"The Main Event" (1979)

This is all I have to say on the posted topic.

caca movie

That might be her worst film — even worse than All Night Long. Whatever chemistry Streisand and O’Neal had in What’s Up, Doc? had vanished by this film.

Really What's Up, Doc? is her only good movie. That's mostly because of the supporting cast.

O'Neal is a lot hotter though.

The perm. I just can't.

I didn't like any of her movies.

The song was good.

It’s too bad Ryan O’Neal was such a piece of shit, because he sure was hot.

Seriously. During his time he was just about the most hated person in Hollywood. Never stopped working though.

All Night Long was the best performance Streisand had given in years.

ALL NIGHT LONG is unwatchable. Absolutely horrible.

R12 be that as it may, Streisand is relaxed, likable and the most un-actressy she'd been in a long time.

"My fighter is not going in any am-BUHL-lance!"

Maybe it’s my gayness but boxing is a complete bore to me. Even with Streisand, O’Neal and a disco theme song I barely made it through this one

For some reason I saw this movie twice at the theater when I was like 12. I think my mother wanted me out of the house a lot that summer.

Did William Wyler direct this?

Another one of Barbarism’s terrible movies.

I had the 45 single when I was a kid - loved the song. Can't remember much about the movie.

I also saw this stinker twice.

I saw this like 3 or 4x in the cinema that summer - probably paid once and snuck in a number of other times. I was like 11 or 12. I had the cassette of the soundtrack as well, which even I knew was pretty bad.

While I had eventually seen A Star Is Born in the cinema - about 6 months after its release - this was like the first Barbra film I could go to the cinema on my own and see, like when I was fully aware of her and not just watching her on tv.

Even I knew it wasn’t a great movie. But Barbra should’ve done more comedies. She was hilarious.

This movie was pretty bad when I saw it in the theater in 1979. I'm sure 45 years hasn't improved the tacky cartoonishness of "The Main Event."

Hard to believe Jane Fonda had The China Syndrome and Meryl had Kramer v. Kramer in the same year as this piece of shit,

I think they should've stuck with Goldie Hawn - she had success with 'Foul Play' just a couple of years earlier. It's funny that in WUD Streisand and O'Neal had great chemistry together - in TME they hardly have any.

After this, maybe we'll have a break from the work of the Streisanders for a little while.

Watch for Roslyn Kind in the aerobics class.

Fight! Fight! Fight!!

[quote]Upon release, the movie received mostly negative reviews from critics, but audiences couldn't wait to see the film.

This is because she was a huge STAR, who could open a movie on her name alone. Remember those?

Extra.. Extra.. I'm in love...

I'd kill to have the boxing glove to live in.

[quote]Watch for Roslyn Kind in the aerobics class

Why though?

Ugh god that aerobics sequence in the opening credits. Gratuitous shots of Babs showing off her ass in those tights. Yuck

I actually liked this movie when I saw it in high school.

Patti D'Arbanville practically steals the show as O'Neal's chain smoking, coughing, trashy girlfriend who threatens to cut Streisand's tits off.

Doesn't Barbra talk about Howard Zieff in her book? How he ate lunch alone and scoffed when she said the sound guy had a good idea for the film's end.

I liked the scene where she first goes to the gym and the big, hot, naked black guy walks out. He had a fine ass.

How many times did Goldie Hawn make a film with a similar plot - a wealthy woman loses her money.

Barbara may have been a big star then, but when you watch her films now you are hard pressed to understand why. She was ugly, grating and a poor actress.

I can't imagine Diana Ross in this comedy. She was a good dramatic actress - but comedy ?

Not even Grady could save this shit.

During the '70s, Streisand was the kind of star that audiences flocked to see, no matter what. But starting with A Star is Born, Bab's vehicles became more and more vanity movies... The Main Event was one of the worst. Once was enough for me. Same with The Mirror Has Had Two Face Lifts.

This was when Ryan‘s dick was literally on fire 🔥

I remember the NY times review singled out Patti D'Arbanville's performance and lamented that she wasn't given more screen time. But Babs probably didn't want another Madeline Kahn situation on her hands.

I would have loved to seen Diana tackle this role. I always thought Diana was the much better actress, while Barbra had the superior voice.

This was the first movie I was permitted to see at the theatre without my parents. I was 8. I was, however, accompanied by my five years older cousin. I actually liked it, but I'm not sure why.

Shit movie

Stop the babs stan

I remember when the single came out, there was a story going around about songwriter Paul Jabara who had just won an Oscar a few months earlier for 'Last Dance' recorded by Donna Summer. He said Streisand just wanted to record the love ballad 'The Main Event' and release it as a single. He insisted they needed to capitalize on the disco craze and club scene, and wanted to include "Fight" - but she felt uncomfortable singing disco. She recommended he ask Donna Summer to record "Fight" as a separate track, and include it on the soundtrack (which had many songs by different artists) and release it as the second single. He apparently called Summer and asked her to record it - but she was too busy on her 'Bad Girls' tour to take time off. She told Jabara that Streisand needed to sing it and have a hit with it. Somehow, he convinced Streisand to record it (and she still was able to record 'The Main Event' as a ballad, which closes out the album). This is when he got the idea to pair Streisand and Summer together for a duet. The rest is history.

[quote]It opened in Los Angeles and Times Square to sold out box-offices before opening in wide release a few days later.

Don't know about LA but "The Main Event" opened on June 22, 1979 all over New York at the same time. No special Times Square opening.

The only live recording of the theme song.

R25 Why ?

[quote]After this, maybe we'll have a break from the work of the Streisanders for a little while.

It's OK R25, we are here for you. When the coast is clear, please tell us who has you tied up and forcing you to read Streisand threads. We will get you help to you.

Barbra is dressed very attractively by Ruth Myers.

For Pete's Sake, and Barbra's performance in it, is so underrated. It only got a lukewarm reception, but it's far funnier than most of the comedies today.

Barbra really squandered so many amazing movie offers and only has a small handful of good movies to get credit.

It's not like she was a huge touring artist either and never bothered to tackle Broadway again after her initial splash.

Not like she writes her own songs, all she had to do was go to the studio to record.

Did not nearly have the charm of What's Up Doc.

Of course, no Madelaine Kahn, so it couldn't possibly.

I think I only saw this on TV well after it had its theatrical release. I enjoyed it though, loved the title song and Ryan O'Neal all sweaty in boxing trunks.

I’m glad I fund her red fro repulsive

Some behind the scenes footage in L.A.

How could Goldie Hawn be dropped if she was only considered?

There are only 3 Streisand movies that I like: Funny Girl, What’s Up Doc?, and The Way We Were. The rest are forgettable.

Shelley Long should have done this and Barbra should have done Irreconcilable Differences.

R51, I hope you’re kidding.

To bad she balked at the sequel: For Fuck's Sake.

Pubic hairstyles turn me OFF!

I was 10 when this came out and I had just come back from NYC visiting relatives (a separate vacation from my parents). The afternoon before I flew home, I had seen a syndicated special about the making of The Amityville Horror and it scared the shit out of me and I vowed I would not see it.

The next weekend, on a Friday night, my parents and I went to see The Main Event and when we arrived at the theater, we found out that the air conditioner in the auditorium was broken, so my parents decided not to go. We drove around for a while, trying to figure out what to do, and one of my parents had the bright idea to go to the late show of The Amityville Horror (on opening night) at a different theater. I begged them not to take me, but they wouldn't listen. We stood in line for an hour for the sold out late show and the movie scared me shitless and I screamed a few times. My father was annoyed at me for making a scene (everyone was screaming) and I'm sure he was looking at me and thinking- what a little fag.

We finally went back to see The Main Event a week or so later and I remember him making some kind of comment to me like "This is more your speed."

He was an asshole.

Well he was right.

R51 "Oh, my God! They got Pete!"

I love the theme song.

A fun hate-watch.

Why did Babs say yes to so much shite and turn down clearly superior offers? Didn't she want to be a star?

R56 I like the hot shirtless production crew guy toward the end of that film.

R57 She was dropped from consideration, and that was the end of her possibly starring in the movie. Are you dense ?

I really feel like this film should have taken more advantage of Barbra's sex appeal and have her wear those short shorts with her butt cheeks peaking out like she did for the Superman album cover. People would have loved it!

What people?

I hope the OP will be giving us an opportunity to reflect on other great Ryan O'Neal films like Oliver's Story, So Fine, and my favorite-a great companion piece to Cruising-1982's Partners.

[quote]There are only 3 Streisand movies that I like: Funny Girl, What’s Up Doc?, and The Way We Were. The rest are forgettable.

For Pete's Sake.

I think I’ll watch it for the 70s nostalgia.

[quote] Barbra really squandered so many amazing movie offers and only has a small handful of good movies to get credit. It's not like she was a huge touring artist either and never bothered to tackle Broadway again after her initial splash.

She states in book more than once she is lazy. She doesn't have that drive that some entertainers have that compels them to be constantly working, striving to be on top. She has been so incredibly successful in what she decided to do she has the luxury of doing what she wants, and working when she wants to. And that's with giving millions away to charity too.

[quote]My father was annoyed at me for making a scene (everyone was screaming) and I'm sure he was looking at me and thinking- what a little fag. We finally went back to see The Main Event a week or so later and I remember him making some kind of comment to me like "This is more your speed."

Well, just think you saw two movies in two weeks starring the future Mr & Mrs. James Brolin, a gay double feature!

[quote] Well, just think you saw two movies in two weeks starring the future Mr & Mrs. James Brolin, a gay double feature!

Ha! I never put that together. Love it.

[quote]I hope the OP will be giving us an opportunity to reflect on other great Ryan O'Neal films like Oliver's Story, So Fine, and my favorite-a great companion piece to Cruising-1982's Partners.

Why wait ? Why don't you start a thread and give us the opportunity to reflect on other great O'Neal films ? You seem capable of posting.

“to bad”

OH FUCKING DEAR

R68, you Imbecile, she was a STAR before she was in movies. The question is, why in movies did Barbra Streisand settle for so much mediocrity?

The full verson of the main event/fight

R68 she turned down other superior offers because she wouldn’t be able to control every aspect of them. It’s that simple

It's catch 22. She would have made more movies if she didn't have the recording contract obligation. But then she wouldn't have got into movies without being a recording star.

Yeah, sure, R85. I’m with R83.wonder is Barbra recognizes this and talks to her therapist about it.

She apparently turned down 'Julia' when she was offered the movie.

Keep in mind, she has never co-starred with another female star. All her co-stars have been men.

I saw this in elementary school and loved it. I haven't seen it since then so I might not appreciate it am much now.

I had the 45 when I was a kid, but didn’t have any desire to see the movie, and my parents probably wouldn’t have taken me anyway. My dad did take me to another cheesy movie from around this time that I was dying to see: Love at First Bite. Loved that when I was a kid, but now I think it was probably awful.

What's the one with the assless jeans?

So Fine.

I saw Love at First Bite again about 8 years ago during a Halloween marathon in LA and it actually held up pretty well. It's not high art, but it was a lot of fun.

interview with Gail Parent.

Is she bragging about it or apologizing?

Interesting tidbit I found...

When Franco Zeffirelli was getting ready to direct 1979's "The Champ", he had told Ryan O'Neal and his son Griffin that they were going to be the stars of the film. O'Neal worked out hard for the role to get in shape to be a boxer. When the film was ready to go into production, O'Neal got a call from the director and was told he and his son were out of the picture. He didn't think Griffin was 'right for the role'. He later said he never forgave the director for dropping him from the movie.

In the meantime, when the movie was presented to Diana Ross, MGM thought it would be great to pair her with Burt Reynolds as the boxer. When they found out her (then) boyfriend O'Neal was available, they dropped Reynolds and went with O'Neal (whom they wanted to star with Ross in 'The Bodyguard'). The couple had an acrimonious break-up before production started and the film went into turn-around at the studio (Ross eventually left the project).

I'm convinced she wasn't interested in Julia because of comparisons to Hellman's schnozz.

I have to laugh at Gail's line to Barbra which she said she got from Joan Rivers.

Barbra: We can't afford you.

Gail: The jewelry you're wearing on the beach alone could pay for it.

Ryan O'Neal's driving student is Kristine DeBell the star of "Alice in Wonderland" the X-rated musical.

If you look at Barbra's filmography, she really hasn't made that many movies. And most of them weren't very good. More than a few big stars, especially from that era, preferred to make junk movies where they did their shtick and everyone involved kowtowed to them. Rather than doing something challenging. Sinatra and his Rat Pack movies. Reynolds and his southern rat pack movies. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's post-Virginia Woolf movies. Brando walked thru a lot of '60s movies for the pay check...

Very observant, R98. Which begs the question, did Streisand EVER consider herself a serious actress as she always claimed?

R58 has spoken.

R86 I can't imagine Barbra in "Julia."

R51 ITA; no idea why this isn't a bigger hit.

Great supporting cast.

Great chemistry with Michael Sarazzin (sp?)

The bit at the end with the ring? ALL THE FEELS.

R81 calm down, Tits McGee. I know she made a big splash and became a star very soon. However, a star may be born but does not remain so forever, when they refuse good offers and accept shite. She must have been subconsciously trying to destroy her legacy as she never felt worthy

For Pete's Sake opening.

If you love it, you love it.

You don't, you don't.

Nothing to get upset about...for Pete's Sake.

I wonder if Barbara would have worked more if she really had confidence as an actress or director. I don’t think she did.

Barbara worked as much as she wanted. She made a ton of money through recording and cherry picked whatever role she fancied. I think Funny Lady was an obligation to the studio and she didn't want to make it and it shows onscreen.

Barbra was also sought for films she would have been ridiculous in. Julia? The Exorcist? She was the biggest star on the planet and producers thought they could plug her into any role and it would work. As many shitty films as she did throughout her career, she also seemed to know when the role was totally wrong for her.

Until Nuts.

Barbra and Goldie were asked to do Big Business, but they declined. Harvey Weinstein also begged her to do Chicago with Goldie, but she didn't think she could do the dancing required.

This movie was filmed during her ASS phase. Jon Peters told her she had a great ass so we got that along with a bad perm.

R108 I could actually see Barbra doing the Bette Midler role in "Big Business," but I absolutely can't picture her in "Chicago" in any role.

She refused Klute

She refused Klute

She didn't have the acting chops for Klute. No snot-crying for our Babs!

Bree Daniels - Left Side Only

Nothing wrong with left side only

She couldn’t R108.

I can’t see her doing Big Business or any comedy that didn’t require endless fake mugging and stupidity

"Babs showing off her ass in those tights. Yuck"

She was quoted as saying Jon Peters thought her butt was her best asset. Did she not detect the shade in that compliment?

If you listen to her bio, she resents Jon and all his manipulation. I especially like that he considered starring in A Star is Born with her.

For me the script goes downhill when it presents Hillary as dumb, yelling boxing moves from a book to The Kid from outside the ring. She's smart enough to run a company so give her some credit.

I remember one critic said Ryan comes off marginally better than Barbra because his yelling and screaming is less abrasive than hers.

She was first choice for Grease. Fortunately she passed and it went to Olivia. Could you imagine what she would have looked like in those leather pants?

R118, starring and DIRECTING A Star is Born. Streisand confirmed it in a Barbara Walters Today Show interview in 1975. Despite what she says in her book, Babs bought Jon Peters act all the way.

[quote]I think Funny Lady was an obligation to the studio and she didn't want to make it and it shows onscreen.

No, it was an obligation to Ray Stark. This was the third and last movie she did for him. After production, she gave Stark a mirror - written on it in lipstick were the words "Paid in full."

R121 - Not true at all. Susan Dey and David Cassidy were the first two actors considered for the movie. Cassidy wanted no part of it so Dey withdrew her name. Travolta was then cast, and he told Stigwood he only wanted to work with Olivia Newton-John.

Streisand did show interest in a film about a 1920s feminist titled 'Fancy Hardware'. Travolta was to costar with her when the movie was proposed after he finished 'Saturday Night Fever'. However, the project was dropped when he took 'Grease'.

She’s annoying AF in this. How she became the biggest box office female draw in the 70’s is stupefying

R123, most people realize the Grease comment was a JOKE.

Streisand was offered the role of the mermaid in the Tom Hanks comedy "Splash", but never knew she got the offer. Her agent Sue Mengers never forwarded the offer to her, thinking it was a stupid movie. Streisand was pissed off when she found out about it (when the movie was filming with Darryl Hannah) and that is when she dropped Mengers for good.

Streisand was also interested in remaking 'The Merry Widow' when Dino DeLaurentis Franco Zeffirelli were involved , but the project never materialized (she was interested in doing it a decade earlier, with Ingmar Berman, which also never got off the ground).

And finally, she and Jon Peters were interested in producing a remake of the film 'The Women' which was to star Streisand, Faye Dunaway and Raquel Welch. However, that never became a reality and she turned to The Main Event.

R125 You fail at jokes, as you do everything else in life.

#123, John instead chose the erotic May-December romance, "Moment By Moment".

“Wrongly despised”, eh, New Yorker? Puh-leez.

R127 is the only failure here

R127, are you our resident comedian, charlie? I’m not the one who posted the Grease joke that hurt you so deeply. I only commented because you see so confused.

R131 I see so confused ?

What does that mean ?

[quote]As many shitty films as she did throughout her career, she also seemed to know when the role was totally wrong for her....Until Nuts.

None of her movies are really shitty. Some of you Divas have never seen a real bad movie. I've seen a lot of her movies in a theatre and audiences enjoyed them. And the "Nuts" bashing is tiresome. She was terrific in it, in fact everyone was and Maureen Stapleton deserved a nomination. Some queens think she wasn't beautiful enough to be a high price call girl. News Flash, hookers on Hollywood Blvd don't look like Julia Roberts.

R133 I like Barbra as an actress, but even I cringed throughout "Nuts," and it had nothing to do with her physical appearance.

Her performance was all over the place. At times, she played the role as a complete lunatic completely untethered to reality, then suddenly, she'd be a wise sage, completely in control and articulate.

Martin Ritt must have gone nuts (pun intended) trying to rein in her performance.

[quote] I've seen a lot of her movies in a theatre and audiences enjoyed them.

As I recall, audiences in the theater loved the Herbie the Lovebug movies as well.

R133, a movie theater is spelled "theater," (in the US). A legitimate stage can be called "theatre."

Fuck you, R135!

Warner Brothers produced an animated short called The Duxorcist in 1987, made exlusively to be shown before the start of "Nuts" in cinemas.

I was able to see Myra Breckinridge in the theater, all three people there LOVED IT.

"At least my blow jobs are sane!"

This is back after she crimped her hair and went down the Stony End.

[quote]a movie theater is spelled "theater," (in the US). A legitimate stage can be called "theatre."

News Flash...United Artists at one time was the largest American movie chain and was called United Artists THEATRES. I know because I worked for them, just google the logo.

Barbra Streisand never made a movie for United Artists, R141.

R140

Still pissed that Babs gave you the cold shoulder when you tried to kiss her ass, Miss Bernhard?

I'm not really Sandra Bernhard, r143, nor did I pretend to be.

Actually I am someone else who was just quoting a famous line of hers.

I hope this clears up the confusion.

The thing that pisses me off is both Nuts and The Prince of Tides could have been great movies with a proper lead. Instead Nuts is just horrible and Prince of Tides comes off as a Lifetime movie.

She ruined them herself.

She always made herself the most attractive women ever in her movies...um Babs..........

R147 The most cringeworthy moment in "The Mirror Has Two Faces" was when Babs' character was giving a lecture to her class after she had turned from the ugly duckling into the swan, and she says to one of the male students who is so taken with her beauty that he can't seem to concentrate, "Yes, I have breasts."

Good God, Babs.

I love in NUTS when the Richard Dreyfuss character stumbles upon professionally done cheesecake photos of Barbra in her apartment. Had nothing to do with the plot, but just an excuse for Barbra to once again show off her ass and legs.

And wasn't her character the highest priced call girl in ALL of NYC? Like come on.

[quote]he most cringeworthy moment in "The Mirror Has Two Faces" was when Babs' character was giving a lecture to her class after she had turned from the ugly duckling into the swan, and she says to one of the male students who is so taken with her beauty that he can't seem to concentrate, "Yes, I have breasts." Good God, Babs.

She didn't write it, Dear. Two French men did.

R150 Puhleez. You think she didn't have them add that to the script? Babs the control freak?

Speaking of The Mirror Has Two Faces, isn’t that the movie where Barbra introduces her D breast implants?

Here's a picture of them:

In her book she acknowledges turning down Klute and others but in each case the directors had not yet been attached to the films- which is why she turned them down.

Also, she’s got a non stop recording career going on too.

Also, 3 films she wanted very much to direct for various reasons fell apart in production. In her book she makes clear that these failures were very hard on her- although she turned to concerts.

Her memoir really is a fascinating look at the business of show!

^ MARY!

R153 Babs was using Kari Lake filters years before Kari Lake was.

R152 Yes. Once again, as I said in the movie, I have breasts. Look at them. Love them.

could you imagine getting finger banged by Karl Malden when little?

Has there ever been a superstar who has shown less gratitude than Barbra?

Sounds like you could, R158.

R159. Stop. Get a life.

I get four-hundred dollars for a straight lay, three-hundred for a hand job, and five-hundred for head.

R161, If it’s nothing like yours, I’m in

[quote]What people?

People who need people.

Her worst movie. Not funny, not sexy, ugly to look at.

This film needs a reboot with Billie Eilish and Austin Butler!

Sorry we need a blactress if it's going to get a reboot. Plus you should say reimagining. Boot is trigerring It's slave language. The boot on the throat of black men. Ever hear of it? Use better words.

The reimagining can star Will Smith and his beard Jada. Chris Rock can play Will Smith's opponent in the ring. It can be called: "The Main Event : Keep My Beard's Name Out Your Fuckin' Mouth".

R153 wow, is that really Barbara Streisand in that pic?

I’ve never seen her looking like that before, she is just jaw droppingly beautiful. She must have had a makeover or something. Stunning, just stunning.

^ her plastic surgeon