Streisand / Movies

Barbra's “Cycle Sluts” Photos

Streisand posed for a series of photos for Cycle Sluts ... a movie that her character Doris made. Photographer Steve Schapiro took these photos, and it looks like everybody had a good time. Click on the photos to see bigger versions.

• Directed by: Elliot Geisinger, Ronald Saland
• Written by: Jay Anson
• Photographed by: Marcel Broekman
• Edited by: Hortense Beveridge
• Produced by: Professional Films Inc. for Columbia Pictures

Did you know that Columbia Pictures has altered the home video versions of The Owl And The Pussycat?

“Fuck” is a word that took many years to make it onscreen.  Robert Altman’s movie, M.A.S.H., had one of its characters uttering the obscenity. And the word was also used in Easy Rider (1969).

Streisand has the distinction of being 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. 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. The complete, unedited scene only appears on videocassettes and the laser disc release. All of Owl’s DVD and streaming releases have the edited version. 

The problem here is that it’s an edit without logic or artistry; it was made to censor the bad word.

In the unedited, original version, Doris approaches the men who are catcalling her. “I beg your pardon, boys,” Doris says, “but you are intruding on my privacy, and I would appreciate it very much, if you don’t mind if you would just fuck off.”

After this insult, Doris and Felix run away from the kids, who are enraged by Doris.

In the edited version, Doris confronts the kids but only says “you are intruding on my privacy.” The film then cuts to Doris walking away (without the cuss word), and then she and Felix start running .... for no reason!  The edit makes no sense. The ensuing pursuit by the kids also has no logic because Doris never said anything bad to upset them.

And (one last point!), the edit compromises Buck Henry’s funny script.  Before the expletive, Felix and Doris discuss how speaking with appropriate, cultured words is much more civilized and direct.  But Doris proves that sometimes street vernacular is just as effective. This joke is completely lost when “fuck” is removed.

The big question is this:  Does Columbia possess a negative of the film without the edit? Will they scan that negative as an archival copy so that future generations can see the movie unedited?  And, finally, will they please release that version on Blu-ray for the fans that want it ?

I honestly believe that whoever is in charge of catalog films at Columbia probably doesn't even know that DVDs and TV showings of this film are all being struck from this badly edited version of the film.

It’s 2021 .... let’s fix this!