#1022: STREISAND, Barbra: The Prince Of Tides (1991)

STREISAND, Barbra (United States)
The Prince Of Tides [1991]
Spine #1022
Blu-ray

For her acclaimed second feature as a director, Barbra Streisand crafted a sumptuous, emotionally wrenching adaptation of Pat Conroy's best-selling novel — which she also produced and starred in. Summoned to New York after his sister attempts suicide, Tom Wingo (Nick Nolte) must serve as her memory, reckoning with the traumas of their southern childhood so that her psychiatrist, Dr. Susan Lowenstein (Streisand), can help her recover. But Tom's sessions with Lowenstein will plunge him into the depths of his own long-repressed pain — and reawaken the possibility of love within him. Nominated for seven Academy Awards, including best picture and best actor for Nolte's soulful performance, The Prince of Tides is a life-affirming tale of healing and renewal from a triple-threat filmmaker with a keen and humane insight into her characters’ sorrows, joys, and yearnings.

132 minutes

Color
2.0 Surround
1:85:1 aspect ratio

Criterion Release 2020

Director/Writers

Based on the novel by Pat Conroy.

Screenplay by Conroy and Becky Johnston.

Barbra Streisand was 49 when she directed The Prince of Tides.

The Film

Barbra, Barbra, Barbra …

POSITIVES:

• She’s a brilliant director. The film is stitched together like a multi-colored quilt, without any dull spots to slow the plot down (you can tell by the deleted scenes she cut!);
• She put her trust in Nick Nolte (Tom Wingo), who allowed himself to be exposed right down to the bare bones of Conroy’s character;
• Lighting and set and production design. Apparently, she had some misogynistic problems in these areas — and it seems that she ultimately got her own way. Good. Check out the key light on the space between the two leads’ lips when they’re kissing in the standing-up scene!
• All the casting was perfect, Blythe Danner (Sally), Kate Nelligan (Lila) — who bravely allowed herself to be made up to the point that Streisand nicknamed her “Methusalah” (and wisely pulled it back);
• Jeroen Krabbé, George Carlin, her own son, Jason Gould (brilliant choice!) — and all the kids, perfect casting;
• Music faking. Both Krabbé and Gould have to do it — Gould is more convincing, fingering a difficult Fritz Kreisler piece in Grand Central Station;
• In one the film’s funniest scenes, Krabbé has to fake a complex Pinchas Zuckerman arrrangement of Dixie, in an attempt to embarrass Tom. Streisand hides the fingerboard action well and lets the Dutch actor get right in Nolte’s face. He will pay for Tom’s humiliation!
• Her brave decision to face down the studio’s effort to get her to sing a song over the end credits. It’s in the extras [see below] and would have absolutely ruined the film. The suits must have burned up their adding machines trying to determine how much money they’d lose from not having that song to sell … and
• Most of all, her studied effort to transform a thick book into a two-hour film, turning major characters from the book (Luke) into minor ones, but with just enough delineation to make them memorable.

NEGATIVES:

• That score. Are you kidding me? Initially offered to John Barry (who ultimately bowed out because Streisand would have been constantly looking over his shoulder), the job fell to James Newton Howard, a fine composer, but grossly misused here. If the schmaltz-level was any higher, we’d all be drowning in chicken soup;
• Screenwriting telegraphing. She’s not the only capable director to mistrust her audience. Please, more subtle elision;
• The deep dive into psychotherapy. Some people swear by it. Even Bill Clinton, who stole her line:
• “I feel your pain.”

Film Rating (0-60):

54

The Extras

The Booklet

Twelve-page wraparound featuring an essay by film historian Bruce Eder.

“Streisand saw The Prince of Tides as a bolder screen work, one that could draw audiences quickly, and in large numbers. Her passion and confidence in the project confounded the Hollywood conventional wisdom. In the midst of a spate of brat-pack frolics and violent-comic buddy movies, Streisand was championing a philosophical motion picture whose plot hinged on a man confronting childhood trauma and abuse at the hands of adults. The box-office figures indicated that America was limiting its diet to denial and fantasy, but Streisand aimed to make a film that would cut through all that, a film that confronted reality and sought (as her character, Dr. Susan Lowenstein, does) to heal the psychic wounds we so often prefer to repress.”

Commentary

Featuring Streisand, recorded in 1991 and updated in 2019.

Great commentary, lots of good behind-the-scenes details.

Making-of featurette

Unnecessary once you’ve watched the commentary.

Excerpt

From a 2018 interview with Streisand, conducted by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez on El Rey Network’s The Director’s Chair.

Rodriguez reacts with astonishment when Streisand details the macho crap she had to put up from the men in her crew. She should have fired several of them on the spot, but worried about the negative press. You can’t win for losing …

Audition and rehearsal footage

Great footage of the kids. They were awfully stiff in these tests, and it is amazing to see how she warmed them up for their ultimate performances …

Deleted scenes and alternate takes

See my comments above … she knew how to pace her film and wasn’t afraid to slice and dice her own shots — always a good sign …

Costume and makeup tests

Again, showing good taste in color coordination and how a makeup design (“Methusalah”) can just go over-the-top …

Alternate end credits

With a vocal performance by Streisand.

Thank God she cut it.

Behind-the-scenes footage

Gag reel

Wish there was more.

Production stills gallery

And other archival materials.

Interview 1

With author Conroy from a 1992 episode of Cinema Showcase with Jim Whaley.

Interview 2

With Streisand from a 1992 episode of the British television show Aspel & Company with Michael Aspel.

Good interview She didn’t know what the word “foray” meant.

Notes

From Conroy to Streisand.

Cutesy fan-boy material.

Trailers 

Extras Rating (0-40):

35

54 + 35 =

89

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