As an actor, one considers themselves lucky to have a career that spans twenty-five to thirty years with a handful of hit films. Then there are those that are legends who act, direct, and produce movies that win numerous awards and accolades. They earn lifetime achievement awards for their body of work and they live long enough to see some of their notable films celebrate twenty-five, thirty, forty, and, on the rare occasion, fifty-year anniversaries. For Robert Redford (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) and Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl), that latter achievement has arrived as their 1973 hit movie, The Way We Were, reaches the fifty-year mark. Fittingly, Sony Pictures is releasing the film on 4K in honor of this milestone.
Katie (Streisand) and Hubbell (Redford) couldn't be more polar opposites. She is the outspoken, Jewish activist always fighting for a cause and he is the all-American, collegiate athlete, good-looking WASP who, if he has controversial opinions, keeps them to himself. However, as the old saying goes, "opposites attract" and even as far back as their college days, the chemistry was there. Years later, a chance meeting has the two becoming friends and then romantically involved. When Hubbell becomes a famous writer, Katie moves with him to Hollywood but their views eventually tear them apart as McCarthyism infiltrates the entertainment industry.
Directed by the late Sydney Pollack (Out of Africa), The Way We Were, has been called one of the greatest, romantic films ever made and it is easy to see why. Casting Streisand and Redford was brilliant as they are clearly on opposite ends of the spectrum but have an obvious onscreen chemistry that makes the movie work. Pollack made a conscious decision to edit the film to slightly downplay the political aspects of the story in order to enhance the underlying love story. Luckily, this new release has both the theatrical cut and the extended cut of the movie.
The film has beautifully remastered in Dolby Vision and the result is a clean video presentation. The colors are bright and vibrant while the details are clean. The shading is a little bit brighter, which often happens with remastered films but it isn't distracting nor detracts from the overall quality of the movie. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (with the original mono track for the theatrical version) is well done and highlights the soundtrack nicely, especially the title song. The dialogue seems to be mixed at a slightly lower volume than the effects and music so adjusting the volume is one of the downsides while watching the movie.
The combo pack comes with the 4K disc, Blu-ray Disc, and a digital download. There is also a glossy pamphlet insert with a collage of still shots from the movie and only three, previously released extras including Audio Commentary, Looking Back, and Original Theatrical Trailer. The looking back featurette is actually an hour long and includes interviews with cast and crew and while it is very informative, there is a glaring omission. While Sydney Pollack, Barbra Streisand, writer Arthur Laurent (West Side Story), and composer Marvin Hamlisch (The Spy Who Loved Me) tell stories of various aspects of shooting the movie, Redford is noticeably absent from this featurette making one wonder if he was simply busy or if he didn't want to revisit the movie.
While some of the dialogue is dated, the love story is bittersweet and the cast helps make the movie relatable. The costumes are very well done and the hair and makeup are perfect for the timeframes represented in the story.
The Way We Were is a classic that will continue to endure and be beloved for generations to come.
Grade: A-
