Overview
The Owl and the Pussycat is a 1970 American romantic comedy that pairs two unlikely characters in a sharp, character-driven story about clash and chemistry. Directed by Herbert Ross and adapted for the screen by Buck Henry from a stage play by Bill Manhoff, the film examines urban life, class friction and romantic misfits with both wit and bluntness. Its blunt humor and frank language reflect changing film attitudes at the end of the 1960s.
Premise and themes
The narrative centers on the tense but combustible relationship between a brash, self-possessed young woman and a neurotic, aspiring writer who are forced into close quarters. The story explores themes of incompatibility, personal reinvention and the surprises that emerge when people from different backgrounds are pushed together. The tone mixes screwball conventions with more adult, contemporary dialogue, producing moments of both comic farce and awkward sincerity.
Cast and characters
- Barbra Streisand in the female lead, noted for her energetic, expressive performance
- George Segal as the male lead, bringing neurotic charm and comic timing
- Robert Klein in a supporting role
- Marilyn Chambers among the ensemble cast
- Additional supporting players include Roz Kelly and Allen Garfield
Production and release
The screenplay modernization broadened the play's single-setting origins for a cinematic audience while preserving much of the original's verbal sparring. The film was distributed by Columbia Pictures, and it reached audiences at a moment when Hollywood romantic comedies were experimenting with franker subject matter and more realistic social detail.
Reception and legacy
Contemporary reviewers often highlighted the chemistry between the two leads and praised Streisand's comic abilities, while some critics found the tone uneven as it shifted between raucous comedy and tender moments. Over time the picture has been remembered chiefly as a showcase for its stars and as an example of late-1960s/early-1970s adult romantic comedy sensibilities. It also stands as part of Barbra Streisand's early film career and George Segal's string of screen comedies.
Further notes
While rooted in a stage play, the film adaptation uses cinematic space to expand the couple's interactions and to underline the social contrasts between them. For more on the director, writer and principal cast, see the individual profiles: Herbert Ross, Buck Henry, Barbra Streisand and George Segal.