The Way They Were : How Epic Battles and Bruised Egos Brought a Classic Hollywood Love Story to the Screen

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of ''The Way We Were,'' this intriguing and impeccably researched book is the first ever account of the making of the classic film starring Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford, revealing the full story behind its genesis and continued controversies, its many deleted scenes, its much-anticipated but never-filmed sequel, and the real-life romance that inspired this groundbreaking love story of opposites who attract and start breaking up even before they get married... It''s one of the greatest movie romances of all time. Fifty years on, the chemistry between Barbra Streisand as Jewish working-class firebrand Katie Worosk and Robert Redford as all-American golden boy Hubbell Gardiner remains potent. Yet è the friction and controversy surrounding The Way We Were were so enormous, the movie was nearly never made at all. Impeccably researched and eye-opening, The Way They Were reveals the full story behind the challenges, rivalries and real-life romance surrounding the movie. Even the iconic casting was fraught. Screenwriter Arthur Laurents wrote the role of Katie with Streisand in mind, but finding Hubble was another matter. Redford was reluctant to play what he perceived as the ''Ken doll'' to Streisand''s lead, and demanded his role be beefed up, with ten writers - among them Francis Ford Coppola - called in to rework the script.