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California Split

  • 19741974
  • 14+14+
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
California Split (1974)
ComedyDrama

When a casual gambler befriends a professional one, he begins to mirror his life, sending both deeper into the sleazy gambling world where the stakes keep getting bigger.When a casual gambler befriends a professional one, he begins to mirror his life, sending both deeper into the sleazy gambling world where the stakes keep getting bigger.When a casual gambler befriends a professional one, he begins to mirror his life, sending both deeper into the sleazy gambling world where the stakes keep getting bigger.

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Altman
  • Writer
    • Joseph Walsh
  • Stars
    • George Segal
    • Elliott Gould
    • Ann Prentiss
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Altman
  • Writer
    • Joseph Walsh
  • Stars
    • George Segal
    • Elliott Gould
    • Ann Prentiss
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 50User reviews
    • 54Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos86

    Elliott Gould and George Segal in California Split (1974)
    California Split (1974)
    Ann Prentiss in California Split (1974)
    Elliott Gould in California Split (1974)
    Ann Prentiss in California Split (1974)
    Ann Prentiss and Bert Remsen in California Split (1974)
    Elliott Gould and George Segal in California Split (1974)
    California Split (1974)
    California Split (1974)
    California Split (1974)
    California Split (1974)
    California Split (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    George Segal
    George Segal
    • Bill Dennyas Bill Denny
    Elliott Gould
    Elliott Gould
    • Charlie Watersas Charlie Waters
    Ann Prentiss
    Ann Prentiss
    • Barbara Milleras Barbara Miller
    Gwen Welles
    Gwen Welles
    • Susan Petersas Susan Peters
    Edward Walsh
    • Lewas Lew
    Joseph Walsh
    Joseph Walsh
    • Sparkieas Sparkie
    Bert Remsen
    Bert Remsen
    • Helen Brownas Helen Brown
    Barbara London
    • Lady on the Busas Lady on the Bus
    Barbara Ruick
    Barbara Ruick
    • Reno Barmaidas Reno Barmaid
    Jay Fletcher
    Jay Fletcher
    • Robberas Robber
    Jeff Goldblum
    Jeff Goldblum
    • Lloyd Harrisas Lloyd Harris
    Barbara Colby
    Barbara Colby
    • Receptionistas Receptionist
    Vincent Palmieri
    • First Bartenderas First Bartender
    • (as Vince Palmieri)
    Alyce Passman
    • Go-Go Girlas Go-Go Girl
    Joanne Strauss
    Joanne Strauss
    • Motheras Mother
    Jack Riley
    Jack Riley
    • Second Bartenderas Second Bartender
    Sierra Bandit
    • Woman at Baras Woman at Bar
    John Considine
    John Considine
    • Man at Baras Man at Bar
    • Director
      • Robert Altman
    • Writer
      • Joseph Walsh
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —David B-2
    pokercasinowritermagazinegambling32 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • California Split ... being the story of two bet-on-anything guys who happily discover something called a "winning streak."
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • 14+
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film is dedicated to actress Barbara Ruick who appears in the movie as a barmaid and who died on location during the filming. The end title card memorializing this reads: "FOR BARBARA 1933-1973".
    • Goofs
      Some of the balls hanging from Charlie's sombrero keep changing position throughout the scene.
    • Quotes

      Bill Denny: Goddamnit, lady, you don't throw oranges on an escalator!

    • Alternate versions
      The DVD cuts approximately three minutes worth of incidental scenes and bits, because the distributor was either unable or unwilling to reach an arrangement for music licensing.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 78th Annual Academy Awards (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Peg o' My Heart
      (uncredited)

      Written by Al Bryan and Fred Fisher

    User reviews50

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    some true things about gambling
    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.
    helpful•28
    5
    • Iwould
    • Apr 26, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1974 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Slide
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Spelling Goldberg
      • Reno Associates
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $10,900,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    ‘The Card Counter’ Review: In Paul Schrader’s Card-Sharp Noir, Oscar Isaac Is a Gambler Grappling with America’s Guilt
    ‘The Card Counter’ Review: In Paul Schrader’s Card-Sharp Noir, Oscar Isaac Is a Gambler Grappling with America’s Guilt
    Sep 2Variety Film + TV
    ‘The Card Counter’: Paul Schrader on the Ways Scorsese and ‘Taxi Driver’ Informed New Gambling Drama
    ‘The Card Counter’: Paul Schrader on the Ways Scorsese and ‘Taxi Driver’ Informed New Gambling Drama
    Aug 26Indiewire

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