Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Saturday Night at the Baths Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 25, 2022

1975’s “Saturday Night at the Baths” presents a time and place for audiences during the decade, with co-writer/director David Buckley offering a snapshot of celebratory happenings involving the gay community. Instead of simply making a documentary about time at the Continental Baths, the production hopes to touch hearts and minds with this drama, which examines one man’s journey of sexuality, making discoveries about himself while working in a scene he doesn’t fully understand at first. “Saturday Night at the Baths” is no great offering of storytelling, but it does have a distinct fingerprint when it comes to detailing a moment in history, capturing the jubilance of performance and the thrill of living free, with Buckley understanding more about the scene than the demands of dramatic structure.

Coming to New York City from Montana, Michael (Robert Aberdeen) is ready to conquer the Big Apple, only requiring employment to do so. He has a lover in Tracy (Ellen Sheppard) and a gift for the piano, finally finding a taker for his skills at the Continental Baths, hired to accompany performers on the weekends. Finally achieving an income, Michael is excited about the gig, but his overall sense of comfort is challenged by the gay scene, with employee Scotti (Don Scotti) invited into his life, becoming close with Tracy as well. Scotti desires Michael, but the pianist isn’t sure about himself, with long repressed bisexual feelings emerging from his past, complicating his life with Tracy.

“Saturday Night at the Baths” is really two movies, with one side of the feature detailing Michael’s experience in NYC, which challenges his way of thinking as he deals with employment around gay people. He’s uncomfortable with the thought of it, but happy to collect a check, and the story follows his evolution as a heterosexual man of Montana getting comfortable with his true self around Scotti, who unearths feelings buried long ago. There’s Tracy as well, who supports and adores her lover, recognizing that something is happening to Michael, who can’t quite sense it himself. It’s the stuff of melodrama, and “Saturday Night at the Baths” doesn’t exactly reject such temptation, with the low-budget production offering stilted performances and rough editing, hoping to bring some level of character to what’s essentially a celebration of the Continental Bath experience.

Saturday Night at the Baths Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation shows its age at times, but the overall effort to bring a largely obscure endeavor to Blu-ray is successful. Detail for "Saturday Night at the Baths" is appealing, with a sense of skin particulars and period fashion. Bath interiors are open for inspection, and New York City tours are dimensional, helping the time capsule appeal of the feature. Colors is respectfully refreshed, offering natural skin tones and brighter costuming. Club lighting is also alert. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavier but film-like. Wear and tear is present during the viewing experience, along with some points of damage.

Saturday Night at the Baths Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA does encounter plenty of source-related issues, showing its age with a tinny sound that restrains dialogue exchanges. Intelligibility isn't threatened, but clarity wavers from scene to scene, and there's never a full sense of vocal power. Music is also a bit strange at times, perhaps reaching the limits of the original equipment, as some Continental Bath performances fail to offer a larger presence in the mix, as one might expect from such an environment.

Saturday Night at the Baths Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "A Bi-Product of the Baths" (17:50, HD) is a video essay by Lee Gambin.

• Interview (24:37, HD) features co-writer/director David Buckley.

• Interview (17:55, HD) features Don Scotti.

• And a Restoration Trailer (1:25, HD) is included.

Saturday Night at the Baths Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Saturday Night at the Baths" is much more interesting when exploring the iconic Continental Bath location (which eventually became the infamous "Plato's Retreat" in 1977), offering performance clips and a general sense of life that delivers some excitement and a look at the culture of the day. As a viewing experience, "Saturday Night at the Baths" is uneven, more enticing when stripped of sludgy character business, examining the purity of mutual attraction and self-expression.