>> Barbra Streisand Archives | Putting It Together (1986)

Broadcast January 11, 1986 on HBO
Produced by: Joni Rosen
Edited by: Tom McQuade
Executive Producer: Barbra Streisand
Director of Photography: Andrzei Bartowiak
Documentary Footage Produced by: Jerry Kramer & Associates

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A Sleepin' Bee (Jack Paar Show - excerpt) • Something's Coming • Putting It Together • Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine* • If I Loved You • Send in the Clowns* • Somewhere (music video)

...Only about a half-dozen numbers from her new album, which does indeed contain some of the best singing she has done in years, are included in this film. Stephen Sondheim's ''Putting It Together,'' from ''Sunday in the Park With George,'' gets the most attention, evidently because it gave the star an opportunity to ''direct'' some supporting players, including Sydney Pollack, the film director, and David Geffen, the recording producer. Also highlighted is her music-video rendition of Mr. Sondheim's ''Somewhere,'' directed by William Friedkin. Both the music video and this ''documentary'' were made in association with CBS Music Video Enterprises, an affiliate of Miss Streisand's record producer.

The HBO special, produced by Joni Rosen and edited by Tom McQuade for Barwood Films, opens with family-album photographs bringing the star-to-be from childhood to the brink of fame. A black-and-white kinescope briefly shows her singing ''When a Bee Lies Sleeping'' on the Jack Paar show. Then, between studio recording sessions, Miss Streisand, magnificently lighted, sits in a row of theater seats, being interviewed by Mr. Friedkin. Among other things, she explains how ''I love to use the truth'' and how ''art is a living process.''

She does have a few kind words to say about another superstar, Stevie Wonder (''What a musician, and a lovely person''), who was kind enough to play a bit of harmonica on her ''Can't Help Lovin' That Man'' track ...

Barbra returned to HBO in 1986 in a special which combined an interview with director William Friedkin with documentary footage of Barbra in the recording studio making The Broadway Album. At only 40 minutes long, "Putting It Together: The Making of The Broadway Album" was a slight, but welcomed addition to Streisand's collection of television specials.

With Friedkin and Streisand sitting in theater seats (lovingly photographed by Andrzei Bartowiak) and talking about the album, the special intercut documentary footage of Barbra and her collaborators Peter Matz, Sydney Pollack, David Geffen, Ken Sylk, Stephen Sondheim, and boyfriend Richard Baskin.

Fans were treated to a career-length montage of clips in the opening song, "Something's Coming". It was the first time "Belle of 14th" and "Musical Instruments" had been shown in years. Fans got a glipse of these rare specials.

Included in whole was the Friedkin-directed music video of "Somewhere". The special is also notable for its alternate, jazzy version of "Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine", although it is only excerpted. Additional "voices" can be heard during "Putting It Together" as well.

The special is out of print, but can still be found online at ebay, half.com, and from Amazon Associates. A DVD is due in late 2007.