California Suite (1978)

Misadventures of four groups of guests at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer:

Neil Simon (screenplay)

Stars:

Jane Fonda, Alan Alda, Maggie Smith

Won 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jane Fonda	...	Hannah Warren
Alan Alda	...	Bill Warren
Maggie Smith	...	Diana Barrie
Michael Caine	...	Sidney Cochran
Walter Matthau	...	Marvin Michaels
Elaine May	...	Millie Michaels
Herb Edelman	...	Harry Michaels (as Herbert Edelman)
Denise Galik	...	Bunny
Richard Pryor	...	Dr. Chauncey Gump
Bill Cosby	...	Dr. Willis Panama
Gloria Gifford	...	Lola Gump
Sheila Frazier	...	Bettina Panama
David Sheehan	...	David Sheehan
Michael Boyle	...	Desk Clerk
Len Lawson	...	Frank

Storyline

4 totally different and seperated stories of guests in a hotel. Maggie Smith and Michael Caine came from England to attend the Oscars; Jane Fonda came from New York, Alan Alda is her ex who lives in California; in the slapsticky part Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor and their wives come to the hotel to relax and play tennis and find there is only one room vacant; in the fourth segment Walter Matthau has come a day before his wife for his nephew's Bar Mitzvah, his brother: sends a prostitute to his room.

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Plot Keywords:

hotel | tennis | oscars | prostitute | actress | 

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Taglines:

The best two-hour vacation in town!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 December 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Neil Simon's California Suite

Filming Locations:

21932 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rastar Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Teamed together for their scenes, actors Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor had previously starred together around four years earlier in Uptown Saturday Night.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[a two-seater plane is flying over snow-capped mountains]
Harold: For heaven's sake, Wendy - look for an airport. Will you look for the airport?
Diana Barrie: Oh don't make such a fuss. Just put it down on a mountain.
Harold: What do you mean 'just put it down'? I'm lucky I can keep it up. I told you I never flew before.
Diana Barrie: Don't shout at me - I'm a first-class passenger.
Harold: You're a first class lunatic. It's all over Wendy - our relationship has a quarter of a tank to go.
Diana Barrie: Yes, but - you do love me, don't you Harold? ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

In the opening credits, famous 70s artworks of British artist David Hockney are featured. The painting before Elaine May's name is entitled "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with two figures), 1972" and features a swimming pool with the Hollywood hills in the backdrop. The "two figures", both male, one swimming and the other standing over watching have been mysteriously edited out of the picture for some unknown reason.

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Connections

Referenced in West Hollywood Motel (2013)

User Reviews

Sunny, likable movie, with flaws

I've always liked this movie, ever since I saw it in the theater as a 12-year-old. (With my church youth group, no less -- what were they thinking??) It's flawed, but generally fun, and I like the sun-soaked, palm-fringed atmosphere.

Maggie Smith is the undisputed standout. Her portrayal is brilliant and she and Michael Caine fling one-liners at each other with biting abandon. I've always liked both Jane Fonda and Alan Alda, so I enjoy their storyline too, though their exchanges seem forced and a little too clever. I'm a Cosby fan, but his scenes with Richard Pryor are uncomfortable -- it's troubling that the film's only black characters are relegated to brute physical comedy. Walter Matthau and Elaine May do a great job, but I never liked the hooker skit -- not sure why.

I buy very few films, but I do own this one, and over the years I've watched it so many times I know all the lines...