The way we were the film version of arthur laurents book is a distended, talky, redundant and moody melodrama, combining young love, relentless 1930s and 1940s nostalgia, and spiced artifically. Arthur laurents two desperate people have a wonderful romance, but their political views and convictions drive them apart. If the reader is simply interested in seeing how the story depicted in the film developed, the book is interesting but compared to the film itself, there is no contest. They met at the stork club one summer night in 1944 she, the left. Arthur laurents was born on july 14, 1918 in brooklyn, new york city, new york, usa as arthur levine. Best known for writing the book for the broadway smashes west side story and gypsy, the new yorkborn laurents july 14, 1918 also penned several screenplays, among them those for alfred hitchcocks rope 1948, otto premingers bonjour tristesse 1958, and herbert ross the turning point 1977. Arthur laurents wrote both the novel and screenplay based on his college days at cornell university and his experiences with the house unamerican activities committee. This is another one of those love stories about irreconcilables the way it was during and after world war ii. The best way to experience arthur laurents story is to watch the film by the same name.
In the early 70s, writer arthur laurents was on his way to barbra streisands new. Best known as the author of scripts for such hit musicals as west side story and gypsy, arthur laurents began his career writing strong, socially conscious plays. It is extremely hard to judge this book solely on its own merits because the shadow of the film, staring robert redford and barbra streissand. Arthur laurents july 14, 1917 may 5, 2011 was an american playwright, stage director and screenwriter. The film version of arthur laurents book is a distended, talky, redundant and moody melodrama, combining young love, relentless 1930s and. The way we were, by arthur laurents, hardcover 1972 ebay. Arthur laurents was an american playwright, librettist, stage director, and screenwriter. Laurents highly praised memoir is a dazzling portrait of his life as he recounts the great moments, the trials and the joys of his incredible career.
He is the author of original story by, his first autobiography. In 2008 laurents received his sixth tony nomination, for directing a revival of gypsy. The way we were is a 1973 american romantic drama film directed by sydney pollack and starring barbra streisand and robert redford. Arthur laurents contribution by of west side story edition. The screenplay for the way we were was written by american playwright and screenwriter arthur laurents based on his experiences with political activism during his college days at cornell university. Biography for arthur laurents turner classic movies. The way we were by arthur laurents, first edition abebooks. Laurents wrote the book for west side story, which updated romeo and juliet to the. See all books authored by arthur laurents, including gypsy, and west side story vocal score, and more on. The way we were 1973 frequently asked questions imdb. Arthur laurents has 27 books on goodreads with 6955 ratings.
In a career that has spanned seven decades, laurents has written more than two dozen plays and movies, ranging from rope for alfred hitchcock in 1948 to the way we were with robert redford and. The way we were is semiautobiographical material of laurents experiences at cornell and during hollywoods red scare. Way we were hardcover 1990 by arthur laurents author. Its arthur laments first novel although youll remember him as the playwright time of the cuckoo and scenarist and the backgrounds, new york and hollywood, seem just right because they probably are although the story in spots could have used another conference or two. West side story by arthur laurents goodreads share book. The way we were by arthur laurents, first edition abebooks passion for books. He began his remarkable career in 1940, grinding out shows for lux radio theater, and he went on to triumph with his superb books for the musicals west side story and gypsy, as well as the scripts for the movies the way we were and the turning point. Laurents also wrote the novel of the same name, but sydney pollack directed the 1973 film. The way we were, adapted by arthur laurents from his novel, looks like a 747 built around an elephant. This weeks classic is the way we were, the 1973 romantic drama written by arthur laurents and directed by sydney pollack. Arthur laurents 19172011, a playwright, screenwriter, and director, wrote two of broadways landmark shows, gypsy and west side story, and created one of hollywoods most wellknown romances, the way we were. Playwrightscreenwriter arthur laurents died in his sleep on may 5 in new york city. Laurents biggest film successes occurred in the 1970s, first as screenwriter for the way we were, the 1973 movie starring streisand and robert redford who played lovers pulled apart by the.
The way we were mass market paperback 1973 by arthur laurents author. Here is the original story of a true original, the celebrated and internationally renowned director, playwright and screenwriter arthur laurents, whose creative genius continues to energize american stage and screen today. Army during world war ii, laurents turned to writing for broadway, producing a body of work that includes west side story 1957. Army during world war ii, laurents turned to writing for broadway, producing a body of work that includes west side story 1957, gypsy 1959, and hallelujah, baby. Arthur laurents july 14, 1917 may 5, 2011 was an american playwright, stage director and screenwriter after writing scripts for radio shows after college and then training films for the u. Considered by many to be american theaters greatest librettist, arthur laurents was also remembered as a prolific stage director and screenwriter, whose credits include the books for the musicals west side story 1957 and gypsy 1959, as well as the screenplay for the way we were 1973. The way we were by arthur laurents fantastic fiction. It seems to have been constructed of prefabricated parts. Granted, laurents is drawing from his own life and writing about his friends and their experiences. He died on may 5, 2011 in manhattan, new york city. Sunshines free in california fortunately the way we were author arthur laurents publisher harpercollins publishers. The way we were, produced by ray stark and directed by sydney pollack from arthur laurents adaptation of his novel, is a traumatized. He was a writer, known for rope 1948, the turning point 1977 and west side story 1961. May 06, 2011 arthur laurents was an eminence of musical theater and movies who penned scripts for west side story, gypsy and the way we were.
Home old scrolls book shop the way we were the way we were by laurents, arthur condition. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Arthur laurentss career as a playwright, screenwriter, book writer for musicals and director spanned over half a century. The book is serviceable and we do learn a bit more about katie and hubble and the times in which they lived but what becomes apparent is how much dimension and color the movie actually adds to the story. Jul 31, 2009 laurents was eventually tempted back into movies by sydney pollack, who in 1973 directed robert redford and barbra streisand in his script of the way we were, a love story set against the backdrop. The way we were by arthur laurents and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The plot involves witty and urbane high society couple nick and nora charles, characters created by dashiell hammett in his novel the thin man, which inspired six films, a radio show, and a television series. Arthur laurents, the director, playwright and screenwriter who wrote such enduring stage musicals as west side story and gypsy, as well as the movie classics rope and the way we were. Arthur laurents simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Arthur laurents s career as a playwright, screenwriter, book writer for musicals and director spanned over half a century. Laurents wrote the book for west side story, which updated romeo and juliet to the streets of new york, with gangs called the jets and the sharks replacing the houses of.
The way we were by arthur laurents paperback book in good shape. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. His early movie scripts include rope 1948 for alfred hitchcock, followed by anastasia 1956, bonjour tristesse 1958. He also garnered impressive credits as a screenwriter the way we were. Laurents highly praised memoir is a here is the original story of a true original, the celebrated and internationally renowned director, playwright and screenwriter arthur laurents, whose creative genius continues to energize american. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Arthur laurents wrote scripts for stage and screen.
Arthur laurents, who penned the librettos for broadway classics. Laurents wrote the book for west side story, which updated romeo and juliet to the streets of new york, with gangs called the jets and the sharks replacing the houses of montague and capulet. Books by arthur laurents author of west side story edition. Mar, 2009 in the fifties, with west side story and gypsy, arthur laurents made theatrical history. Applause booksbest known for the hit musicals west side story and gypsy, arthur laurents began his career writing socially minded plays such as home of the brave and time of the cuckoo. The listing, the way we were by arthur laurents has ended. May 05, 2011 arthur laurents, the director, playwright and screenwriter who wrote such enduring stage musicals as west side story and gypsy, as well as the movie classics rope and the way we were, died. His first broadway play, home of the brave, was produced in 1945. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. Book the way we were by a laurents revd by r sokolov. The way we were was the brainchild of laurents, whose credits include screenplays for rope and the turning point and the book for west side story.
In 1973, laurents adapted his own novel, the way we were, the story of the romance between a jewish woman and a wasp gent broken apart by cultural and political differences. Laurentss noteworthy screenplays include rope 1948, anastasia 1956, bonjour tristesse 1958, the way we were 1973, and the turning point 1977. Arthur laurents s most popular book is romeo and juliet and west side story. Guys and dolls the pajama game my fair lady gypsy a funny thing happened on the way to the forum fiddler on the roof cabaret 1776 by. Theres a great anecdote in your first book where tom hatcher asks you if sondheim is gay and you say. The legendary scribe wrote the books for west side story and gypsy and the scripts for the way we were and turning point. The way we were by arthur laurents book cover, description, publication history. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. The rest of the story by arthur laurents goodreads. Arthur laurents first play, home of the brave, was a hardhitting look at the plight of a jewish gi during the war and opened on broadway in 1945. His credits included the stage musicals west side story and gypsy and the film the way we were. West side story,the way we were writer arthur laurents. Arthur laurents american playwright, director, and. Arthur laurents july 14, 1917 may 5, 2011 was an american playwright, stage director and screenwriter his best known works were west side story 1957, gypsy 1959, and hallelujah, baby.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. May 06, 2011 arthur laurents, the playwright, screenwriter and director who wrote and ultimately transformed two of broadways landmark shows, gypsy and west side story, and created one of. Arthur laurents books list of books by author arthur. Arthur laurents, tonywinning playwrightscreenwriter. Say his name, and images of west side story, gypsy, anastasia, the turning point, and the way we were appear. The way we were by arthur laurents, 9780884114468, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. The way we were by laurents, arthur and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Arthur laurents simple english wikipedia, the free. May 07, 2011 the way we were laurents, who directed barbra streisand in her first broadway role in 1962s i can get it for you wholesale, wrote the screenplay for the way we were, which streisand starred in along with robert redford. After writing scripts for radio shows after college and then training films for the u.