'California Split,' one of the great gambling movies, turns 50

In 1974, Robert Altman directed Elliott Gould and George Segal in a story of poker games, racetracks and parking lot muggings

California Split arrived in theaters in August 1974 — 50 years ago last week—as part of director Robert Altman’s peerless 1970s run, one of the most impressive of the New Hollywood era. He made The Long Goodbye in 1973, Thieves Like Us earlier in 1974, and Nashville in 1975. 

The film was written by child actor-turned-screenwriter Joseph Walsh, who based it in part on his gambling addiction. He worked on the script for a time with a pre-fame Steven Spielberg, although only Walsh is credited; Aaron Spelling was the film's producer.

California Split starred Elliott Gould and George Segal as guys who like to gamble. Bill (Segal) is a magazine writer, while Charlie (Gould) is more of a full-time hustler, to the point where he lives with a pair of sex workers (Gwen Welles and Ann Prentiss.) Also among the cast is a very young (and awkward) Jeff Goldblum. 

The two men have a series of adventures at low-rent poker halls, racetracks, and other gambling establishments, where muggers always seem to be waiting right outside. The film’s quintessential image is that of Elliott Gould, sitting at a table with a bandaged nose and a pair of shoes, each with rolls of hundreds in them, on the table in front of him.