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

Play It as It Lays (1972)

Poster for Play It as It Lays

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

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.

Cast & Crew

Director
Frank Perry
  • Profile picture of Tuesday Weld
    Maria Wyeth Lang Tuesday Weld
  • Profile picture of Anthony Perkins
    B.Z. Anthony Perkins
  • Profile picture of Adam Roarke
    Carter Lang Adam Roarke
  • Profile picture of Tammy Grimes
    Helene Tammy Grimes
  • Profile picture of Ruth Ford
    Carlotta Ruth Ford
  • Profile picture of Eddie Firestone
    Benny Austin Eddie Firestone
  • Profile picture of Diana Ewing
    Susannah Diana Ewing
  • Profile picture of Paul Lambert
    Larry Kulik Paul Lambert

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Keywords

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