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Movie Info & Details
Release Year1972
Runtime1h 39m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationR
GenresDrama
Votes22
DirectorFrank Perry
WritersJoan Didion, John Gregory Dunne
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.1 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsPlay It as It Lays
About Play It as It Lays
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.
Directed by Frank Perry, Play It as It Lays leans on a strong ensemble — Tuesday Weld, Anthony Perkins, Adam Roarke — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1972.
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