California Split on TCM tonight
- Thread starter Mr. Met
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Re: California Split on TCM tonight
College basketball expert Alan Boston raves about California Split.
College basketball expert Alan Boston raves about California Split.
Neveragain
EOG Dedicated
So I just saw California Split this week for the first time on TCM. Interestingly, California Split was released in the same year, 1974,
as The Gambler (James Caan).
The film was directed by Robert Altman, who directed “MASH” and “The Player”.
Based on a successful technique borrowed from MASH, Altman lent his craft for dialogue, background dialogue, and scenes with larger groups of people adding layers of human interaction to the flow of the story’s main characters.
As a comedy, gambling genre films have always struggled. The subject matter and characters are just too dark and depressing.
This film is was no different.
I believe the funniest scene in California Split was Elliott Gould’s character looking for credit on the casino floor. He knew there would be no chance for credit, but he continued acting outing his wild fantasy with the Casino bosses like a dream sequence in his mind with his irrational thoughts that his insanity might miraculously be brought to life.
As for the rendering of characters, Gould’s character was well done. He brought the addicted gambler’s mentality to life with the frequent, typical “meth” driven irrational behaviour from a deep love of gambling.
To me, George Segal’s character was more interesting because there were times when he actually stopped and realized that it wasn’t fun to be in debt and begging for loans all the time. It required more serious acting and Segal was believable in this regard.
The ending was cut short, with our two buddies in agreement to leaving Reno and going their separate ways. Audiences, I’m sure, were left disappointed, wanting more shenanigans, as was I.
as The Gambler (James Caan).
The film was directed by Robert Altman, who directed “MASH” and “The Player”.
Based on a successful technique borrowed from MASH, Altman lent his craft for dialogue, background dialogue, and scenes with larger groups of people adding layers of human interaction to the flow of the story’s main characters.
As a comedy, gambling genre films have always struggled. The subject matter and characters are just too dark and depressing.
This film is was no different.
I believe the funniest scene in California Split was Elliott Gould’s character looking for credit on the casino floor. He knew there would be no chance for credit, but he continued acting outing his wild fantasy with the Casino bosses like a dream sequence in his mind with his irrational thoughts that his insanity might miraculously be brought to life.
As for the rendering of characters, Gould’s character was well done. He brought the addicted gambler’s mentality to life with the frequent, typical “meth” driven irrational behaviour from a deep love of gambling.
To me, George Segal’s character was more interesting because there were times when he actually stopped and realized that it wasn’t fun to be in debt and begging for loans all the time. It required more serious acting and Segal was believable in this regard.
The ending was cut short, with our two buddies in agreement to leaving Reno and going their separate ways. Audiences, I’m sure, were left disappointed, wanting more shenanigans, as was I.
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Neveragain
EOG Dedicated
Alan Boston will be presenting this film California Split, followed by a Q&A, at Bet Bash to be held at Circa on March 31st.
I’m a much bigger fan of The Gambler, 1974, with James Caan.
There’s so much more authenticity with The Gambler and his character arc,
And director James Toback’s real life gambling drama adds so much solid bonus material.
I’m a much bigger fan of The Gambler, 1974, with James Caan.
There’s so much more authenticity with The Gambler and his character arc,
And director James Toback’s real life gambling drama adds so much solid bonus material.
Viejo Dinosaur
EOG Master
Flaming fags usually hate gambling movies….
howid
EOG Dedicated
stalk much?
fortunately for you, a fine christian such as matt seems to take it all in stride ...
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Viejo Dinosaur
EOG Master
are you rail’s puppet? Rail is far from being a Christian…
mr merlin
EOG Master
Let it ride for me.
California Split poker scene
still one of my favorites. Amarillo Slim who made a cameo in the movie after this scene, I briefly spoke with when I worked at the Bellagio in the late 2000’s.
Slim had slowed down by then, but he definitely perked up when I quoted one of his lines from the movie
still one of my favorites. Amarillo Slim who made a cameo in the movie after this scene, I briefly spoke with when I worked at the Bellagio in the late 2000’s.
Slim had slowed down by then, but he definitely perked up when I quoted one of his lines from the movie