7.3/10
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36 user 46 critic

California Split (1974)

R | | Comedy, Drama | August 1974 (USA)
California Split Poster
A down on his luck gambler links up with free spirit Elliot Gould at first to have some fun on, but then gets into debt when Gould takes an unscheduled trip to Tijuana. As a final act of ... See full summary »

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1 nomination. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Bill Denny
... Charlie Waters
Ann Prentiss ... Barbara Miller
... Susan Peters
Edward Walsh ... Lew
... Sparkie
... Helen Brown
Barbara London ... Lady on the Bus
... Reno Barmaid
Jay Fletcher ... Robber
... Lloyd Harris
... Receptionist
Vincent Palmieri ... First Bartender (as Vince Palmieri)
Alyce Passman ... Go-Go Girl
Joanne Strauss ... Mother
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Storyline

A down on his luck gambler links up with free spirit Elliot Gould at first to have some fun on, but then gets into debt when Gould takes an unscheduled trip to Tijuana. As a final act of desperation, he pawns most of his possessions and goes to Reno for the poker game of a lifetime. A film set mainly in casinos and races, as the two win and lose (but mainly win), get robbed, and get blind drunk. Written by David B-2

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

poker | casino | writer | magazine | gambling | See All (37) »

Taglines:

California Split ... being the story of two bet-on-anything guys who happily discover something called a "winning streak." See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

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Release Date:

August 1974 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

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Filming Locations:

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Company Credits

Production Co:

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Technical Specs

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Color:

(Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The original ending actually spilled outside the casino. Bill leaves Charlie and hails a cab when Charlie suddenly comes out and decides to go with him so as to prove that he can walk away from gambling. However, a couple of people climb out of the waiting cab and ask Charlie how the action is, and he is drawn right back in and thus Bill leaves alone. See more »

Goofs

Some of the balls hanging from Charlie's sombrero keep changing position throughout the scene. See more »

Quotes

Bill Denny: Dumbo flew.
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Connections

References Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) See more »

Soundtracks

Ace in the Hole
(uncredited)
Written by James E. Dempsey, George Mitchell and Jerry Vogel
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User Reviews

 
some true things about gambling
26 April 2005 | by – See all my reviews

Now I really thinks that this is an amazing good movie. Amazing both for the story and for the actors: they produce a common effort in saying some real true things about gambling. Great directing, too, and great places to shoot the story (how clever to choose the depressing Reno instead of Las Vegas! Atlantic City would have been a good choice, too). Gambling is what people do when they have anything else left to do. Gambling is all about losing, feeling sad, and loneliness. And it's the same if you win or if you lose, no difference. Other films usually show winners, when they solves their common life problems through gambling, or losers, when they ruin their own common life trough gambling. What is shown by California Split is that, if you are a gambler, then there's no space for anything else, say life, love, or hope. And that's both for winners and for losers.
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