'A Woman Under The Influence'

One of John Cassavetes best directed movies, if not his complete best. The Killing of a Chinese Bookie might have something say about that.
Both films were made within three years of each other and both are pretty seminal for 1970s film.

It was also the acting peak for Peter Falk (who's great) and definitely Gena Rowlands (who steals the entire movie for herself and never lets go).

Rowlands hadn't done a whole bunch before this film and probably only got regular, good film work afterwards playing the typical mother-type character, only not nearly on the same plane as ...Under the Influence.

Rowlands and Cassavetes were actually married up until his death in 1989. They were married for 34 years.

To keep things in the film, Rowland's mother, Lady, was in the film and Cassavetes' mother, Katharine, also co-starred. Also, two of his children, Nick and Alexandra, were in the film.

Also, Matthew Cassel had a role. He is the son of Seymour, who two years later would get an Oscar nomination for his role in Cassavetes' Chinese Bookie.

Falk had the Columbo thing. He's had his fair share of roles, but nothing as poignant as this film although he was also in Cassavetes' Mikey and Nicky and a good friend of the director.