Screen legends Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford make movie magic as the captivating star-crossed lovers, Hubbell Gardiner and Katie Morosky. Theirs is a classic love story sparked by the attraction of opposites, played out against the backdrop of American life during times of foreign war, domestic prosperity, and McCarthy-era paranoia in Hollywood. Winner of two 1973 Academy Awards® (Best Song “The Way We Were” and Best Score).
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Video Quality
The Way We Were has been given a 2160p 4K UHD upgrade with Dolby Vision that serves as a welcome step up from the included Blu-Ray, most likely derived from the same 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative. The film was previously released on Blu-Ray courtesy of Twilight Time, but we do not have access to that disc which is long out of print. This new release comes with both the Theatrical Cut and an all-new Extended Version that is offered in 4K UHD via seamless branching
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc offers the perfect amount of natural film grain which is not overly gritty but definitely not absent as you see it is very tight and finely resolved. This allows the movies to thrive and gives a plethora of pleasing texture and detail to the transfer. The image presents a wondrous amount of depth that makes the various environments feel more three-dimensional than ever. The improvements in contrast and overall clarity are outstanding, especially when you look at the landscapes or textures on clothing.
The UHD disc contains very vibrant, deep colors throughout with the world truly dazzling thanks to the cinematography of Harry Stradling Jr. that gets the most out of some impressive location work. Some of the outfits worn by Katie are especially lovely, as well. Highlights are richer and offer greater stability without veering into blooming. Black levels are deep and allow the picture to maintain an excellent amount of depth and detail in darker environments. Skin tones look quite natural and the clarity of the transfer gives you a great amount of facial detail. There is absolutely no sign of any print damage or other such blemishes that would hinder the appearance of this title. This transfer is a delight for fans of this classic title. Sony has treated this one with the care you expect from the company.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc presents a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track for both cuts of the film in addition to the original DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track on the Theatrical Cut for the purists. The audio and subtitle options Sony provides on this disc are unlikely to displease anyone. The surround sound track gives the overall soundscape extra vitality and a more deeply immersive quality. There is an emphasis on the front channels for most of the dialogue, but activity stretches to the surround speakers when it comes to the music and certain environmental sounds such as crowd chatter to make these worlds feel more robust and all-encompassing.
The film satisfies when it comes to the music, as the memorable songs wash over you in a satisfying, enveloping way. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting lost in the music or sound effects. The low end effects from the subwoofer are mostly engaged to provide some extra texture to sporadic environmental elements and musical moments. Atmospheric sound effects are rendered appropriately within the mix so that directionality is never an issue. Sony has delivered something first-rate with this selection of tracks.
Special Features
- Theatrical Cut (1:58:16) and Extended Cut (2:02:49)
- Audio Commentary: Director Sydney Pollack provides a great commentary track in which he shares anecdotes from the production including almost switching up the structure of the film, saving the title song for the right moment, the work of Streisand and Redford, and much more.
- Making-Of Featurette: A 62-minute archival featurette in which the cast and creative team reflect on the film with great insights into how it came about, what it means for them, and more.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
The Way We Were is a classic romantic drama that surprises in its examination of the core relationship. While there is love at the center of this dynamic, there is a division that is not often explored in mainstream films. Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford shine on screen opposite of one another, conjuring both heat and ire depending on the moment. The direction of Sydney Pollack is an essential component of this story, as the handling of the romance could veer into tonally inconsistent waters without a firm hand guiding the proceedings. It may not give you exactly what you want, but it gives you something truthful. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a sumptuous A/V presentation and some nice special features – not to mention a brand-new cut of the film. If you are a fan of this one, you cannot ask for more. Recommended
The Way We Were is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.