CALIFORNIA SPLIT

Wednesday, July 2, 6:00 p.m. & Saturday, July 5, 2:00 p.m. | In 1971, actor and gambling addict Joseph Walsh wrote a script about two friends: Charlie (Elliot Gould) and Bill (George Segal), gamblers obsessed with high stakes betting and the ever-elusive big score. Walsh’s authentic script and Altman’s chaotic style give CALIFORNIA SPLIT a manic energy—the poker tables and racetracks come alive with the possibility of a win and the looming threat of loss, and Gould and Segal deliver raw performances in a film that is as much about gambling as it is about their relationship. CALIFORNIA SPLIT recorded eight separate audio channels simultaneously, which allowed Altman to further develop his trademark dialogue style, and gives the film a richer sense of place: every inch of the casino floor hums. One of the 13 films Altman made in the 1970s, CALIFORNIA SPLIT remains a standout in his filmography—an unsentimental look at addiction, and a bittersweet portrait of friendship.

Awards & Nominations

Nominee - Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen, Writers Guild of America

Robert Altman Centennial | June–August 2025

Robert Altman (1925–2006) is one of the rare directors whose name alone conjures his style. Say a film is “Altmanesque” and you’ll get nods of understanding—most cinephiles know the auteur’s calling cards: large ensemble casts; overlapping dialogue; a roving camera, and a subtle critique of the American Dream. Altman was prolific (a hardworking midwesterner), directing 36 feature films, and well over 100 episodes of television. Nominated for five Best Director Academy Awards, Altman was presented with an Honorary Academy Award in 2006—and he passed away nine months later, at the age of 81. When asked by Playboy Magazine in 1976, “When you look into your future, what do you want to have accomplished?” Altman answered, “All I want is to do what I'm doing. What else would I do?” 

The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu