Play It as It Lays
“Maria's life was a search for the ultimate answer even after she found there was none.”
Synopsis
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.
Top Cast
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Tuesday Weld
Maria Wyeth Lang
Anthony Perkins
B.Z.
Adam Roarke
Carter Lang
Tammy Grimes
Helene
Ruth Ford
Carlotta
Eddie Firestone
Benny Austin
Diana Ewing
Susannah
Paul Lambert
Larry Kulik
Chuck McCann
Abortionist's Assistant
Severn Darden
Hypnotist
Tony Young
Johnny Waters
Richard Anderson
Les Goodwin
Tyne Daly
Journalist
Norman Foster
Abortionist
Elizabeth Claman
The Chickie
Mitzi Hoag
Patsy
Roger Ewing
Nelson
Dick Ryal
Apartment Manager
Release History & Theatrical Window
Venice Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 19, 1972
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
Pending
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Frank Perry
- Screenplay & Story
- Joan Didion, John Gregory Dunne
- Original Title
- Play It as It Lays
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 39m
- Production Budget
- $1M
- Production Studios
- Universal Pictures, F.P. Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Frank Perry
Joan Didion, John Gregory Dunne
Jordan Cronenweth
Sidney Katz
Dominick Dunne, Frank Perry
Department Leadership Roster
Joan Didion
Screenplay
John Gregory Dunne
Screenplay
Frank Perry
Director
Dominick Dunne
Producer
Frank Perry
Producer
Jordan Cronenweth
Director of Photography
Sidney Katz
Editor
Pato Guzman
Production Design
Joel Schumacher
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Play It as It Lays.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Play It as It Lays.
Mid Hunting List
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Golden Globe Nominated Titles - IMDb
MovieLens[20K:30K]
Roger Ebert 4+ stars
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Frequently Asked Questions About Play It as It Lays
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Play It as It Lays about?
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.
Who directed Play It as It Lays?
Play It as It Lays was directed by Frank Perry.
Who stars in Play It as It Lays?
The principal cast of Play It as It Lays includes Tuesday Weld, Anthony Perkins, Adam Roarke, Tammy Grimes, Ruth Ford.
When was Play It as It Lays released and how long is it?
Play It as It Lays was released in 1972 with a total runtime of 1h 39m.
Is Play It as It Lays based on a book or true story?
Play It as It Lays is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Joan Didion".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Play It as It Lays?
Play It as It Lays holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).