...All the Marbles (1981)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writer:

Mel Frohman (writer)

Release Date:

16 October 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The California Dolls and their best friend Harry...Together they're going for...All The Marbles [USA Theatrical] [Title as ...All The Marbles]

Plot:

Harry manages The California Dolls, a female wrestling tag team endlessly touring America. He is also romantically involved with one of them...

Plot Keywords:

Wrestling | Female Wrestling | Female Nudity

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Harry Sears
Vicki Frederick	...	Iris
Laurene Landon	...	Molly
Burt Young	...	Eddie Cisco
Tracy Reed	...	Diane, Toledo Tiger
Ursaline Bryant	...	June, Toledo Tiger
Claudette Nevins	...	Solly, Woman Promoter
Richard Jaeckel	...	Bill Dudley (Reno referee)
John Hancock	...	Big John' Stanley, TTs Promoter
Lenny Montana	...	Jerome, Eddie's Bodyguard
Charlie Dell	...	Merle LeFevre, Open-air Fair Promoter
Chick Hearn	...	Himself - TV Reporter
Cliff Emmich	...	Obese Promoter
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Clyde Yamashito, Japanese Promoter
Joe Greene	...	Himself - Football Player

Also Known As:

The California Dolls (Australia) (USA) (reissue title)
...And All the Marbles (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Australia:M | West Germany:18 (nf) | Argentina:18 | Finland:K-16 | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:12 | Norway:(Banned) (1982-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Akron, Ohio, USA

Company:

Aldrich Company

Trivia:

Robert Aldrich's last movie.

Quotes:

Harry Sears: I had a thought - an idea for you girls. It's not fully realized, but it could be sensational.
Iris: We are not getting tattooed, Harry.
Harry Sears: Nah, I'm cold on that. I got a better one - You dye your hair.
Molly: So what else is new?
Harry Sears: Not just the hair on your head. I'm talking about your eyebrows, when you raise your arm - you know, under there - the fuzz over here... And it doesn't have to be vulgar!

definitely a guy flick!

Being a fan of lady wrestling for decades, I had hoped to see this movie at the theater when it first came out, but that opportunity never came. However, I did rent it once or twice afterward, and taped it when it came on the small screen. First, want to say that most of the previous reviews were right on the mark. I always liked and admired the performances turned in by Peter Falk in the Columbo series, but 95% of my interest in this movie was due to the main theme: women's wrestling. And I was not disappointed, especially with the complete matches shown between the Dolls and their reigning champion archrivals (the same cannot be said for "Wrestling Queen" starring the late, great Vivian Vachon, but featuring as much men's wrestling as women's. BTW, if you doubt the popularity of female grappling, go to Youtube.com and check out the tens of thousands of views that the women's wrestling/catfighting clips regularly garner). And having 4 very pretty women as the main wrestlers did not hurt at all, either. 2 thumbs and 8 fingers up for this movie, and a hope that somebody not in Vinny Mac's pocket will do another one along these lines one day soon!