Play It As It Lays (1972)

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

Director:

Frank Perry

Writers:

Joan Didion (novel), Joan Didion (screenplay),

Stars:

Tuesday Weld, Anthony Perkins, Tammy Grimes

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tuesday Weld	...	Maria Wyeth Lang
Anthony Perkins	...	B.Z.
Tammy Grimes	...	Helene
Adam Roarke	...	Carter Lang
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

Storyline

Maria Wyeth, an ex-model and B-movie actress, strolls on the grounds of a mental hospital, recalling the traumatic events which led to her breakdown. She is married to an unfaithful, self-engrossed director, Carter Lane. Neglected by her husband, Maria is engaged in a series of one-night stands and becomes pregnant. Her husband divorces her, and she has an illegal abortion. Maria's only friend is B.Z., a homosexual movie producer. World weary, he tells Maria that he has discovered the meaning of life is nothing. He invites her to commit suicide with him.

---

Plot Keywords:

actress | abortion | divorce | suicide | friend | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 October 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Destino que Deus Me Deu

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

F.P. Productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sam Peckinpah was to have worked with Joan Didion on this screen adaptation of her novel but this plan did not materialize.

---

Quotes

Maria Wyeth Lang: ...existentially, I'm getting a hamburger.

---

Connections

Referenced in Super 8½ (1994)

User Reviews

a real gem

Like Petulia, a film that depicts a time & place/milieu as though in real time. Hope this gets resurrected. It's a real treasure.