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The Way We Were

  • 19731973
  • PGPG
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
25K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Way We Were (1973)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer2:25
5 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance

During pre-WWII McCarthyism, a diametrically opposed couple come together only to find out that genuine friendship and physical attraction is not enough to overcome fundamental societal beli... Read allDuring pre-WWII McCarthyism, a diametrically opposed couple come together only to find out that genuine friendship and physical attraction is not enough to overcome fundamental societal beliefs.During pre-WWII McCarthyism, a diametrically opposed couple come together only to find out that genuine friendship and physical attraction is not enough to overcome fundamental societal beliefs.

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
25K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Sydney Pollack
  • Writers
    • Arthur Laurents
    • Francis Ford Coppola(uncredited)
    • Paddy Chayefsky(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Barbra Streisand
    • Robert Redford
    • Bradford Dillman
Top credits
  • Director
    • Sydney Pollack
  • Writers
    • Arthur Laurents
    • Francis Ford Coppola(uncredited)
    • Paddy Chayefsky(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Barbra Streisand
    • Robert Redford
    • Bradford Dillman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 132User reviews
    • 55Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 6 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos5

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Official Trailer
    The Way We Were
    Trailer 1:26
    The Way We Were
    Robert Redford: The Con With Conviction & the End of a Legendary Screen Persona
    Clip 5:10
    Robert Redford: The Con With Conviction & the End of a Legendary Screen Persona
    Jurnee Smollett's Valentine's Day Watchlist
    Full Episode 3:40
    Jurnee Smollett's Valentine's Day Watchlist
    Clip
    Video 1:38
    Clip

    Photos156

    Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were (1973)
    Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were (1973)
    Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were (1973)
    Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were (1973)
    "The Way We Were" Robert Redford 1973 Columbia
    "The Way We Were" Robert Redford 1973 Columbia
    "The Way We Were" Robert Redford 1973 Columbia
    "The Way We Were" Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford 1973 Columbia
    "The Way We Were" Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford 1973 Columbia
    "The Way We Were" Barbra Streisand 1973 Columbia
    "The Way We Were" Barbra Streisand 1973 Columbia
    "The Way We Were" Barbra Streisand 1973 Columbia

    Top cast

    Edit
    Barbra Streisand
    Barbra Streisand
    • Katie Moroskyas Katie Morosky
    Robert Redford
    Robert Redford
    • Hubbell Gardineras Hubbell Gardiner
    Bradford Dillman
    Bradford Dillman
    • J. J.as J. J.
    Lois Chiles
    Lois Chiles
    • Carol Annas Carol Ann
    Patrick O'Neal
    Patrick O'Neal
    • George Bissingeras George Bissinger
    Viveca Lindfors
    Viveca Lindfors
    • Paula Reisneras Paula Reisner
    Allyn Ann McLerie
    Allyn Ann McLerie
    • Rhea Edwardsas Rhea Edwards
    Murray Hamilton
    Murray Hamilton
    • Brooks Carpenteras Brooks Carpenter
    Herb Edelman
    Herb Edelman
    • Bill Versoas Bill Verso
    Diana Ewing
    Diana Ewing
    • Vicki Bissingeras Vicki Bissinger
    Sally Kirkland
    Sally Kirkland
    • Pony Dunbaras Pony Dunbar
    Marcia Mae Jones
    Marcia Mae Jones
    • Peggy Vanderbiltas Peggy Vanderbilt
    Don Keefer
    Don Keefer
    • Actoras Actor
    George Gaynes
    George Gaynes
    • El Morocco Captainas El Morocco Captain
    Eric Boles
    • Army Corporalas Army Corporal
    Barbara Peterson
    • Ashe Blondeas Ashe Blonde
    Roy Jenson
    Roy Jenson
    • Army Captainas Army Captain
    Brendan Kelly
    • Rally Speakeras Rally Speaker
    • Director
      • Sydney Pollack
    • Writers
      • Arthur Laurents
      • Francis Ford Coppola(uncredited)
      • Paddy Chayefsky(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The often unlikely joint lives of Katie Morosky and Hubbell Gardiner from the late 1930s to the late 1950s is presented, over which time, they are, in no particular order, strangers, acquaintances, friends, best friends, lovers and adversaries. The unlikely nature of their relationship is due to their fundamental differences, where she is Jewish and passionate about her political activism both in political freedoms and Marxism to an extreme where she takes life a little too seriously, while he is the golden boy WASP, being afforded the privileges in life because of his background but who on the most part is able to capitalize on those privileges. Their lives are shown in four general time periods, in chronological order when they attend the same college, their time in New York City during WWII, his life as a Hollywood screenwriter post-war, and his life as a writer for a New York based live television show. It is during college that Hubbell finds his voice in life as a writer, and that Katie sees beyond his good looks to find a person with substance who realizes his position in a life as something that does not give him an inherent right to those opportunities. External world events, such as the Spanish Civil War, WWII and the House Un-American Activities investigation, do affect their lives directly, but it is how they deal with these effects personally, largely in relation to personal relationships - such as with Hubbell's long term friends J.J. and Carol Ann, the latter his college girlfriend - that may dictate if Katie and Hubbell are able to make it in the long term as a couple. —Huggo
    • new york city
    • unfaithfulness
    • infidelity
    • year 1933
    • year 1944
    • 307 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Everything seemed so important then .. even love!
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Robert Redford was unhappy with cuts made to the film following a preview. He said, "I think we'd both have preferred a more political Dalton Trumbo -type script, but finally Sydney came down on the side of the love story. He said, 'This is first and foremost a love affair,' and we conceded that. We trusted his instincts, and he was right."
    • Goofs
      In California, Katie is holding a "hot" pot and offers it to Hubbell. He takes a spoonful and notes that it is, indeed, hot. However, moments later, Katie is holding the bottom of the pot with her bare hands.
    • Quotes

      Hubbell Gardner: People are more important than their principles.

      Katie Morosky Gardner: People ARE their principles.

    • Connections
      Featured in Film Extra: Sydney Pollock (1973)
    • Soundtracks
      The Way We Were
      Composed by Marvin Hamlisch

      Lyrics by Marilyn Bergman and Alan Bergman

      Sung by Barbra Streisand before the opening credits and during the end credits.

      Music played often in the score

    User reviews132

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    the never-changing look of a God
    It's WWII. Katie Morosky (Barbra Streisand) is a Jewish girl working in New York radio pumping out patriotic programming among her many activist jobs. In a nightclub, she runs into former crush and Naval officer Hubbell Gardiner (Robert Redford). In college, she was a communist student leader struggling to rally against Franco with Frankie McVeigh (James Woods). He was the WASP star athlete, the man around campus, and outwardly lived a carefree life. He's taken with her tenacity and she admires his writing. In the post war years, they are married in Hollywood where he writes for the studio and she fights against Mcarthyism.

    She has the better part. He's playing the trophy wife. His hemming and hawing with his writing is a bit infuriating. He's too cool for school except for a few emotional outbursts. Those are great for showing some depth in his character although the couple seems to have only two polar opposite gears. As for her, Streisand gives it her all. There is a grating edge to her character which is not that appealing. I do like that these two flawed characters struggle with their undeniable connection until I can't take their unending fight about politics. Another issue is the unchanging Grecian God beauty of Redford's look. This movie takes place over decades. He needs to change. Maybe give him a buzz cut during the war years. There is the famous song which I wouldn't diss or praise. Pollack delivers a solid melodrama although the relationship gets too melodramatic at times.
    helpful•5
    2
    • SnoopyStyle
    • Feb 18, 2019

    FAQ15

    • What is 'The Way We Were' about?
    • Is 'The Way We Were' based on a book?
    • When does the story take place?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 19, 1973 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Cherie Bitter
    • Filming locations
      • Union College, Schenectady, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Rastar Productions
      • Tom Ward Enterprises
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $45,000,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $45,000,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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