“The Way We Were” Romance or political? What is the battle between Sidney Pollack and the screenwriter?

"The Way We Were" synopsis

1937, just before World War II. Katie is passionate about political activities, and Hubbell is not interested in politics. Two people with completely opposite ideas meet at university and go their separate ways after The Graduate. During World War II, the two meet by chance in New York and become lovers. However, when the war ended and the era of McCarthyism began, the two realized that they had different ways of thinking, and little by little, misunderstandings began to emerge.

New York during World War II. Katie (Barbra Streisand), who was living a fulfilling life while working at a radio station and devoting herself to her life's work of anti-government activities, was taken by her boss to a high-class restaurant where Hubbell, a brave man in military uniform, met her. (Robert Redford) again. He was the person I secretly admired when I was a student. ``The Way We Were'' (1973), where time suddenly rewinds, tells the story of how the two met, what kind of campus life they had, how they got married after meeting again, and how they decided to part ways. It is still a work loved by movie fans.

However, it is clear that this is no mere love romance. The differences in their lifestyles and values ​​overwhelm their love. The bitterness of life lingers on your tongue stronger than the sweetness.

bitterness and sweetness. How to balance these two contradictory elements was a constant topic of discussion throughout the film's production.

Index

• Endless battle between screenwriter and director
• The conflict between love and principle
• Streisand and Redford

Endless battle between screenwriter and director

This story is based on the memories of playwright Arthur Laurents, who is known for writing the stage version of ``West Side Story'' (1957) and other plays, with a schoolmate he met while attending his alma mater, Cornell University. Katie's model. She belonged to the Communist League of America and was active on campus in support of the Popular Front government during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). It all started when Lorenz was impressed by the lonely figure who continued to loudly advocate anti-fascists every day at a peaceful school, and decided to write while reminiscing about his student days.

“The Way We Were” preview

Lorenz had praised the directorial abilities of `` A Lonely Youth '' (1969) and wanted Sidney Pollack to be the director. However, Lorenz begins to regret choosing Pollack as his director. The script, which was supposed to be centered around Katie, was gradually rewritten as a story between a man and a woman, with Katie and Havel equally portrayed, according to Pollack's wishes.

Ray Stark, the producer who arranged the film, imprisoned the two at his vacation home in Sun Valley, Idaho, and instructed them to rewrite the script. However, Lorenz was hurt by the fact that almost no trace of himself was left on the completed script, and he temporarily left the project.

After that, the chaotic script was created, and a total of 11 people were mobilized, including famous screenwriters such as Dalton Trumbo, Alvin Sargent, and Paddy Chayefsky. Redford didn't like it, and as a result, it was scrapped. Shortly after, Lorenz was recalled again.

Even after Lorenz returned, he and Pollack continued to debate whether the story should be more political or romantic. In the end, Pollack's plan was successful, but it is up to the audience to judge the film. Now, let's look back at the story again.

The conflict between love and principle