The 1973 film The Way We Werehas been named one of the greatest romance movies of all time by the American Film Institute (AFI) movie club. The organization described the “bittersweet romantic drama” as “among the art form’s greatest love stories – with Streisand’s title song also counted among AFI’s ranking of cinema’s most memorable film music.”
The beloved film also ranked No. 6 on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Passions list, just behind the romance classics An Affair to Remember, Roman Holiday, West Side Story, Gone with the Wind, and Casablanca
Starring Barbra StreisandandRobert Redford and directed by Sydney Pollack, The Way We Were followed the unlikely love story of political activist Katie Morosky and privileged writer Hubbell Gardiner. The melancholy ending, coupled with Streisand’s title ballad, is a tearjerker.
The Way We Were was nominated for six Academy Awards and won two, including one for Streisand’s song.
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Streisand wanted Robert Redford in the film
Hot on her film and music career, Streisand was a no-brainer to star as the quirky female lead in The Way We Were. At the time, film critic Roger Ebert wrote that Streisand’s performance was “fantastic” and crowned her “the brightest, quickest female actress in movies today.”
Redford was a bit trickier. Producer Ray Stark originally wanted to cast Streisand’s What's Up, Doc? co-star and short-time romantic partner, Ryan O'Neal, for the role of Hubbell, according to Turner Classic Movies. After Streisand’s real-life romance with O’Neal ended, she suggested Redford.
In her 2023 memoir My Name is Barbra, Streisand wrote that she “fell in love with the story” and that the Katie Morosky character impacted her “profoundly.” But the Barefoot in the Park actor turned down the original screenplay. Streisand noted that she asked producers to give Redford whatever he wanted. After multiple attempts and script changes, the actor agreed.
“The courtship had been tough, but Bob’s reluctance had a big influence on the script and ultimately resulted in a richer, more interesting character,” Streisand wrote.
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Following Redford’s death in September 2025, Streisand paid tribute to him on Instagram, where she noted that they were just as opposite as their characters. “Every day on the set of The Way We Were was exciting, intense and pure joy,” Streisand recalled. “We were such opposites: he was from the world of horses; I was allergic to them! Yes, we kept trying to find out more about each other, just like the characters in the movie."
"Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting — and one of the finest actors ever," the entertainment legend shared. "He was one of a kind and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.“
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