The Way We Were

I'm not sure why, but I love Barbara Streisand. I know she seems to play the same character every time (from what I've seen anyway) but she does it so good.
I'd say my mum probably introduced me to this movie as it's not one I would have watched by myself as a teenager, but I now proudly own it myself.

Released in 1973 the movie is not without flaws, but please indulge me as I view it through my rose coloured glasses.

IMDB sums it up rather succinctly with the phrase: Two desperate people have a wonderful romance, but their political views and convictions drive them apart [although I'm not sure about the desperate part].

Streisand is Katie, a headstrong, determined young lass with rather strong political (and other) views.

Robert Redford plays Hubbell (what this name ever seriously popular?) a more laid back young man. The two went to college together and led completely different lives, but shared a few moments over a beer when Hubbell got some of his writing work published, a dream Katie also shares.

They don't see each other again until several years later where she is working on a radio show, and he in the navy. They meet accidentally at a bar one night, he is ridiculously drunk and tired and she puts him up for the night, where I believe sex happens but it is an oddly filmed and scripted scene where he collapses on her bed and she undresses and joins him.

The next day he doesn't seem to have a clue about what happened the night before and Katie acts quite needy and says anytime he's in the city to come stay with her. He goes away again, then comes back and takes her up on the offer of staying at her place.

Anyway they eventually get together and get married. He becomes a screen writer and they move to LA.

Now I know nothing about this part of American history so am referencing from the holy grail of wiki: "As the Hollywood blacklist grows and McCarthyism begins to encroach on their lives, Katie's political activism resurfaces, jeopardizing Hubbell's position and reputation."

Cracks are becoming more prevalent in the relationship and Hubbell has an affair with his friend's wife while Katie is pregnant.

They eventually part just after the baby is born. Hubbell can't handle how Katie idolises him and wants him to be a 'serious' writer, and they are just too different, with Katie never going to stop with her political causes and opinions, just to make life easier for Hubbell.

The ending has been referenced in Sex and the City and in the Gilmore Girls. I actually can't remember my true original feelings about it but when I watch it now, I don't long for any other ending. Neither one of them changes throughout the movie, they both retain who they are no matter how different that is from each other. But I guess what can attract a couple in the beginning of a relationship can also divide a couple. I will say that it is dated and sad that Hubbell never even gets to know his child, but I guess this does still happen today, so perhaps not so outdated.

I guess the reason I do like this movie is because of the character of Katie. While I don't relate to her in every way (it would be nice to be so determined) I relate to her in others. She is an outsider in Hubbell's world and her strong convictions are to be admired no matter how grating or abrasive she may get.

 

One other thing, I really loved a lot of Katie's costumes in this movie and I was really disappointed google images did not really give me much to show. Also Robert Redford was 37 when he made this - you can really tell when they flashback to their college years. But I still think he's swoon worthy. And it's his birthday today, Happy 74th Birthday Rob! You're just slightly older than my granddad.