Except possibly for the slapstick comedy FOR PETE'S SAKE, ALL NIGHT LONG is most likely the most obscure title in Barbara Streisand's career. It is hard, at first, to understand this. She is starring opposite Gene Hackman, and Dennis Quaid is in the cast (as is Diane Ladd, Kenneth Dobson - from Telly Savalas' KOJAC series, and the always droll and dependable William Daniels). But it is the character she is playing. Some of the writers on this thread have pointed out that her character is not well thought out. Certainly it does require fleshing. But Cheryl Gibbons comes across as a sweet, kindly, but essentially weak woman. The last portion of her character is not usual for Streisand, who usually is intelligent and strong in determination. Think of her trying to play opposite Robert Redford in THE WAY THEY WERE where she is not a fiery liberal and libertarian, but a mousy type. Redford's Hubble would probably not have been interested in her, but if he developed an interest he would have found her a perfect mate because she would never have tried to be his constant conscience.
Here she is a sweet rag doll, first married to Dobson (who is somewhat abusive - more could have been developed there), then playing around with Quaid, and finally ending up with Hackman (who needs such an agreeable woman as his mate - he needs someone who will support and believe in him, not like the critical Ladd). To add to the character switch, Streisand is given blond hair in this film (the only time that happened). It is as though the production was determined to present Streisand as a totally different actress. And it succeeds.
As an interesting exception to the rule of her films ALL NIGHT LONG is worth watching. It gave some nice moments for Hackman and certainly showed Dobson in a good negative part. But for all the good work from the cast, it is a decidedly minor film. I rank it a "7" because of the production, cast, and unusual situation for Streisand.
Here she is a sweet rag doll, first married to Dobson (who is somewhat abusive - more could have been developed there), then playing around with Quaid, and finally ending up with Hackman (who needs such an agreeable woman as his mate - he needs someone who will support and believe in him, not like the critical Ladd). To add to the character switch, Streisand is given blond hair in this film (the only time that happened). It is as though the production was determined to present Streisand as a totally different actress. And it succeeds.
As an interesting exception to the rule of her films ALL NIGHT LONG is worth watching. It gave some nice moments for Hackman and certainly showed Dobson in a good negative part. But for all the good work from the cast, it is a decidedly minor film. I rank it a "7" because of the production, cast, and unusual situation for Streisand.