When Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice hit theaters, it turned heads and got everyone talking with its bold take on relationships.
When Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice hit theaters in 1969, it was nothing short of groundbreaking. The film dove headfirst into taboo topics like open relationships and modern marriage, offering a bold and satirical look at the shifting social norms of the late ’60s. It wasn’t just a movie — it was a cultural moment, capturing the spirit of an era questioning everything from love to fidelity.
At the heart of the film’s success was the incredible cast, including Natalie Wood. Already a Hollywood icon, Natalie brought her signature grace and emotional depth to her role as Carol. Her performance grounded the film, making the complex dynamics feel authentic and relatable.
But the movie’s success wouldn’t have been possible without the strength of Natalie’s three co-stars. The performances by Robert Culp, Elliott Gould, and Dyan Cannon (as Bob, Ted, and Alice, respectively) added depth, humor, and heart, elevating the film to iconic status.
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice — or BCTA, as we’ll also call it from here — is truly one of director Paul Mazursky’s standout films, and a key landmark of the New Hollywood era. New Hollywood, also known as the ”American New Wave,” was a game-changing period in film during the late 1960s and 1970s.
It shifted the focus from the traditional studio system to a more director-driven approach, giving filmmakers the freedom to explore more complex and controversial topics.
The idea for Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice came to Paul Mazursky when he read an article in Time magazine about Fritz Perls, a “gestalt therapist” who was apparently having a wild time in a hot tub with naked people at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California.
Esalen, founded in 1962, was a New Age therapy hotspot — definitely not your average spa! Intrigued, Mazursky and his wife decided to check it out, finding themselves as the only couple in a group of strangers who actually knew each other. After some fun experiences at Esalen, plus a little writing collaboration with his buddy Larry Tucker in Palm Springs, Mazursky came up with the final script for what would become a hilarious and boundary-pushing film.
On the first day of shooting Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, things quickly turned into a nightmare for Paul Mazursky. According to him, he walked onto set to find 75 eager crew members all staring at him, waiting for him to give the first order and start filming. Mazursky, who was directing his first film, froze. He had no idea what to do.
