The Owl and the Pussycat **** (1970, Barbra Streisand, George Segal, Robert Klein, Allen Garfield, Buck Henry) – Classic Movie Review 2,799

Barbra Streisand and George Segal are on their finest comic form in Herbert Ross’s hilarious 1970 romantic comedy film The Owl and the Pussycat.

Barbra Streisand and George Segal are happily teamed and on their finest powerhouse comic form in director Herbert Ross’s hilarious 1970 American romantic comedy film The Owl and the Pussycat.

Streisand stars as a New York hooker called Doris and Segal plays her new, bookseller neighbour, Felix. He’s owlish and she’s kittenish or maybe catty. They are an archetypal bickering Odd Couple, of course

When Felix reports Doris’s sex-for-money-making activities (‘I may be a prostitute but I’m not promiscuous,’ she proudly declares) to the landlord, she is made homeless. So she decides to join him in his apartment.

Buck Henry’s funny, adult screenplay – based on Bill Manhoff’s two-hander stage play – is packed full of laughs, effortlessly delivered in the hands of the stars whose different styles of acting gel neatly.

As it is opened out, there are roles for other actors. Also in the cast are Robert Klein, Allen Garfield, Roz Kelly, Jacques Sandulescu, Jack Manning, Grace Carney, Barbara Ansôn, Kin Chan, Stan Gottlieb, Joe Madden, Fay Sappington, Marilyn Chambers (as Evelyn Lang), Tom Atkins and writer Buck Henry.

While she was still in high school, Marilyn Chambers landed a small role as as Barney’s Girl in The Owl and the Pussycat, credited as Evelyn Lang.

This is Streisand’s first non-singing role and her first cinema use of the F-word, though of course the four-letter words are cut out in the TV version. Streisand filmed a topless scene but it was cut from the film.

The 1964 Broadway play was performed on stage by Alan Alda and Diana Sands.

Sick cinematographer Harry Stradling Sr was forced to quit three weeks before the end of filming and Andrew Laszlo took over.

Bill Manhoff was a writer on the 1970-75 TV series The Odd Couple, where the Tony Randall character is also called Felix.

Streisand played a call girl again in Nuts (1987).

The cast are Barbra Streisand as Doris, George Segal as Felix Sherman, Robert Klein as Barney, Allen Garfield as Dress Shop Proprietor, Roz Kelly as Eleanor, Jacques Sandulescu as the landlord Rapzinsky, Jack Manning as Mr Weyderhaus, Grace Carney as Mrs Weyderhaus, Barbara Anson as Miss Weyderhaus, Kim Chan as Theatre Cashier Stan Gottlieb as Coatcheck Man, Joe Madden as Old Man Neighbour, Fay Sappington as Old Woman Neighbor, and Marilyn Chambers as Barney’s Girl.

The Owl and the Pussycat is directed by Herbert Ross, runs 95 minutes, is made by Rastar, is distributed by Columbia Pictures, is written by Buck Henry, based on the play by Bill Manhoff, is shot by Harry Stradling and Andrew Laszlo, is produced by Ray Stark and is scored by Richard Halligan.

Release date: November 3, 1970 (New York).

George Segal (February 13, 1934 – March 23, 2021)

Buck Henry (born Henry Zuckerman; December 9, 1930 – January 8, 2020)

Marilyn Ann Taylor (née Briggs; April 22, 1952 – April 12, 2009), known as Marilyn Chambers,

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2,799

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

DEREK WINNERT is the author of The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Movies, The Film & Video Guide and Quote Unquote, a biography of Barbra Streisand.