Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969)

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... See full summary »

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 Corporation,Frankovich Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Karen Black auditioned for the part of Alice.

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Goofs

In the psychiatrist scene, Alice is sitting directly across from the shrink. But in her close-ups, her chin is raised and she is obviously talking "up" to the camera.

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Quotes

Carol Sanders: My darling, you did not do a terrible thing. You told me about it. If you hadn't have told me, then that would have been cheating!
Bob Sanders: I know what cheating is. Cheating is when you ball a chick that's not your wife That's cheating!

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Connections

Featured in Indie Sex: Censored (2007)

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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 60's comedy w/beautiful actresses

One of the best of 1969 with Natalie Wood and Dyan Cannon at their sexiest. Perfect casting, great story, and Mazursky's best film. I know the critics were split on this one, but it came out at the right time and it holds up today. What's not to like about this? Elliott Gould was never more befuddled, Dyan Cannon's best acting when she was gorgeous, Robert Culp's only decent movie, and Natalie Wood was born to play Carol.

Certainly a 9 out 10! Mazursky would never again be so in touch with the times and the ending is NOT a cop-out! Check this out. Great stuff! Even the encounter session scenes have the ring of truth for that sort of thing. This movie is great!