Film: Play It as It Lays & Puzzle of a Downfall Child (Double Feature)

PLAY IT AS IT LAYS
Frank Perry adapts Joan Didion’s acclaimed debut novel Play It As It Lays, crafting a lyrical ode to an American angel of death and desire. Maria Wyeth’s built a successful acting career from humble small town root, but her life falls apart behind the scenes. Her abusive husband is also her director (Adam Roarke), she’s pregnant with an unwanted child pre-Roe V. Wade, and the 4-year-old daughter she does have is institutionalized. She can’t help but aimlessly drive L.A. freeways, bitch casually with depressed, gay best friend, B.Z. (Anthony Perkins), and lounge, lethargic and lilting, everywhere in between. A scathing scream into the bitter, dizzying emptiness of it all, this film is as beautiful as it is cruel.

Kim Morgan discusses Play It As It Lays on the New Beverly blog.

DIRECTOR Frank Perry
WRITER Screenplay by Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne based on the novel by Joan Didion
STARRING Tuesday Weld, Anthony Perkins, Tammy Grimes, Adam Roarke
YEAR 1972
RATED R
COUNTRY USA
FORMAT 35mm
RUNNING TIME 99 minutes

PUZZLE OF A DOWNFALL CHILD
The directorial debut from famed photographer/filmmaker Jerry Schatzberg (The Panic in Needle Park, Scarecrow)! From her beach cottage, a former fashion model recounts a fractured tale of her downward spiral of loneliness, lies, delusion, and mental breakdown. An exceptional Faye Dunaway stars in a rarely-screened psychological drama.

“One of the finest in recent years. Solid direction, sensitive acting, and a superb script combine to make ‘PUZZLE’ a tour de force for everyone involved.” – Michael Goodwin, Rolling Stone

“Brilliantly innovative… rare film! One of the top movies of the year!” – Richard Cuskelly, L.A. Herald-Examiner

DIRECTOR Jerry Schatzberg
WRITER Screenplay by Adrian Joyce [Carole Eastman], Story by Jerry Schatzberg and Adrian Joyce [Carole Eastman]
STARRING Faye Dunaway, Barry Primus, Viveca Lindfors, Barry Morse, Roy Scheider
YEAR 1970
RATED R
COUNTRY USA
FORMAT 35mm
RUNNING TIME 104 minutes