Brogan: A wonderful revisiting!

"Memories, like the corners of my mind..."

You do not have to have been around in late 1973 and early 1974 when the song those lyrics are from, made The Way We Were a top-ranked song on virtually every chart. The words and music are haunting and stir romantic feelings in even the least romantic amongst us.

It was the title song to the enormously popular romantic drama; The Way We Were. The single screen pairing of two legendary superstars, Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford, has withstood the test of time. It remains, fifty years later, one of the most memorable films turned out by Hollywood. Opening in the fall of 1973 at Concord's legendary, Cinema 93, it enjoyed a long and successful run with thousands of local residents making the trip across the river to be caught up in the beauty and emotions associated with this brilliantly crafted work. Had anyone a Kleenex concession in the lobby, they would have made a fortune. There was nary a dry eye when the end credits rolled.

The Way We Were return to the big screen in Concord on Monday, October 16th, this time at downtown Concord's Red River Theatres. This special anniversary event will begin at 7 PM and for the price of admission, you not only get this classic film, shown as it deserves to be seen, but trivia, gifts and other surprises to make the evening even better. Since I don't know whether Red River will have that Kleenex concession, I would highly recommend stuffing some tissues into your pockets. You'll need them.

This is much more than a beautifully photographed and directed romance. Thanks to a sharp script by Arthur Laurents, the story, told over several decades, has a great deal of depth, sometimes lacking in a romance. The characters are multi-dimensional and the travails they undergo during their time together and apart, make this a wonderful time capsule of the world and how it evolved on many levels.

Streisand and Redford have rarely been as good as they are here. They totally absorb themselves into their characters and you sit forgetting you have seen them before. Katie and Hubbell are real, replete with human flaws that only make them more fascinating.

Jim Webber, over the past 7 years, has been instrumental in bringing classic films from the past, back to the big screen at Red River. The enthusiastic public response clearly indicates there is an audience for this. After all, seeing a film in all its wide-screen glory with a rapt audience, is the way the film was intended to be viewed.

Jim recently joined me on my Concord TV show to talk about this upcoming event. Here is a link to our enjoyable chat: (8) Capital Area Chats- The Way We Were 50th Anniversary Screening - YouTube

Tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime event are available on-line at redrivertheatres.org or you can visit the theater's box-office during regular operating hours.

Don't be that person on Tuesday morning, October 17, listening to everyone talk about the great night at the movies they'd had the night before. Come and join the fun and make some memories of your own.