When Barbra Streisand picked up the phone to talk to Robert Redford years after 'The Way We Were' had wrapped, she didn’t expect to hear the words, “I love you dearly, and I always will.” But that’s exactly how the legendary actor ended their final conversation. It was a call that brought them back to the beginning of one of cinema’s most iconic partnerships.
Streisand, now 83, reflected on her long-standing bond with Redford, who died Sept. 16 at 89, in her 2023 memoir 'My Name Is Barbra.' Their shared history began over 50 years ago on the set of 'The Way We Were,' but it never really ended.
“Bob was wonderful … open and thoughtful and engaging, as always,” Streisand writes. “We talked for over an hour about everything, from working together on the film to politics and art.”
Their chemistry, both onscreen and off, was rooted in what Streisand described as a “genuine curiosity” about each other. They didn’t socialize much at first during filming, a decision meant to allow Katie and Hubbell, their characters, to discover one another organically.
“Bob and I were genuinely curious about each other, and I believe that’s what comes across on screen,” she wrote. “Once he asked me about Brooklyn. What was it like growing up there? I guess he thought I was kind of exotic, but to me, he was the exotic one, growing up in California. Did he surf? Fish? Swim in the ocean after eating?”
He almost passed on the role:
It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Hubbell Gardiner. But initially, Redford wanted no part in the film. Streisand had always envisioned him in the role, not for his looks, but for his depth.
“Guys with blond hair and blue eyes were never my type,” she admitted. “I did think he was very handsome…a wonderful jawline…great teeth. But what intrigued me most about Bob was his complexity. You never quite know what he’s thinking.”
Redford, however, was concerned. The script, by Arthur Laurents, was heavily weighted toward Katie’s character, leaving Hubbell underwritten.
“In Bob’s opinion, he was ‘shallow and one-dimensional,’” Streisand recalled. “I wanted to make Bob happy, so I told Sydney, ‘Give him anything he wants. Write more scenes to strengthen his character. Make it equal.’”
“Bob’s reluctance had a big influence on the script and ultimately resulted in a richer, more interesting character,” she later wrote.
Their dynamic on screen:
Despite the rocky start, the on-set dynamic between Streisand and Redford blossomed into something unforgettable. Redford teased her, challenged her, and inspired her, even taking her on a motorcycle ride and encouraging her to ski.
“It was great fun to work with Bob,” she wrote. “He and I had a real rapport, and the audience could sense it.” Redford himself offered an insightful take on their screen presence.
“Barbra…her femininity brings out the masculinity in a man, and her masculinity brings out a man’s femininity, vulnerability, romanticism, whatever you want to call it.” Their connection wasn’t just felt by audiences. It was something both performers recognized, even years later.
In her memoir, Streisand praised Redford as “an intellectual cowboy…a charismatic star who is also one of the finest actors of his generation,” adding, “like my husband (James Brolin), he’s almost apologetic about his looks, and I liked that about him.”
His iconic legacy:
Despite 'The Way We Were' earning six Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress for Streisand and a win for Best Original Song, Redford didn’t receive a nod for his role, something Streisand still feels was an oversight.
“I was very disappointed that Bob wasn’t nominated for best actor for our movie, because he was amazing in it,” she wrote. Ironically, Redford was nominated that same year, just not for 'The Way We Were,' but for 'The Sting.'
Streisand remained fiercely protective of the film's legacy. She fought to restore key political scenes for the 50th-anniversary Blu-ray release and consulted Redford about the changes.
“He said he would support me ‘absolutely,’ which meant so much to me.” Their last call ended with tenderness, not nostalgia. “When we were hanging up, he said, ‘I gotta go, Babs. I love you dearly, and I always will.’ ”
Streisand responded, “I love you too.” She invited Redford and his wife to lunch the next time they visited Los Angeles. “I told him, ‘I love talking to you,’ and he said, ‘I love talking to you. I always do.’ It was a sweet reminder that the connection we had during that movie still exists.”