California Split (1974)

Director:

Robert Altman

Writer:

Joseph Walsh (written by)

Release Date:

7 August 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

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

Plot:

A down on his luck gambler (George Seagal) links up with free spirit Elliot Gould at first to have some fun on...

Plot Keywords:

Poker | Casino | Los Angeles California | Roulette | Magazine

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

George Segal	...	Bill Denny
Elliott Gould	...	Charlie Waters
Ann Prentiss	...	Barbara Miller
Gwen Welles	...	Susan Peters
Edward Walsh	...	Lew
Joseph Walsh	...	Sparkie
Bert Remsen	...	Helen Brown
Barbara London	...	Lady on the Bus
Barbara Ruick	...	Reno Barmaid
Jay Fletcher	...	Robber
Jeff Goldblum	...	Lloyd Harris
Barbara Colby	...	Receptionist
Vincent Palmieri	...	First Bartender (as Vince Palmieri)
Alyce Passman	...	Go-Go Girl
Joanne Strauss	...	Mother

Also Known As:

Jackpot!
Slide (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Reno, Nevada, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

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.

Goofs:

Continuity: Some of the balls hanging from Charlie's sombrero keep changing position throughout the scene.

Quotes:

Charlie Waters: El busto! Tapioca time.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

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 id that, if you are a gambler, there is not space for anything else, say it's life, love, or hope. And that's both for winners and for losers.