| California Suite | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster byDrew Struzan | |
| Directed by | Herbert Ross |
| Written by | Neil Simon |
| Based on | California Suite by Neil Simon |
| Produced by | Ray Stark |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | David M. Walsh |
| Edited by | Michael A. Stevenson |
| Music by | Claude Bolling |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $42 million[1] |
California Suite is a 1978 Americananthologycomedy film directed byHerbert Ross and written byNeil Simon, based on his1976 stage play of the same name. Similar in format to Simon's earlier workPlaza Suite, the film follows four separate stories involving guests staying in a luxury hotel suite in Beverly Hills.
California Suite received threeAcademy Award nominations, includingBest Adapted Screenplay for Simon, withMaggie Smith winningBest Supporting Actress.[2] Smith also received theGolden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and the film was nominated forBest Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.[3]
The film follows four separate stories set in a suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
InVisitors from London, British actress Diana Barrie and her antiques dealer husband Sidney Cochran are inLos Angeles for theAcademy Awards. Diana has been nominated forBest Actress for a comedic film and is nervous about attending the ceremony. As the evening approaches, tensions rise between the couple. Their interactions reveal the strain in their marriage, particularly due to Sidney's homosexuality, which is acknowledged but rarely discussed between them.
InVisitors from New York, Hannah Warren, aNew York-based editor, arrives in Los Angeles to meet with her ex-husband, Bill Warren, a screenwriter. Their teenage daughter Jenny has left New York to live with Bill in California. Hannah and Bill argue over where Jenny should live, revealing their long-standing differences in lifestyle, parenting, and values. Despite their arguments, both want what is best for their daughter and must find a compromise.
InVisitors from Philadelphia, Marvin Michaels, a businessman fromPhiladelphia, arrives in Los Angeles ahead of his wife, Millie, to attend a familybar mitzvah. The night before Millie's arrival, Marvin's brother Harry sends a prostitute named Bunny to his room as a surprise. Marvin wakes up to find Bunny unconscious in his bed. As Millie is on her way to the suite, Marvin frantically tries to hide Bunny and any evidence of the incident before his wife arrives.
InVisitors from Chicago, two couples—Dr. Chauncey Gump and his wife Lola, and Dr. Willis Panama and his wife Bettina—are vacationing together in California. A hotel reservation mix-up forces them into a smaller space. Tensions between the men escalate throughout the trip, culminating in a heated and overly competitive tennis match. Their conflict causes increasing discomfort among the group and disrupts the vacation.
California Suite was filmed on location at theBeverly Hills Hotel, theDorothy Chandler Pavilion at theLos Angeles Music Center, and alongRodeo Drive.[4]
The scene depicting Diana and Sidney’s arrival at the Academy Awards was filmed during the actual arrivals at the50th Academy Awards in April 1978. The subdued reaction from the real-life crowd has been attributed to their unfamiliarity with the fictional characters, Diana Barrie and Sidney Cochran.
The paintings featured in the film’s opening credits were created bypop artistDavid Hockney.
While the original stage play featured two male and two female actors portraying multiple roles across different segments, the film adaptation cast different actors for each role.[5]
On thereview aggregatorRotten Tomatoes,California Suite holds an approval rating of 48% based on 27 reviews, and an average rating of 5.2/10. The website's consensus reads: "Maggie Smith's acidic turn is the standout in this stacked ensemble, but broad characterizations and an unsure tone make for a disappointingly uneven adaptation ofNeil Simon's episodic play."[6]
Vincent Canby ofThe New York Times calledCalifornia Suite "the most agreeably realised Simon film in years" and praised the direction byHerbert Ross and the ensemble cast, stating, "It all works inCalifornia Suite, not only because the material is superior Simon, but also because the writer and the director have assembled a dream cast."[7] The film was later included onThe New York Times list of the Best 1000 Movies Ever Made.[8]
Variety noted that the film diverged from the original stage play's format, describing the adaptation as "less than successful" due to its shift from distinct playlets to a more integrated narrative structure. The review stated that the film "veers from poignant emotionalism to broad slapstick in sudden shifts."[9]
Time Out New York described the film as a "quick and varied comedy, highly suited to Simon's machine-gun gag-writing," highlighting performances byJane Fonda,Walter Matthau, andElaine May. However, the review also noted that some segments were less successful, referring to them as "a bit glum."[10]
Channel 4 called the film "an expertly crafted slick movie" but felt that it ultimately lacked emotional depth, concluding that it was "emotional sushi rather than satisfying catharsis."[11]
Film criticLeonard Maltin awarded the film 3 out of 4 stars in his annual movie guide, describing it as a "pleasant time-filler" with a "nice jazz score byClaude Bolling." He singled out Smith andMichael Caine for their performances, while describing the segment featuringRichard Pryor andBill Cosby as the least effective.[12]
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Maggie Smith | Won | [2] |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Neil Simon | Nominated | ||
| Best Production Design | Albert Brenner andMarvin March | Nominated | ||
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Maggie Smith | Nominated | [13] |
| Evening Standard British Film Awards | Best Actress | Won | [14] | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Nominated | [3] | |
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Maggie Smith | Won[a] | ||
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won | [15] | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actress | Jane Fonda[b] | Won | [16] |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Actor | Michael Caine | 4th Place | [17] |
| Best Actress | Jane Fonda | 2nd Place | ||
| Maggie Smith | 4th Place | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | 3rd Place | |||
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Runner-up | [17] | |
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Comedy – Adapted from Another Medium | Neil Simon | Nominated | [17] |
California Suite was released in the United States onVHS byColumbia Pictures in 1983,[18] and onDVD in bothfullscreen andwidescreen formats on January 2, 2002.[19]
