Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford were on Oprah today. It was their first interview together, 37 years after starring in the classic film The Way We Were.
For my two cents, today’s program proves that Oprah did not exaggerate when she said that this – the final year for her show – would feature the best programs she has ever broadcast. When the show goes off the air in 2011, there will certainly be a huge void left by a quality program that is as equally entertaining as it is informative.
But back to today’s show. As Oprah interviewed the two stars, scenes from their 1973 romantic/drama were being projected in the background, reminding viewers like me that The Way We Were was, and always will be, one of my favorite tearjerker films. And the sound track — OMG!
I own numerous Streisand CDs, several of them include Barbra belting out the title song. And I am suddenly reminded that I should probably upgrade my VHS copy of the movie to a DVD. Barbra failed to win the Best Actress award for which she was nominated for that film, but The Way We Were took the Oscar for the Best Music/Original Song.
If you are a boomer and you never saw the movie (Where the heck were you? There are only two acceptable excuses for you not seeing it – you were among the last U.S. soldiers in Vietnam or you were in jail stateside for social protesting.). So, if you didn’t see the film back in the day, then rent it and weep. You will see why it won two of the six Oscars for which it was nominated and numerous other awards, and why baby boomers, particularly women, loved the film. If you saw it, see it again for old time’s sake. It will help you remember The Way We Were when the world was a safer, saner, and more civil place.