On November 29th 1972,  Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand filmed the final scene of the Academy Award-winning film The Way We Were in front of the Plaza Hotel.

The scene is one of the most iconic moments of the film where the lovers paths cross again for a final goodbye.

Starting out as rival college classmates, the two eventually put their differences aside (if only for a moment) to start a life together.  

There’s a gesture Streisand repeats in the film brushing Redford’s strawberry blonde hair from his forehead, that speaks to their tenderness.  Redford’s blue eyes say so much every time she touches him. 

Beneath his smile you understood the internal struggles of the character mainly his fear that he could never live up to the man Katie saw in him. 

Redford had turned down the role twice because he didn’t think the role was strong enough,  but Streisand and director Sydney Pollock eventually won him over and Redford added layers to his character Hubble that gave generations a taste for an unattainable love. 

Redford died in his sleep at the age of 89 in Utah.   His roles included Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, All the President’s Men, The Horse Whisperer, Jeremiah Johnson and many more.

But for many it’s his role in The Way We Were, that comes to mind at the mention of his name.

Because of its prime location overlooking Central Park, The Plaza Hotel is set back from 5th Avenue and is prominently located near Grand Army Plaza and the Pulitzer Memorial fountain.  

This majestic castle in limestone was the film location for both Great Gatsby movies, Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, Home Alone 2,  Plaza Suite,  Oceans 8, American Hustle and many more.  

The hotel originally constructed between 1905 and 1907, was designed by architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, famed for his design of the Dakota apartments,  in the French Renaissance Chateau style, with 800 rooms and luxury residences.