Play It as It Lays

Play It as It Lays (1972)

19/10/1972
Drama
1h 39m

Maria's life was a search for the ultimate answer even after she found there was none.

Overview

Burned-out B-movie actress Maria, depressed and frustrated with her loveless marriage to an ambitious film director, Carter Lang, who would rather work on his career than on his relationship with her, numbs herself with drugs and sex with strangers. Only her friendship with a sensitive gay movie producer, B.Z., offers a semblance of solace. But even that relationship proves to be fleeting amidst the empty decadence of Hollywood.

  • Frank PerryDirector
  • Joan DidionScreenplay
  • John Gregory DunneScreenplay
  • Status

    Released

  • Original Language

    English

  • Budget

    $1,000,000

Keywords

  • drug abuse
  • mental breakdown
  • alienation
  • film in film
  • fame
  • mental institution
  • mental illness
  • lgbt
  • forced abortion
  • marital tensions
  • parental alienation
  • lavender marriage

Top Billed Cast

Tuesday Weld

Tuesday Weld

Maria Wyeth Lang

Anthony Perkins

Anthony Perkins

B.Z.

Adam Roarke

Adam Roarke

Carter Lang

Tammy Grimes

Tammy Grimes

Helene

Ruth Ford

Ruth Ford

Carlotta

Eddie Firestone

Eddie Firestone

Benny Austin

Diana Ewing

Diana Ewing

Susannah

Paul Lambert

Paul Lambert

Larry Kulik

Chuck McCann

Chuck McCann

Abortionist's Assistant

Severn Darden

Severn Darden

Hypnotist

Recommendations

The Bishop's Wife

The Bishop's Wife (70%)

Wings

Wings (72%)

Tom Brown's Schooldays

Tom Brown's Schooldays (69%)

Phaedra

Phaedra (57%)

The Handmaiden

The Handmaiden (82%)

Fantomas Unleashed

Fantomas Unleashed (68%)

Elf

Elf (67%)

Beowulf

Beowulf (59%)

The Aristocats

The Aristocats (73%)

Meet Joe Black

Meet Joe Black (73%)