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A Major Disappointment

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The intriguing and imaginative plot, the excellent acting, and the tragedy of this TV adaptation of Bruce Jay Friedman's play not being available for today's audiences have been repeated by several reviewers. They are, in my opinion, all correct in their views about this wonderful, thought-provoking "black" comedy.I know that at least one reviewer lamented the fact that many reviewers seemed to talk more about the "nudity" than the merits of the play/movie. I have not found this to be so. And, of course, in the version shown in the United States, there is not really any frontal nudity. However, I was fortunate enough to see Ms. Perrine not only when she was performing in Las Vegas, but in the uncut version of "Steambath" that was shown in the UK and on Armed Forces Television throughout the European continent in 1973.Quite some time ago, after months and months of searching, I finally found the censored American version of "Steambath" on VHS at www.kultur.com. I could not find it at a site mentioned by another reviewer. Kultur now has this on DVD for $24.99 as of May 2007. I do not know whether it was in response to the requests here and elsewhere to re-release this fine film, but it is now available on such sites such as Amazon.com and for rental on www.netflix.com.If ANYONE knows where I can obtain the uncut version shown outside the US, would you please contact me? Maybe it's just because I'm a guy, but I think that the uncut version should be made available today because it adds to the impact of this insightful character study of the various personalities of the men (and one woman) who are "trapped" in the steam bath room. The uncut version is still very mild compared to what is available today, and it was all done very innocently. However, you knew that you were in for something unusual when Ms. Perrine suddenly appeared in what was apparently a men's shower/steam bath facility and dropped her towel! (You only see her from the waist up whenever she is turned toward you, of course. After all, this was 1973. Nevertheless, Ms. Perrine was facing the camera enough in the uncut version to make a lasting impression on this reviewer!)

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that most comments about this play center on Valerie's nudity and not on the play's content. Valerie is a babe, all right, but can we get past the nipples and butt to the show's dialog? It's pretty clever. Was Freidman saying that God is capricious? Mean? Enigmatic? Just? Was the old sailor the one who made the most sense by stating that he at least "lived" his life? When the individuals finally left the steamroom, were they walking into oblivion? Or to their reward? I always thought Valerie had a great body (remember Superman), but she also played a damn good part in Steambath. What impressed me most about the play was not nudity, but that the damn show was entertaining, and it made me think. A good figure can take your thoughts only so far.

I saw this movie/show late night on television when i was perhaps 13-15 years old (1973-1975) and while i cannot actually say whether i enjoyed it or not...i was flabberghasted when right there on my television (no HBO or Cinemax, mind you) Valerie Perrine took off her towel and her breasts were right there staring me in the face! I was absolutely shocked (in a good way, of course) to see nudity on television, albeit, late at night, but still on cable TV! Wish i could say more about the plot, but you can rest assured that 30 years later at least THAT part I can remember clearly!! :) I did watch the whole thing, so it must have held my interest...or perhaps i was just hoping to see the rest of her.(Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl? Pfft!)

I agree wholeheartedly with those who like this movie. I too watched it on PBS in the early seventies with a group of my friends and we all thought it was hilarious--even profound. Bruce Jay Friedman is one of the cleverest and most imaginative writers around. Check out his stories in the volume Black Angels if you want to see more of his work. Steambath is an unacknowledged gem. It ranks right alongside the black humor of Vonnegut, John Irving and T.C. Boyle. It should be resurrected.