When Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice hit theaters, it turned heads and got everyone talking with its bold take on relationships.
While the movie shocked audiences, few noticed a hidden detail about Natalie Wood — a subtle choice designed to protect a personal secret.
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.
Taking a peek behind the scenes, it’s hard not to be impressed, shocked, and a little surprised at how this ”dirty” film evolved from a script on paper to earning four Academy Award nominations.
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.
From frozen rookie to cocky director
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.
”I lost everything,” Mazursky confessed.
Luckily, Charles Lang, the director of photography, saw the panic setting in. In a bold move, Lang suggested, loud enough for everyone to hear, that he and the frozen Mazursky take a film crane up in the air to figure out the opening shot.
Paul, who was terrified of heights, reluctantly agreed — he’d never been in one of those cranes before. They strapped him in, and up they went. Paul, white-knuckling the seat, couldn’t bring himself to look down. He was terrified.
Then, Charlie leaned over and said, ”There’s no shot up here, but we ought to talk about what we might do. You can start with this, do that, etc.”
After three minutes of Charlie’s calm guidance, Paul’s was able to relax, and his confidence came rushing back. He yelled down to the crew, “Okay, take us down, we’re ready to start!”
And just like that, Mazursky, who died in 2014, went from terrified rookie to confident director.
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