The Owl and the Pussycat

PG

Released Nov 3, 1970

1h 38m

Comedy

List

82%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Trying to keep her head above water, New Yorker Doris (Barbra Streisand) accepts money for sexual favors from men who occasionally visit her apartment, a practice that bugs her neighbor, Felix (George Segal), an unsuccessful writer. Felix gets her booted, but when she complains to him, he lets her bunk at his place. Reserved Felix and outlandish Doris have little in common, but as they're forced to spend more time together, their proximity leads to an increasing mutual fondness.

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Written by Buck Henry, based on a stage play by Bill Manhoff and directed by Herbert Ross, The Owl and the Pussycat was a huge romantic comedy hit. It stars Barbara Streisand (who did a nude scene for the film that was cut at her request and then published by High Society; Babs sued) as a prostitute who also has acted in two TV commercials named Doris who finds herself living with Felix, her writer neighbor (George Segal) when she's evicted. Then, they both get evicted when he tries to cure her hiccups. They end up moving in with Barney (Robert Klein), a friend of Felix, but their arguing — followed by lovemaking — leads to Barney and his girlfriend (Marilyn Chambers, credited as Evelyn Lang, two years before she went Behind the Green Door) leaving. Hijinks, as they say, ensue, like the fact that the two can't stop falling in love — and driving each other crazy — and that well, Felix may already have a fiancee. Will these two ever just get along? Hey! Roz Kelly is in this and so is an uncredited Tom Atkins! Interestingly enough, Sidney Poitier was supposed to play opposite Streisand, yet it was decided that audiences weren't ready for an interracial romance. Which is even weirder, because this started on Broadway with Alan Alda and Diana Sands as the principals.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Every movie cliché in the book. Soft hearted hooker meets writer. I never got the appeal of Streisand. She's no way attractive enough to play a hooker. Not believable at all.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

robert p

A great comedy, a writer who's got writers block meets the most brazen lady of the night and after he finally gives in and has sex with her, his writing ability with her at his side makes a place on the top of writers charts.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Segal, as ever, is likeably unlikable, while Babs is just plain unlikeable.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Directed by Herbert Ross comes the story of an author and a call girl in the most unlikely of situations Based on the 1964 play Barbra Streisand is Doris, a struggling actress and George Segal is Felix, an aspiring writer His latest novel just got rejected and he runs into Doris who just needs a break She has nowhere to stay and he decides to let her stick around after they both get evicted He's a pussycat of a sour puss unable to do anything if he can't sleep and she's a night owl not being able to fall sleep so easily Over the course of two nights they find out more about one another in ways they never knew The beginning i admit gets old fast just watching them bicker at one another The rest of the movie is a lot of talking but the two leads are able to carry it all and their characters do become more enduring than obnoxious She learns bigger words and he learns a bigger meaning of vividness Not a film that'll please all the masses but the actors give it their all

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Ever since I first saw a picture of Barbara Streisand in that "iconic" outfit, I've been curious about this movie. Well, my curiosity is fulfilled. I'm going to start off by saying that in general, I love Barbara Streisand. I wouldn't consider myself a huge fan, but maybe a moderate one. I love "The Mirror Has Two Faces" and I really enjoyed "Funny Girl". "Funny Lady" isn't as good, but it was all right. I love her music as well. But this movie... Well, it wasn't really a disappointment since I had no expectations of it, but I didn't expect it to be so bad. For one thing, I had no idea what it was about, but when the beginning of a movie confuses me so much that I have to watch it multiple times, that should have been a 'warning'. And OMG, it seemed like she was screeching the entire movie! Just irritating to no end, and I did turn it off a couple of times but finally I was curious so I fast-forwarded to the end to see how it turned out. Nothing major at all. I kind of wish that there had been a different leading man because I didn't care for him at all. The storyline really made no sense and this whole movie was just a big mess. Apparently, Barbara took legal action to remove a scene of nudity and the "F" word from this movie. I have no idea if that's true, but I think she should have removed herself from it instead. I think I'll go watch one of her other movies (that I actually enjoy) to get this one out of my mind

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

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Herbert Ross

Director

Barbra Streisand

Doris

George Segal

Felix

Robert Klein

Barney

Allen Garfield

Dress Shop Proprietor

Roz Kelly

Eleanor

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 3/5

Sep 16, 2004

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...the new permissiveness also gives Segal and Streisand plenty of chances to shine...

Rated: 3/5

Jun 18, 2021

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Rated: 4/5

Feb 21, 2008

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 2/5

Sep 27, 2005

Full Review

Rebecca Murray

About.com

Rated: 4/5

Jun 24, 2005

Full Review

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan

Sharp dialogue + Streisand & Siegel make this stage-based comedy worthwhile.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 4, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

Trying to keep her head above water, New Yorker Doris (Barbra Streisand) accepts money for sexual favors from men who occasionally visit her apartment, a practice that bugs her neighbor, Felix (George Segal), an unsuccessful writer. Felix gets her booted, but when she complains to him, he lets her bunk at his place. Reserved Felix and outlandish Doris have little in common, but as they're forced to spend more time together, their proximity leads to an increasing mutual fondness.

Director: Herbert Ross
Screenwriter: Buck Henry, Bill Manhoff
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Rastar Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 3, 1970, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 3, 2020
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Mono

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