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:

Consider the Possibilities

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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

Natalie Wood decided to gamble her standard fee on a percentage of the gross, earning $3 million. She had earlier declined a similar offer with West Side Story (1961).

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Goofs

In the restaurant kitchen, Carol takes hold of the waiter's left hand. In the next shot, she is holding his right hand.

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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

Referenced in My Best Friend's Wife (2001)

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Soundtracks

What the World Needs Now Is Love
by Hal David and Burt Bacharach
Vocal by Jackie DeShannon
Courtesy of Liberty Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Marital bliss has never been so funny

Two married couples (Bob: Robert Culp, Carol: Natalie Wood, Ted: Elliott Gould, Alice: Dyan Cannon) feel as though true excitement is missing from their marriages and so they decide to pick things up by wife swapping and having drug parties. A crazy but funny satire on marriages that is given a boost by the hilarious performances of its talented cast.