Play It As It Lays (1972)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Frank Perry

Writers:

Joan Didion (novel)
Joan Didion (screenplay)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Maria's life was a search for the ultimate answer even after she found there was none.

Plot:

A Hollywood actress undergoes a psychic breakdown and recalls the traumatic events which led to her stay at a sanitarium.

Plot Keywords:

Actress | Divorce | Director | Suicide | Abortion

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Tuesday Weld	...	Maria Wyeth Lang
Anthony Perkins	...	B.Z.
Tammy Grimes	...	Helene
Adam Roarke	...	Carter
Ruth Ford	...	Carlotta
Eddie Firestone	...	Benny Austin
Diana Ewing	...	Susannah
Paul Lambert	...	Larry Kulik
Norman Foster	...	Abortionist
Chuck McCann	...	Abortionist's Assistant
Severn Darden	...	Hypnotist
Tony Young	...	Johnny Waters
Richard Anderson	...	Les Goodwin
Elizabeth Claman	...	The Chickie
Mitzi Hoag	...	Patsy

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:X | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

F.P. Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ellie Parker (2005)

Puzzling lack of respect for this gem

The movie Play It as It Lays is, admittedly, not everyone's cup of tea. Even the book--as much as I liked it--was a hard sell to friends and family; most, especially those living outside the Southern California forcefield, simply could not grasp the essential Los Angeles flavor of Didion's dry economical language. The language of the Industry is spot-on (for a change) as are the depictions of the unusual alliances and estrangements of the characters in the film. One person I know who hated the film complained that it was too "faggy" and not like the real Hollywood at all (this person lives in Tucson); the B.Z. and Maria relationship at the heart of this movie may seem bizarre and pointless to auslanders, but it certainly reminded me of real life in LA circa 1972. Also of note is Tammy Grimes' performance as B.Z.'s wife--she got so many of the good lines ("Oh God my face--I can really see a difference"; "in what?"; "skipping my Lazslo for one day.") This movie should be available in VHS/DVD; does anyone know why it's been ignored? I'd love to know.