Back to All Events

California Split (Robert Altman, USA, 1974)

  • The Vine 86 Highgate Road London, England, NW5 1PB United Kingdom (map)
California Split is a work of art and Robert Altman’s best movie.
— Kevin Kelly, Boston Globe

When Elliot Gould’s freewheeling Charlie meets George Segal's pensive sportswriter Bill at a poker game, the pair quickly bond over their shared love of gambling (and alcohol). Delighting in one another’s company they promptly embark on a hedonistic betting binge in search of the ever-elusive big payday that will hopefully transform their lives forever... Altman's sublime mix of comedy and drama subtly exposes the desperation that lies at the heart of the pair's passion for gambling (and for one another) and the chemistry between Gould and Segal is both a comedic delight to behold and a genuinely touching portrayal of a friendship that was never meant to last.