The Way We Were (1973)

★ 7.0 1h 58m IMDb

Opposites attract when, during their college days, Katie Morosky, a politically active Jew, meets Hubbell Gardiner, a feckless WASP. Years later, in the wake of World War II, they meet once again and, despite their obvious differences, attempt to make their love for each other work.

The Way We Were

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Cast

Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand as Katie Morosky Age 83 · Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, USA Barbara Joan 'Barbra' Streisand (born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment...
Robert Redford
Robert Redford as Hubbell Gardner Died 2025 · Santa Monica, California, USA Charles Robert Redford Jr. (August 18, 1936 – September 16, 2025) was an American actor, director and activist. Throughout his career, he won several film awards, including the Academy Award for Best...
Bradford Dillman
Bradford Dillman as J.J. Died 2018 · San Francisco, California, USA Bradford Dillman was an American stage, screen, and television actor, as well as an author starred in the taut crime drama Compulsion (1959). The lanky, dark-haired Dillman also played Robert Redford...
Lois Chiles
Lois Chiles as Carol Ann Age 79 · Houston, Texas, USA From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lois Cleveland Chiles (born April 15, 1947) is an American actress and former fashion model known for her role as Dr. Holly Goodhead in the 1979 James Bond film...
Patrick O'Neal
Patrick O'Neal as George Bissinger Died 1994 · Ocala, Florida USA Patrick O'Neal (September 26, 1927 – September 9, 1994) was an American television, stage and film actor. He was also a successful New York restaurateur. Description above from the Wikipedia article...
Viveca Lindfors
Viveca Lindfors as Paula Reisner Died 1995 · Uppsala, Uppsala län, Sweden Viveca Lindfors (1920-1995) was a renowned Swedish-American actress known for her versatility and captivating performances on stage, in film, and on television. Born in Uppsala, Sweden, Lindfors devel...

Audience Reviews

Wuchak 7/10 Aug 14, 2019
***A radical Left-winger falls in love with a more conservative WASP on the verge of WW2 and post-war***

A disparate couple meets in college in 1937, New York, and then reignite after the war. Katie (Barbra Streisand) is an uber-Liberal while Hubbell (Robert Redford) is more levelheaded about politics. He becomes a writer in Hollywood during the blacklist investigations of the late 40s wherein Katie’s activism threatens his social life and career. The story closes in 1957.

“The Way We Were” (1973) is a classic drama/romance, much acclaimed in its day. The vibe is similar to “Love Story” (1970) but this has superior characters and a more interesting setting.

It’s interesting to see how loony Liberals existed way back then in the 30s-40s. The movie works because it wisely makes Katie three-dimensional. Sure, she’s a typical INtolerant, obnoxious Leftie, but she also has a human side, a warm and humble side. Meanwhile Redford is at the top of his game here. Streisand incidentally developed a crush on Redford during shooting, but didn’t share her feelings. He feigned ignorance and used Barbra’s infatuation for the benefit of the movie.

There has been some confusion about the last act. Pay attention to what Hubbell says. What happens has nothing to do with Carol Ann and everything to do with the obvious.

The film runs 1 hour, 58 minutes, and was shot in Union College in Schenectady, New York; Ballston Spa in upstate New York; New York City; Malibu; and nearby Union Station in Los Angeles. The peripheral cast includes Bradford Dillman, Lois Chiles and James Woods.

GRADE: B

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