Picture this: toward the end of The Way We Were, Hubbell seeks out his ex-wife, Katie. He tells her he can’t meet up for a drink later that night. Her response? A tender sweep of his hair away from his eyes as she says, “I know.” The former couple shares a long, silent hug before they part ways. That one scene speaks volumes about the complexity of their relationship and the emotional depth of the film.

Exactly fifty years ago, The Way We Were brought two of Hollywood’s brightest stars, Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand, together for a cinematic journey that resonated with audiences across the globe. Set against the backdrop of political turmoil, this timeless love story quickly earned its place among the greats like Gone With the Wind and Casablanca. Robert Hofler, author of the book The Way They Were: How Epic Battles and Bruised Egos Brought a Classic Hollywood Love Story to the Screen, says, “It’s right there with the best romances of all time.”

While the on-screen chemistry between Robert and Barbra is undeniable, the journey to get them on the screen together wasn’t without its challenges. One producer was pushing for Ryan O’Neal to play Hubbell, and even Robert wasn’t immediately sold on the idea of joining the project. “I thought it was a good script, but the character in the initial script was, I felt, one-dimensional,” he admitted. But Sydney Pollack, the director, managed to convince him to take the role, and Robert eventually agreed, doing it as a favor to Pollack.

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Robert had concerns about working with Barbra, too. “She will direct herself. It’ll never work,” he told Pollack, according to Hofler. Despite these initial hesitations, the collaboration turned out to be a remarkable success.

When the filming began, it quickly became apparent that Barbra and Robert had very different approaches to their craft. Barbra loved detailed discussions and rehearsals, while Robert preferred to keep things spontaneous. “He liked to keep it spontaneous,” explains Hofler. “In fact, their initial awkwardness in the opening scenes worked perfectly for their characters, Hubbell and Katie, who were diametrically opposed.”

There were additional hurdles along the way. Barbra is famously known for her perfectionism, and Robert was more laid-back. Hofler shares, “He had a tendency to be late, and the crew joked about it, calling it ‘Redford time.’” Robert also liked to lighten the mood with jokes and pranks between scenes. “He always knew his lines, but he liked to start a scene by going, ‘Which scene is this?’ just to throw people off,” Hofler adds.

As Barbra realized Robert’s playful nature was harmless, she began to relax. “I remember liking her energy and her spirit,” Robert said. “I also really enjoyed teasing her. She was fun to tease.” Their camaraderie on set added an extra layer of authenticity to their performances.

Box Office Success and Memorable Music

The Way We Were premiered on October 16, 1973, and was met with generally positive reviews. The film went on to gross nearly $50 million at the North American box office, making it a blockbuster in its time. The movie’s theme song also became a major hit. Hofler shares, “Redford didn’t want Barbra to sing. He didn’t want the movie to turn into a Barbra Streisand musical. But the song became a No. 1 single, revitalizing her recording career. It’s also one of the best theme songs from a movie ever.”

the way we were barbra streisand robert redford — Moviestore/Shutterstock

After such a monumental success, discussions about a sequel naturally arose. The actors were reportedly offered $8 million each to reunite, but Robert wasn’t interested. “He never did a sequel in his entire career,” notes Hofler. However, Barbra always believed that Katie and Hubbell’s story wasn’t over. “I envisioned a sequel where their daughter, now in college and politically active herself, inadvertently brings them back together,” Barbra said. “It’s inevitable that they reconnect. I still regret that we didn’t make it happen.”