Jane Fonda, Alan Alda, Maggie Smith

The West Coast answer to Neil Simon's Plaza Suite, this film (written by Simon and directed by Herbert Ross) has a high Hollywood gloss. Instead of the omnibus form of the film of the New York ...( read more  read more... )version, this film (set at the Beverly Hills Hotel) intertwines the stories (à la Grand Hotel) of several different sets of guests, including Alan Alda and Jane Fonda and Walter Matthau and Elaine May, on one particularly eventful weekend. The story that works best involves Maggie Smith and Michael Caine as an Oscar-nominated actress and her straying, gay husband who come to an understanding (Smith won the Oscar for this film). The least effective is a slapsticky battle between well-to-do but competitive doctors played by Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor. --Marshall Fine

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48% liked it

1,941 ratings

PG, 103 min.

Directed by: Herbert Ross

Release Date: December 15, 1978

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DVD Release Date: January 2, 2002

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Flixster Reviews (80)


  • January 9, 2007
    Okayish Neil Simon comedy with a strong cast (the story involving Michael Caine and Maggie Smith is particularly witty) but I couldn't shake the feeling I was watching a landlocked episode of The Love Boat...
  • February 28, 2009
    Maggie Smith and Michael Caine were amazing. She earned that Oscar.
  • October 28, 2009
    totally enjoyable. bill cosby, richard pryor, walter matthau and jane fonda all in one flick! But actually michael caine and maggie smith steal the show as a posh dysfunctional british couple in town for the oscars.
  • August 13, 2009
    Maggie Smith and Micheal Caine are the only reasons to see this.
  • July 5, 2009
    I will NOT see a Movie that has this Commie, Traitor, BITCH in it.
    They don't have a LOW enough rating for her.
    She can rot in the Hanoi Hilton, for what she did to Our troops during Vietnam.

    BURN BITCH, BURN
  • March 28, 2009
    No thankyou - Not interested
  • January 8, 2009
    over rated and boring except the parts with Cosby and Pryor
  • March 29, 2008
    Maggie Smith was wonderful in this film. I loved the Michael Caine character as well...one of Neil Simon's best.
  • August 15, 2007
    Three stars for four stars - Maggie Smith and Michael Caine, Alan Alda, and Jane Fonda. Two dramas in a comedy film. Maggie Smith GOT an Oscar for her character, that went to California to get an Oscar!
  • June 21, 2007
    Not so much. Visitors from London is a gem set in a steaming turd of a movie.

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California Suite Trivia


  • For which film did Maggie Smith become the only actress to result an Oscar Winner, for playing an Oscar loser?  Answer »
  • In the movie "California Suite", who won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress and thus became the first person to become an Oscar Winner, for playing an Oscar Loser?  Answer »
  • Which of the following classics was NOT directed by Robert Altman?  Answer »
  • Marsha Mason Starred in these movies except..  Answer »

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