Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Paul Mazursky

Writers:

Paul Mazursky (written by) and
Larry Tucker (written by)

Release Date:

16 January 1970 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice request the company of your pleasure.

Plot:

Documentary film-maker Bob Saunders and his wife Carol attend a group therapy session that serves as the backdrop for the opening scenes of the film...

Plot Keywords:

Male Female Relationship | Lawyer | Satire | Liquor | Husband Wife Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Natalie Wood	...	Carol Sanders
Robert Culp	...	Bob Sanders
Elliott Gould	...	Ted Henderson
Dyan Cannon	...	Alice Henderson
Horst Ebersberg	...	Horst
Lee Bergere	...	Emilio
Donald F. Muhich	...	Psychiatrist
Noble Lee Holderread Jr.	...	Sean Sanders
K.T. Stevens	...	Phyllis
Celeste Yarnall	...	Susan
Lynn Borden	...	Cutter
Linda Burton	...	Stewardess
Greg Mullavy	...	Group Leader (as Greg Mullavey)
Andre Philippe	...	Oscar
Diane Berghoff	...	Myrna

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (video rating) | UK:X | West Germany:16 | France:-16 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | USA:R | Australia:M | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Actors who tested for the role of Ted Henderson included Richard Benjamin, James Caan and Peter Falk.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the restaurant scene, the Elliott Gould character starts eating his desert. In the next scene, it is served to him.

Quotes:

Psychiatrist: When we come right up to the sex, you become embarrassed.
Alice Henderson: What am I... What would you like... What am I supposed to think?
Psychiatrist: I have no wants. Say what you think you'd like to say.
Alice Henderson: Do you think I need this? Do you really think you can help me?
Psychiatrist: I think it'd be useful to talk some more. I don't know for sure if I can help you or not. Do you think you can help yourself?
Alice Henderson: Ted is a very nervous man! Now sex is very important to a man! You know that!
Psychiatrist: Well, it seems that our time is up for today.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Bob and Carol and Lois and Clark (#4.8)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

What the World Needs Now is Love

Still worth watching.

B&C&T&A is still entertaining and has a number of funny scenes. Two of my favorites are the opening scene at the Esalen Institute, and Alice's session with her psychiatrist. The cast,particularly Dyan Cannon (Best Supporting Actress- NY Film Critics)and Elliot Gould, is perfect. B&C&T&A really do seem like couples and friends. It's Natalie Wood's best adult film role, and arguably her best film performance:she's never been more natural or at ease in front of the camera. Robert Culp never had a better role or vehicle. Mazursky's directorial debut, and probably his best film. The final scene in front of the Riviera Hotel in Vegas, recalls the "looking" exercise at the institute and appears to have been influenced by the parade at end of Felini's "81/2". Therefore, I give the film an 81/2 out of 10. Rent(or buy) the DVD and listen to the commentary with Cannon,Culp,Gould and Mazursky. Did you know that Leif Garrett plays Bob and Carol's son, and that Culp's "I Spy" costar, Bill Cosby, appears briefly(don't blink) in a scene at a club? Worthwhile.