Book review: The making of 'The Way We Were' is a rich, gossipy tale as told by author Robert Hofler in 'The Way They Were'
"The Way They Were: How Epic Battles and Bruised Egos Brought a Classic Hollywood Love Story to the Screen" by Robert Hofler Most people seem to like their screen romances a little on the sad side.
The sixth movie on AFI's list,"The Way We Were," released in fall 1973, had its own bittersweet ending. At the box office, though, it was one of the most popular movies of the year. Its title song, powered by star Barbra Streisand, was Billboard's top single of 1974. For Robert Redford, it was the first of a one-two punch with moviegoers that year, the second coming a few months later with a caper classic,"The Sting.
In Hofler's telling of the back story, supported by excellent research and analysis, the script was the main problem. Playwright and screenwriter Arthur Laurents had drawn from his own life in creating a love story between a Jewish political radical and an apolitical WASP. Both want to be writers; she tries but fails while success comes all too easily to him.
The script was so unsettled -- producer Ray Stark and director Sydney Pollack were at odds over what story they were telling and how to tell it -- that expensive scenes were shot and not used, the shooting schedule went long, and nerves were frayed all around. Its first public screening led to Pollack cutting 10 minutes from the film that he thought bored the audience, including political stuff that screenwriter Laurents treasured and scenes Streisand thought were among her best.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Reese Witherspoon Totally Blew An Audition With Robert De Niro On 1 Big MistakeWitherspoon's gaffe was so memorable that De Niro brought it up 10 years later.
Read more »
Music to Sustain You: An Interview with Robert ForsterWe talked to Robert Forster about making an album with his family as his wife underwent treatment for cancer. 'The Candle and the Flame' is out today. forsternet
Read more »
Taylor Lautner: 'Twilight' Rivalry Impacted Robert Pattinson FriendshipThe TeamEdward and TeamJacob battles 'definitely' came in between actors Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson’s real-life friendship.
Read more »
Reese Witherspoon admits she bombed an audition with Robert De Niro: 'This is so bad'Reese Witherspoon revealed how she totally screwed up an audition for Robert De Niro, and what he said to her about it 10 years later.
Read more »
Reese Witherspoon ‘didn’t know who Robert De Niro’ was during movie audition“I was 14. I’d never seen ‘Goodfellas.’ I’d never seen ‘The Godfather,'” she added.
Read more »
Why Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford’s ‘The Way We Were’ almost didn’t get madeWhy Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford's 'The Way We Were' almost didn't get made
Read more »