Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969)

A light-hearted picture of middle-aged love and friendship.

Director:

Paul Mazursky

Writers:

Paul Mazursky, Larry Tucker

Stars:

Natalie Wood, Robert Culp, Elliott Gould

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 Mullavey	...	Tim - Group Leader
Andre Philippe	...	Oscar
Diane Berghoff	...	Myrna

Storyline

Documentary-filmmaker Bob Sanders and his wife Carol attend a group-therapy session that serves as the backdrop for the film's opening scenes. Returning to their Los Angeles home, the newly "enlightened" couple chastise their closest friends, Ted and Alice, for not coming to grips with their true feelings. Bob insists that everyone "feel" rather than intellectualize their emotions, and Carol pronounces "that's beautiful" after anyone says anything even remotely personal. Ted and Alice humor their friends, but a good-natured sexual tension is obviously at work among the foursome.

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Plot Keywords:

red tights | psychiatrist | breasts | adulterous husband | adulterous wife | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 January 1970 (France)

Also Known As:

Bob & Carol

Filming Locations:

Riviera Hotel & Casino - 2901 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$31,897,253

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Frankovich Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Donald F. Muhich, who played Alice Henderson's therapist, was director Paul Mazursky's real-life therapist. He later appeared in three other Mazursky films.

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Goofs

When Ted is in the pool talking to Bob, he says "I called home to make sure the kids were okay," using the plural "kids" - but they only have one child.

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Quotes

Alice Henderson: Listen! You tell me why do you think we come out here?
Carol Sanders: To have fun!
Alice Henderson: And what is more fun than an orgy! Orgy!

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Connections

Featured in A Decade Under the Influence (2003)

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Soundtracks

I Needs to Be Be'd With
(uncredited)
Words and Music by Ernie Shelby and Quincy Jones
Sung by Johnny Wesley

User Reviews

Great Movie!!!!!!

I (admittedly) started watching this movie, because it had nudity, and there was nothing else on. But after really getting into it, I got...well...into it! It's such a great comedy, and not just because it's so dated,(and it is)but because of the actors they chose. Gould is amazing in this movie! I was unaware of his true genius until this movie! Also cannon is phenomenal! Not to mention wood and culp, I honestly could not have asked for a better movie to happen across! The story is great, bob and carol go to a hippie retreat, and get "changed" in their mindset of sexual relationships. Then when they come home, they bring the ideals home and spew them on their best friends, ted and alice, like radiation. Of course it messes them up bad, and disrupts their lives. This is where the fun gets started. If you do watch, be warned, the beginning is weird. But give it 20 minutes, you'll be happy you did! I LOVED the movie, I'm just upset it took so long to discover it. Seriously, we should all be so lucky! I give it very high marks, and suggest you watch it an enjoy it. GREAT MOVIE!!!!!!