EVERYTHING SEEMED SO IMPORTANT THEN… EVEN LOVE!

In the 1930s, a Marxist Jew (Barbra Streisand) and a Protestant (Robert Redford) with no outspoken political views meet as college students; over the years, the attraction is still there, in spite of huge differences. A romantic classic whose leads guarantee beauty and talent; Streisand also had a hit with the title song, its bittersweet touch mirroring a lovely romance that was always doomed to fail. The writer was inspired by personal events, but the story has its logical flaws; better then not to think too much about it but simply enjoy the romance and glamour of a couple loving and fighting their way through New York and Hollywood.

1973-U.S. 118 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Ray Stark. Directed by Sydney Pollack. Screenplay: Arthur Laurents. Music: Marvin Hamlisch. Song: ”The Way We Were” (Marvin Hamlisch, Marilyn Bergman, Alan Bergman). Cast: Barbra Streisand (Katie Morosky), Robert Redford (Hubbell Gardiner), Bradford Dillman (J.J.), Murray Hamilton, Patrick O’Neal, Viveca Lindfors… Lois Chiles, Sally Kirkland, George Gaynes, James Woods, Susan Blakely.

Trivia: Dalton Trumbo, Alvin Sargent and Paddy Chayefsky worked on the script. Ryan O’Neal was considered for Redford’s role.

Oscars: Best Original Score, Original Song. Golden Globe: Best Original Song. 

Last word: “Barbra had never worked with a really strong leading man. She has a tendency to take over a picture, just by the size of her talent and larger-than-life presence. It’s hard for a costar to stay in the same ring with her. […] In acting, you have to sense that there’s a reserve somewhere, that you’re seeing the top of the iceberg. Redford makes you come to him as a performer. He holds his ground, and you either enter his turf or you don’t get it. Period. He will not court you…I spent literally eight months beating him to death in order to get him to do it. I would not let him off the hook.” (Pollack on convincing Redford, “The Way They Were”)