SYDNEY POLLACK

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBBB. 

USA, 1973.  Columbia Pictures Corporation, Rastar Productions, Tom Ward Enterprises.  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 1973.  Golden Globe Awards 1973.  National Board of Review Awards 1973.  

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.