…All the Marbles [The California Dolls] *** (1981, Peter Falk, Vicki Federick, Laurene Landon, Burt Young, Tracy Reed) – 12,049

Director Robert Aldrich’s 1981 comedy-drama film …All the Marbles [The California Dolls] stars Peter Falk, Vicki Frederick, Laurene Landon, Burt Young and Tracy Reed.

Director Aldrich’s final film – about a women’s tag wrestling team (Vicki Frederick as California Doll Iris, Laurene Landon as California Doll Molly) – is his usual boys’ macho stuff with gleefully old-fashioned non-PC views of women and the world.

In the first two acts, there is quirky comedy in the capable hands of grizzly Peter Falk as Harry, the two wrestlers’ fast-talking manager, before the third-act slap-up fight, staged at the MGM Grand Hotel in Reno, that provides the film’s entertaining 30-minute climax. Throughout, Aldrich’s movie is chaotic, disreputable, energetic and fun. ‘All you with a weak heart, leave!’ the wrestling audience is told, so take heed.

Also in the cast are Ursaline Bryant-King, John Hancock, Claudette Nevins, Richard Jaeckel

…All the Marbles [The California Dolls] is directed by Robert Aldrich, runs 113 minutes, is made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is released by United Artists (US/ Canada) and Cinema International Corporation (International), is written by Mel Frohman and Rich Eustis, is shot by Joseph F Biroc, is produced by William Aldrich, is scored by Frank De Vol, and is designed by Carl Anderson.

Aldrich said he wanted to make the film ‘because nobody’s done anything about women’s wrestling before. It’s purely, totally commercial. It fits in with my philosophy, which is that the process is at best a craft, not art.’

MGM were so confident that two days before the release it announced it would make a sequel, California Dolls Go to Japan. However that did not happen after the film began disappointingly at the box office only making $1.7 million in its first week. But Laurene Landon said the film still made a healthy profit internationally.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,049

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