Barbra Streisand on How She Satisfied Robert Redford to Star in 1973’s ‘The Approach We Have been’

Barbra Streisand is trying again at how she satisfied Robert Redford to star within the 1973 movie The Approach We Have been after he turned it down twice.

The romantic drama follows an unlikely couple, Katie Morosky (Streisand) and Hubbell Gardiner (Redford), who fall in love regardless of political and historic occasions. The pair should navigate their relationship whereas making an attempt to beat elementary societal beliefs.

In an excerpt from her upcoming memoir, My Title Is Barbra, in Self-importance Truthful, the actress-singer opens up about what she and director Sydney Pollack went by means of to get Redford to star reverse Streisand.

“Bob is that uncommon mixture … an mental cowboy … a charismatic star who can also be one of many best actors of his era,” she wrote. “However like my husband, he’s virtually apologetic about his appears to be like, and I preferred that about him.”

Streisand continued, “So I needed Redford for Hubbell. However he turned it down.”

That’s when she requested Pollack for assist since she knew he was so shut with Redford.

“I’ve to offer Sydney credit score. He was as persistent as I used to be, as a result of we each felt that solely Redford would make the image work,” Streisand wrote. “It’s like enjoying tennis … I knew my very own recreation would go up once I was reverse a powerful participant.”

However Streisand defined in her memoir that she discovered one of many causes Redford didn’t need the half was as a result of he felt that “the script was so centered on Katie that Hubbell’s character was underdeveloped. (He was proper.)”

The excerpt continued, “Bob requested Sydney, ‘Who is this man? He’s simply an object …. He doesn’t need something. What does this man need?’ In Bob’s opinion, he was ‘shallow and one-dimensional. Not very actual.’ ‘A pin-up woman in reverse,’ as Sydney put it.”

Streisand knew Redford was meant for the position so she informed Pollack to offer him something he needed: “Write extra scenes to strengthen his character. Make it equal.” They even employed two writers, David Rayfiel and Alvin Sargent, to increase Hubbell.

“However Bob’s reply was nonetheless no. I used to be heartbroken,” she wrote.

Although producer Ray Stark needed to maneuver on and rent another person, Streisand stated Pollack begged for another week to try to persuade Redford.

“I informed Ray to offer it to him and stored praying. The negotiations went right down to the wire. I used to be in the course of filming Up the Sandbox in Africa, and in the future I acquired a telegram from Sue Mengers that merely stated: ‘Barbra Redford!’” Streisand wrote in her memoir. “That’s once I knew he’d lastly stated sure … and I used to be so thrilled!”

She added, “The courtship had been robust, however Bob’s reluctance had a giant affect on the script and in the end resulted in a richer, extra fascinating character.”

The film went on to win two Oscars, together with greatest authentic tune for “The Approach We Have been,” which Streisand sang, and greatest authentic dramatic rating.

Streisand’s memoir My Title Is Barbra hits bookshelves on Nov. 7.