It stars Paul Newman, Brigitte Fossey, Bibi Andersson, Fernando Rey, Vittorio Gassman and Nina Van Pallandt.

While Essex is out buying firewood, a gambler named Redstone throws a bomb into Francha's apartment, killing everyone inside, including Vivia.

Insisting that he means no harm, Grigor invites Essex (as "Redstone") to the casino, where gamblers are now heavily involved in a "Quintet" tournament.

Returning to the Hotel Electra to cremate Ambrosia's body, Essex confronts Grigor to demand his "prize", since he was the winner of Quintet.

Grigor insists he stay and participate in future tournaments, but a disgusted Essex condemns Quintet and leaves the hotel for good.

At the time of the film's release, 20th Century Fox president Alan Ladd Jr. told Variety that Altman was not given final cut on what he termed "a complicated picture".

[8] Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote, "Quintet is depressing not because it's about the end of the world, but because its artistic vision is feeble.

"[9] Gary Arnold of The Washington Post declared, "Robert Altman's Quintet, now at area theaters, earns a little five-sided niche next to Zardoz and The Heretic in the '70s memory album of pseudo-profound fiascoes.

"[10] Pauline Kael of The New Yorker lamented that Altman was "giving weight to scenes that he would have treated as comedy skits only a few years ago ... with dialogue such as the diabolical Gassman's 'Hope is an obsolete word,' contrasted with the inspirational music as Newman presses on northward, it's like a Monty Python show played at the wrong speed.

"[11] Charles Champlin of the Los Angeles Times, however, wrote in a positive review: "It invites easy charges that it is self-indulgent and pretentious.

"[12] Jack Kroll wrote in Newsweek: "It's clear that the game of Quintet is Altman's metaphor for the erosion of art, philosophy and the humane activities of civilization.