It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Three persons in search for a dream scour the back roads and interstates of the mid-western, United States searching for fame and money. Professional Wrestling Manager and ex-Teacher Harry Sears(Peter Falk) and his two lovelies, ex-girl friend Iris (Vicki Frederick) the brunette twenty years younger than Harry is constantly gripping about getting substantial venues to show her wears in the Wrestling Profession.The other partner in this sexy tag team is the soft spoken blonde Molly played by Laurene Landon. Riding town to hamlet Harry Blares his opera music in his car and tells the Girls where there next match will be. Bookings become scarce and Harry relegates, basically humiliates the two woman into a mud-wrestling match which leaves Iris questioning her own self worth as she breaks down and cries which motivates their crusty manager. Harry finagles his way to Reno for a possible winner take all tag team title match. I was drawn to this story because I'm a Peter Falk fan. He doesn't show emotion and stays on an even keel despite terrible odds. This movie has a beginning, a middle and a happy ending which will not disappoint, Weird vehicle for both Falk and Director Aldrich but it some how caught my interest. Both Fredericks and Landon (Our two lady Stars) convinced me that they were really Professional Wrestlers by their moves in the squared circle. Kudos to the consultants that trained the two. It's not a chick flick but more a wrestling movie with the Columbo touch!

My responses to some of the comments above QUOTE: A curious feature is also that we are asked to believe that pro tag wrestling is "for real."This is only half-true. There are a number of references to one team allowing the other a fall, etc. (or not, as the case may be, as when Rose effectively double-crosses one of the Tigers to gain an advantage); and QUOTE: a Japanese promoter offers to finance a championship run… QUOTE: We have here two very attractive cast members who, quite unusually, are also very competent actresses. All four main female wrestling characters were originally dancers. One or two of the contributors here actually refer to the ring action as QUOTE: choreography. I agree that all four were excellently trained and did a really good job.QUOTE: Different groups of viewers… A third group will be those who rate female wrestling as a significant spectator sport and who want to watch this film primarily for the ring sequences… This perceived group is narrow. Those who appreciate the finer points of men's grappling do not naturally translate to the female version, and are often against it. The "missing" group are those who like to see a female protagonist triumph over another woman or, often, over a male. These are not the same as the "T&A/catfight" brigade as – although some of these aficionados are often "leg" men – the need for a further display of flesh is not always paramount.QUOTE: It's hard to understand why Aldrich took on this project… QUOTE: you have to wonder which one of them… has the wrestling f*t*sh. I Think the latter comment perhaps answers the first QUOTE: wondering why such attractive girls did not try to get Uncle Hef to picture them… so that they could sign up with a Hollywood model agency and earn a few bucks by modelling (acting?)… Instead of through a life in the wrestling ring. For the said enthusiast, the girls' attraction (which is admittedly greater than that of most real-life exponents up to that point) underlines the appeal.QUOTE: I saw the U.K. version UK enthusiasts were generally starved of such entertainment, until one of the British promoters escalated his blonde wife to top of the bill during the 1980s.QUOTE: If you doubt the popularity of female grappling, go to Youtube.com and check out the tens of thousands of views… I think this is the same minority viewing over and over.QUOTE: Certainly it couldn't have been a star vehicle for Vicki Frederick (better known for her role in the "A Chorus Line" movie) I liked Frederick in both of these but agree that they evidently didn't really raise her profile; she ended up on 'Love Boat' and similar.QUOTE: The original release "......all the Marbles" was renamed "The California Dolls" for release in the U.K., and a second release in the U.S.A. also used this alternative title.This is a wimp-out by the distributor. From the original title, the prospective viewer would have little idea what the movie is about; they have elected instead for a populist, more "sledgehammer" approach and title.QUOTE: With the recent revival of pro wrestling… While lady wrestling is not currently mainstream, things are changing… These comments have run way out of date. Pro wrestling is currently on the ropes, with the ladies' game more or less non-existent.QUOTE: Jumping on the "mud wrestling" craze of the late 70s and early 80s (when this was supposed to be about in-ring "pro" wrestling Slightly unfair. This is used as an example of Falk "stitching the girls up" to gain revenue. The girls are aghast at his choice.QUOTE: My suggestion is therefore that MGM should consider issuing a double sided DVD, one side with a copy of ".... all the marbles" edited… and the other side with the alternate version "The California Dolls" edited to maximise its appeal… Great idea.Dave

I saw this movie in Chennai(then Madras),India way back in the early eighties while in college.I remember the movie vividly for its vibrant wrestling action and its handsome women.Peter Falk I remember at his leering best and it still remains one of my favourite movies though I've never managed to lay my hands on a DVD as yet ! I remember it running to a packed house for many weeks at a theatre called LEO which being close to our college used to be filled with a raucous crowd of chanting guys who just loved the movie.I guess we must have seen the movie no less than 5 times! It would be great to get a copy of California DOLLS(it was'nt called ALL THE MARBLES when it was released here)for old times sake. Laura really was a looker and we just loved her!

For a movie about lady wrestlers, this was fairly realistic. Aside from treating pro wrestling as real competition, the movie captures the life of wrestlers on the road quite well. Women's wrestling never had it's own territory, so the performers were always traveling to their next match. The promoters controlled the payoff and moving up the card often meant getting in good with the promoter. Performers worked through injuries and had no health benefits. It was a tough life, but most loved it.The actors are great and the story has a good framework. Peter Falk is the definite standout, but the two ladies acquit themselves quite well. The wrestling sequences are well staged and blow away anything booked by the WWE. The most far-fetched idea is women's wrestling headlining a big card in Las Vegas, with tv coverage. Well, it is a movie. It's also the best movie ever made about pro wrestling, all though that's not saying much.It's been said that this movie inspired the GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) promotion and tv show. If true, they should have watched the movie more closely, as it was better than anything they presented.The movie has its flaws, but it's still entertaining, and the final match will have you on the edge of your seat.