Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice

After a weekend in a group therapy setting, Bob Sanders, a documentary filmmaker, and his wife Carol return to Los Angeles and start playing unofficial couples counselors for their closest friends Ted and Alice. They trade stories and tactics about marriage, trying not to seem nosy while offering blunt feedback that feels well meant. Yet their conversations loosen the margins between advice and honesty, and the four friends discover that polite closeness can mask unspoken desires. The movie unfolds as a breezy, observant comedy drama that navigates flirtation, jealousy, and misread signals with a light touch. It keeps the focus on conversation, timing, and the quiet changes that complicate long standing commitments. Its wit lands softly as it challenges conventions.

Directed by Paul Mazursky, the 1969 film is based on an original screenplay by Mazursky and Larry Tucker and marked a significant early collaboration between director and writer, blending social satire with intimate character study that resonates today for audiences.

The movie grossed about 30 million worldwide against a 2 million budget, making it a strong commercial performer for its era, and it broadened Mazursky's appeal as a filmmaker willing to tackle taboo subjects with warmth and lasting influence globally.

During a feverish late 1960s shift in sexual norms, the film stood out for treating open talk about marriage and desire with warmth and wit rather than moralizing. Its ensemble dynamic helped shape later modern relationship comedies and inspired lively conversations about consent, fidelity, and communication on screen for decades.

Critics praised the movie for balancing sharp dialogue with sensitive insights about communication, trust, and the pull between fantasy and commitment. The film foregrounds how couples negotiate honesty, boundaries, and evolving expectations in a changing social landscape, and it remains a touchstone for frank depictions of modern marriage and beyond.