Dolly's age

I'm not a fan of "hello, dolly." yet one of the few aspects of it that I admire is the genuine chemistry between Barbra Streisand and walter Matthau. yes, the chemistry between Barbra Streisand and walter Matthau. people who see the film generally don't notice this and don't pick up on it. Streisand and Matthau are two all-time comedic professionals. they really transcend chronological age. there is a twenty-two year age difference between the two of them, yet they actually "make sense" as a romantic couple. what is more, skilled professionals that they are, Matthau plays his role "younger" while Streisand plays her character as older than she really was at the time. Matthau was in his late forties when the film was released, yet he is (just barely) convincing as a man in his early forties or even late thirties. (the makeup and hair dye help.) Streisand was twenty-seven at the time, yet she is easily convincing as a woman in her forties. the woman has talent. give her credit. she was able to portray a woman who was older, more sophisticated, and more experienced than she herself was at the time. it's called ACTING, and Streisand certainly can do it........

Jonathan Becker