The Way We Were (1973)
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Two people from vastly different political and social backgrounds navigate a complex romance through the shifting landscapes of the 1940s and 1950s.
The story
Katie Morosky and Hubbell Gardiner are college students from different backgrounds. Katie is Jewish, with strong political opinions which she freely shares, most striking of which is her support of communism. Hubbell is from a reserved, traditional WASP background, who is dubious of politics and politicians. As their paths cross, Katie admires Hubbell's good looks, athleticism and talent at writing. Hubbell is impressed with Katie's commitment to whatever she believes in. Despite the differences, Hubbell and Katie quietly admire one another. They share a moment after Hubbell sells a story, and at their senior prom they briefly dance before parting ways. The two meet again in New York City near the end of World War II, where the unlikely pair fall in love.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Katie Morosky and Hubbell Gardiner, students from opposing backgrounds, fall in love in New York City during the end of World War II. Their relationship faces strain due to Katie's radical political views and Hubbell's more reserved stance. After Hubbell receives a Hollywood offer, they move to Malibu and marry. As McCarthyism rises, Katie's activism threatens Hubbell's career, leading to a strained marriage and an affair on his part. They eventually divorce after the birth of their daughter. Years later, they meet by chance in New York City and share a bittersweet farewell.
- First release year
- 1973
- Runtime (minutes)
- 118
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sydney Pollack
- Writers
- Arthur Laurents · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Barbra Streisand · Katie Morosky; Robert Redford · Hubbell Gardiner; Bradford Dillman · J.J.; Lois Chiles · Carol Ann; Patrick O'Neal · George Bissinger; Viveca Lindfors · Paula Reisner; Allyn Ann McLerie · Rhea Edwards; Murray Hamilton · Brooks Carpenter
- Genres
- romantic drama
- Themes
- political ideology; romance; compromise
- Tone and mood
- bittersweet; melodramatic
- Setting
- New York City and Malibu, spanning the 1940s and 1950s.
- Premise and plot tags
- historical romance; political conflict
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1972 novel of the same name by Arthur Laurents
- Reception
- A box-office success and critical darling, the film is considered one of the great romantic films, though some critics noted its uneven pacing and plot gaps.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 65% · scale: percentage · review count: 37
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Original Dramatic Score · win
- Production trivia
- The title song was a number one hit in 1974.; The film was based on the author's experiences at Cornell University.; The script was contributed to by 11 different writers.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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