Play It as It Lays

Based on Joan Didion's 1970 novel, this drama directed by Frank Perry follows Maria Wyeth (Tuesday Weld), a burned-out actress trapped in a loveless marriage to a temperamental film director. As Maria spirals through the empty decadence of Hollywood, she finds solace in her friendship with BZ (Anthony Perkins), a gay movie producer trapped in a sham marriage of his own.

The film explores themes of alienation, identity, and the facades people construct to survive in Hollywood. BZ's lavender marriage serves as a mirror to Maria's own hollow union—both characters are locked in relationships that serve appearances rather than genuine connection. Didion and her husband John Gregory Dunne adapted the screenplay themselves. Tuesday Weld won Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for her performance, and also received a Golden Globe nomination.