Michael Crawford’s Time with Barbra Streisand: A Dance to Remember
Michael Crawford, the beloved actor, will never forget the day he danced with Barbra Streisand in the 1969 musical adaptation of Hello, Dolly!. The 77-year-old star reminisced about their playful clashes over choreography during an interview with Closer Weekly, available now on newsstands. “Barbra said to Gene Kelly, ‘He needs to go here. I’ve got to be on that side,’” Crawford revealed. His response? “I haven’t got enough time to get there, and you look just the same on this side.” Barbra, always quick-witted, shot back with, “What a mouth! He looks so innocent.” Despite their differences, Crawford insists she was a joy to work with, and they got along famously.The Pricey Production and Casting Controversies
While the moments of levity were plentiful, the production of Hello, Dolly! wasn’t without its challenges. At the time, it was the most expensive musical ever made. Though no one could match Barbra's rendition of Jerry Herman's 1964 Broadway score, many believed she wasn’t the ideal choice for the role of a middle-aged, widowed matchmaker pursuing Walter Matthau’s “half-millionaire.” Surprisingly, even Barbra agreed. “I did feel that Dolly was the story of older people, and they should hire Elizabeth Taylor to play her,” she admitted. Meanwhile, others were rooting for Carol Channing, the Tony-winning actress who originated the role on Broadway. Yet, Barbra embraced the challenge when others doubted her. “But when everybody seemed against me, I took up the challenge,” she boldly stated.
Winning over dance legend Gene Kelly was a smoother process for Crawford. “Gene got up on a coffee table, did a few steps and invited me to join him. I thought, this is the most exciting thing in my life,” he recalled. Kelly’s approach was simple but effective. “He did four or five steps and asked, ‘Can you do that and count to four? If you can count to four, you can dance.’”
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The Grumpy Walter Matthau Factor
Walter Matthau brought his own set of challenges to the production, reportedly telling Barbra she lacked “the talent of a butterfly’s fart.” Barbra, ever the professional, reportedly gifted him a bar of soap “to wash your mouth out,” and they faked their screen kiss near the end of the film. Dolly historian Richard Skipper attributes the tension to professional rivalry or jealousy. “She asked for a large trailer because her son Jason Gould and nannies were on set, and it was like, ‘Who does she think she is?’ But I think it was all on his end, not on hers,” Skipper explained.Filmmaking Challenges Amid the Heat
The 90-day shoot in 1968, which took place in Garrison, N.Y., was nothing short of brutal. The heat was so intense that the asphalt on the street began to melt, causing dancers to sink into it. The scorching temperatures posed a significant concern for the 14th Street parade number, one of the largest ever filmed at the time. Barbra suggested to Gene that the camera rise at the end to capture the grandeur of the thousands of extras involved. This idea elevated the scene, making it a spectacle to remember.
