BBBB
(out of 5)
Politics and romance mix with volatile results in this entertaining, intellectual soap opera. Barbra Streisand is zesty as an outspoken socialist who falls in love with golden boy Robert Redford. He disapproves of her communist tendencies, but the two of them are so drawn to each other that they can’t help but ignore their differences until it becomes impossible to do otherwise. The idea of watching these two fight and make up, argue at parties and take walks on the beach sounds like a maudlin affair, but Arthur Laurents’ screenplay is intelligent and the dialogue is excellent. Redford is his usual non-committal self, but Streisand gives the film all the energy it needs and more, plus sings the still popular title theme song.
Columbia Pictures Corporation, Rastar Productions, Tom Ward Enterprises
USA, 1973
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Screenplay by Arthur Laurents
Cinematography by Harry Stradling Jr.
Produced by Ray Stark
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Production Design by Stephen B. Grimes
Costume Design by Dorothy Jeakins, Moss Mabry
Film Editing by John F. Burnett
Academy Awards
Best Music (Original Dramatic Score) (Marvin Hamlisch)
Best Music (Song) (“The Way We Were”, music by Marvin Hamlisch; lyrics by Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman)
Nominations
Best Actress (Barbra Streisand)
Best Art Direction (art direction: Stephen Grimes; set decoration: William Kiernan)
Best Cinematography (Harry Stradling Jr.)
Best Costume Design (Dorothy Jeakins, Moss Mabry)
Golden Globe Award
Best Original Song-Motion Picture (“The Way We Were”, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman)
Nomination
Best Performance By An Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama (Barbra Streisand)
