University of Virginia Library

CINEMA

An Owl And A Pussycat Go To The Movies

By Paul Chaplin
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

I hadn't had a good laugh all
week, except when thinking about
the ridiculousness of adding and
dropping courses, and 600 people
trying to take a class designed for
200. Yesterday I tramped through
the slush to see "The Owl and the
Pussycat," afraid it wouldn't be as
great as I had heard. I was happy to
be wrong. The film transcended my
doubts and convinced me it was
one of the best films of 1970.

Barbra Streisand is flawless and
gives her best screen performance as
Doris, the actress/hooker. As much
as I admire her singing, I hope she
doesn't turn to another musical.
She is, however, helped
considerably by George Segal as
Felix, the writer/clerk. Segal is
undoubtedly one of the screen's
best actors, and perhaps this film
will help give him the attention he
deserves. Together they are entirely
natural and believable in their
improbable predicament. They have
a beautiful give-and-take
relationship which creates an
excitement and life that has been
absent from film comedy for quite
some time.

The script by Buck Henry is
very good and leaves one wondering
how this story was ever done on
stage. Most plays require "opening
up" for the screen, and Henry's
additional scenes are highly
amusing. As over-used as they are,
there is a pot-smoking scene in a
bathtub which is hilarious, due to
Segal's facial expressions and
Henry's plot complications.

The Director

Herbert Ross' direction is
unobtrusive, which is a
compliment. In films of this nature,
and with the excellent
performances of Segal and
Streisand, this is exactly as it
should be. My only complaint deals
with the hand held camera, but this
now must seem to be an obsession
of mine, so I won't elaborate any
further on that minor point.

Improvements

There is little that could be done
to improve "The Owl and the
Pussycat." The photography is very
good, and the music by Blood,
Sweat, and Tears, a group I don't
care for, is also good and matches
the style of the film. Additional
mention should be given to
supporting cast members Roz Kelly
and Robert Klein, and whoever
designed that crazy black thing Miss
Streisand wears.

A Change

"The Owl and the Pussycat" is
really difficult to discuss without
feeling that I might spoil the film.
The film succeeds as a result of Miss
Steel sand's success in her unusual
role. After "Love Story," this film
is such a refreshing change that I
feel like telling everybody to see it
immediately after the former. "The
Owl and the Pussycat," while being
more improbable than "Love

Story," is a more honest film.

Honesty

The honesty is especially evident
in the "second act" when Felix and
Doris drop their facades and accept
each other for what they are. They
have changed before us during the
film and both are better for it.
The ending is more optimistic and
romantic, but not without a chilling
sense of reality when Felix screams
at Doris that she has no feelings and
is like an animal. When we
understand the motive for his
actions, and see their outcome, we
feel reassured that they are right for
each other and that they will
succeed. After seeing "The Owl and
the Pussycat" you can walk out of
the theatre and feel that all the
slush isn't that bad, maybe the sun
will shine tomorrow, and life is
really great.

(Now at the University).