naked for a scene in a film. In watching the film several years ago,
I actually wasn't sure, if they left that scene in the film. It was not a memorable performance, for sure, and I'm glad I was not credited on this film. It would not have been helpful on my resume. Several years later, I was saddened to learn that Roy had contracted Aids and passed away.'
Thanks to David for sharing his memories, and knowing David, I'm not the least bit surprised he jumped naked into that swimming pool. I included one of the nude scenes above, but if you want to see them all, there is a longer clip featuring more that I uploaded on SendSpace HERE:
