Barbra Streisand talks about how she landed Robert Redford for ‘The Way We Were’ – The Hollywood Reporter

Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford’s “The Way We Were”

Courtesy of Everett Collection

Barbra Streisand recalls how she convinced Robert Redford to star in her 1973 film who we are After he turned me down twice.

This romantic drama depicts an unlikely couple, Katie Morosky (Streisand) and Havel Gardiner (Redford), who fall in love despite political and historical events. The two must navigate their relationship while trying to overcome fundamental societal beliefs.

In an excerpt from her upcoming memoir, my name is barbrain vanity fairthe actress and singer opens up about what she and director Sidney Pollack went through to cast Redford opposite Streisand.

“Bob is that rare combination…an intelligent cowboy…a charismatic star and one of the best actors of his generation,” she wrote. “But like my husband, he was almost unapologetic about his appearance, and I liked that about him.”

Streisand continued. “So I wanted Redford instead of Havel. But he turned it down.”

At that time, she knew that Pollack was very close to Redford, so she asked him for help.

“I have to give credit to Sidney. He was just as persistent as I was, because we both thought Redford was the only one who could make this movie work.” Sand writes. “It’s like playing tennis…I knew that playing against strong players would raise my game.”

However, Streisand said in her memoir that one of the reasons Redford didn’t want the role was because she felt “the script focused too much on Katie and didn’t develop Hubbell’s character enough.” I explained that I understood. (He was right.)

The excerpt continued, “Bob asked Sidney, ‘Who?'” teeth this man? He’s just an object… he doesn’t want anything.what does this guy do want?’ In Bob’s opinion, he was “shallow and one-dimensional.” Not very realistic. ” In Sidney’s words, “a backwards pin-up girl.” ”

Streisand knew Redford was right for the role and told Pollack to give him whatever he wanted. “Write more scenes to strengthen his character. Make it even.” They hired two writers, David Rayfield and Alvin Sargent, to expand on Havel.

“But Bob’s answer was still no. I was heartbroken,” she wrote.

Producer Ray Stark wanted to stay on and hire someone else, but Streisand said Pollack begged for one more week to convince Redford.

“I told Ray to give it to me and I kept praying. Negotiations stalled. We were in the middle of filming. up the sandbox When I was in Africa, one day I received a telegram from Sue Mengers. It was just “Barbra Redford! ”’ Streisand wrote in his memoir. “That’s when I knew he finally said yes…and I was so excited!”

He added: “While the courtship was difficult, Bob’s passivity greatly influenced the script and ultimately created a richer, more interesting character.”

The film won two Oscars, including Best Original Song and Best Original Dramatic Score for “The Way We Were,” sung by Streisand.

Streisand’s memoir my name is barbra It will be on bookshelves on November 7th.