The Way We Were

A flashback tells the story of an idealistic young woman, Katie (Barbra Streisand), who falls in love with Hubbell (Robert Redford), while they are college students in the 1930s.

Their differences are immense: She is a Marxist, with strong anti-war opinions, and he is a laid-back troublemaker.

She is drawn to him because of his goyish handsomeness, and his writing. He is intrigued by her conviction, and determination to persuade others to take up social causes.

Years go by and they meet again during the end of World War II.

Now she works in a radio station and he, having served as a Naval officer in the South Pacific, is just trying to return to a conventional life.

They fall in love and marry, as much because of their differences in background and temperament, as despite them.

Soon though, Katie is incensed by the cynical jokes Hubbell's friends make. She cannot understand why he does not share her indignation at their insensitivity and their shallow dismissal of political engagement.

On the other hand, his serenity is disturbed by her want of social grace and polarizing postures.

Katie is disappointed when Hubbell seeks a job as a screenwriter in Hollywood.

She believes it to be a compromising waste of his literary talent, and encourages him to pursue writing as a serious challenge instead.

Despite her growing frustration, they move to California. He becomes a successful, if desultory, screenwriter and the couple enjoy affluence and leisure, but her passion about the human condition abides.

Even though Katie is pregnant with their child, Hubbell has an affair with Carol Ann (Lois Chiles), his girlfriend in college and recent ex-wife of his best friend JJ (Bradford Dillman).

Katie and Hubbell decide to part. She finally sees that he is not the man she idealized when she fell in love: He will always choose to take the easiest way out — whether it is cheating in his marriage or writing predictable stories for sitcoms.

Hubbell is exhausted, unable either to live on the pedestal she has thrust him upon, or to face her disappointment when he slides down into the mire.

Several years later, they meet in front of New York's Plaza Hotel by coincidence. Hubbell, who is with a stylish beauty, is now writing for a popular sitcom as one of a group of hired and nameless writers, apparently content.

Katie, too, has remained faithful to who she is — flyers in hand, she is still agitating for causes which have the potential to change the world for the better.

In the movie's final scene, Hubbell asks Katie about their daughter Rachel. Now re-married, Katie tells him that he should come see for himself how beautiful she is.

Hubbell walks away saying that he will, only to re-appear a moment later to confess that he can't.

Katie's knowing nod acknowledges what they both, finally, understand.

He was at his best when he was with her, and no one will ever believe in him or see as much promise in him as she once did. He could not bear it then, and cannot bear it now.


All that Hubbell and Katie can ever share is a poignant memory of "the way we were".