The Owl and the Pussycat (1970)

A stuffy author enters into an explosive relationship with his neighbor, a foul-mouthed, freewheeling prostitute.

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writers:

Bill Manhoff (play), Buck Henry (screenplay)

Stars:

Barbra Streisand, George Segal, Robert Klein

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barbra Streisand	...	Doris
George Segal	...	Felix
Robert Klein	...	Barney
Allen Garfield	...	Dress Shop Proprietor
Roz Kelly	...	Eleanor
Jacques Sandulescu	...	Rapzinsky
Jack Manning	...	Mr. Weyderhaus
Grace Carney	...	Mrs. Weyderhaus
Barbara Anson	...	Miss Weyderhaus
Kim Chan	...	Theatre Cashier
Stan Gottlieb	...	Coatcheck Man
Joe Madden	...	Old Man Neighbor
Fay Sappington	...	Old Woman Neighbor
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marilyn Chambers	...	Barney's Girl (as Evelyn Lang)

Storyline

Can a bickering odd couple in Manhattan become friends and maybe more? Owlish Felix is an unpublished writer who vents his frustration by reporting to the super that the woman in a neighboring flat takes the occasional payment for sex. She's Doris, more wildcat than pussycat, and when Felix's peeping-tom-tattle-tale routine gets her bounced from her apartment, she knocks at his door at 3 AM, aggressive and ticked off. They yell, lose another apartment, and pick up where they left off in a friend's flat and beyond. Dancing by the light of the moon seems unlikely for this owl and pussycat.

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Plot Keywords:

prostitute | apartment building | new york city | based on play | hot | 

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Taglines:

When she starts mixing business and pleasure she goes out of business

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

A line of dialogue where Barbra Streisand says the F-word has been cut from many DVD releases of the film. Many releases have the phrase "Up Yours" replacing the offensive expletive, ironically, as one of Streisand's next films would be called Up the Sandbox (1972). According to the film section of the "Barbra Streisand Archives" website, "Streisand was one of the first female stars to use the F-word in a major film, which she does once in The Owl and the Pussycat (1970). It helped earn the movie an "R" rating in its original release. However, depending on which version you watch at home, you may not hear the expletive. By cutting it out, the following scene in which Doris [Barbra Streisand] and Felix [George Segal] run away does not make sense! The 2001 [American] DVD from Columbia Pictures does not contain the F-word".

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Goofs

When Doris is playing the piano at the Weyderhaus', her hands do not match the music.

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Quotes

Doris: [Heard off-screen in the soundtrack to CYCLE SLUTS] What are you doing? What's that for? What are you going to do with that? What's that THING? And what's that other thing? Where ya gonna put that? Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Hold it. You can't do that.
[Screams]
Doris: No, not with both of 'em. You can't, I tell ya. You can't. Can you? Oh, maybe you can. My God, you could!

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Alternate Versions

The original version of the film is said to have included some nude scenes with Barbara Streisand and the line "Do us a favor and just fuck off". Apparently she changed her mind about the nude scenes and they were cut and destroyed. The line with the f-word however stayed intact. Alas for the DVD release Columbia chose to remove that line of dialogue.

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Connections

Referenced in On Location with the Owl and the Pussycat (1970)

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Soundtracks

The Reunion
(uncredited)
Performed by Blood Sweat & Tears

User Reviews

Hysterical!

I also read the play. Streisand and Segal have great on-screen chemistry. This film will keep you laughing non-stop. Barbara Streisand's performance of the character being "neurotic" is excellent. George Segal's character is equally good in his response to her behavior. If you like this, it is one you may want to watch over and over again.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [us

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 November 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Owl and the Pussycat

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$23,681,338

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rastar Pictures, Tom Ward Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1