The Way They Were by Robert Hofler

"For the first time, the full story of the making of a cinematic classic is revealed. One of the greatest movie romances of all time."

Published for the 50th anniversary of The Way We Were, this presents all the difficulties and personalities involved. Screenwriter Arthur Laurents (writer of the book of West Side Story and Gypsy) wrote the character of Katie with Streisand in mind, but it's clear this is his personal story. Streisand chose his treatment for her next picture, enamored with the working-class Jewish princess finding love with her Gentile prince charming. Producer Ray Stark saw another hit after working with Streisand on Funny Girl and The Owl and the Pussycat, and wanted Ryan O'Neal as Hubbell. Streisand wanted her boyfriend at the time, Warren Beatty. Redford was reluctant to play a 'Ken Doll', but identified with the character, and had several other writers build up his part. The politics appealed to him, as it did director Sydney Pollack, excited to make the first-ever blacklist movie. With so many controlling characters, the friction was enormous. Redford wanted spontaneity, Streisand perfection, and Laurents was discharged from the screenplay entirely. It was helped enormously by Marvin Hamlisch's classic score and song by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. Each character, and last-minute re-editing, helped create a potent love affair that defined romance.

This continues after the film's success to discuss a possible sequel (Streisand was for it; Redford was not). All very fascinating, but some may criticize this becoming Arthur Laurents' story - from his inspiration as a young leftist homosexual Jew pining for the college golden boy, it's easy to see how Katie was born. This follows Laurents' career past this film - which is fine with me, as I was alerted to Laurents' two exceptional biographies Original Story and The Rest of the Story. Filled with information about The Way We Were from every angle, fans will find this Hollywood biography too good to miss.

Theater critic Robert Hofler was a former editor at Life and Variety.

2023 / Hardcover / 294 pages