Up the Sandbox

Thanks to Irvin Kershner's assured surreal direction, Streisand gives a fine performance in a very unusual 1972 film. Filled with verite style dialogues and intense emotional confrontations amid bizarre fantasy sequences, UP THE SANDBOX is a treat for unaware viewers. Though the film actually espouses a rather conservative agenda, the characters don't go to extremes; they're rather real.

It's easy to see how confused audiences must have been back in the day as the film subtly segues into Sttreisand's dream life. The fertility scene in Kenya actually is one of the worst while the guerilla attack on the Statue of Liberty with the WTC in the background will give you chills.

Overall, a fascinating film with gorgeous cinematography by Gordon Willis. Non-Streisand fans can enjoy this just for the 70's style direction.

This film is one of those 70's efforts that doesn't get any great credence. Any fan of Ally McBeal would surely tip their hats to the blend of imagination and reality. This has some very prophetic moments and still stands up today. It is testament to a time when risks were taken in film making rather than today's option of remakes and rewrites. Top marks for originality and Streisand. Give it a chance. May all your films be winners - AP

This is a top 70's flick and highly underrated. I can imagine that it caused a stir in its release and still puts some viewers off. If David E. Kelley didn't get ideas for Ally McBeal from this, I'll go hee! Wonderful performance by Babs and hits the mark nicely.

This is a film that has been sorely ignored by both Streisand fans and the movie-going public in general. SANDBOX is a comedy/drama that deals with the condition of the neglected housewives of the seventies. Streisand is absolutely wonderful in the lead. If this film had been seen by a wider audience, then you can bet she would have received an Oscar nomination.

Although the frequent fantasy/daydream scenes are somewhat uneven in quality, Streisand's touching and believable performance will keep you glued.

When originally released in 1972, SANDBOX was lost in the shadow of Streisand's blockbuster WHAT'S UP, DOC? (released the same year). >

UP THE SANDBOX deserves to be rediscovered on video. Give it a try.

My score: 8 out of 10.

This is true: I personally reissued this film into cinemas in Australia in 1997. Why? because it is a maligned and neglected minor film from someone you would not expect to produce it. Certainly SANDBOX was "the Barbra Streisand film you never saw" and it attracted more than a few curious ticketbuyers. Not a success at all in 1972 and subsequently forgotten, I felt it to almost be the Manhattan style Woody Allen film Barbra made instead. The fantasy scenes in particular are hilarious and most of the motherhood sadness effective and touching. It is a pity a lot of the Masai tribe fantasy scenes remained on the cutting room floor as they are too brief and hint at a lot more to enjoy. It clearly is a film for young mothers and sold that way works. Most men hate it. They do not even want to get it. Anyway, I staged a preview with newspaper promotions and ticket winners to a screening. It was packed. The film went over quite well (especially the home movie fantasy at the parents house) but became confusing and ended abruptly for this audience. As I walked from the screening I overheard two staggering 80 year old grannies: "Well what'dyathink?" croaked one to the other. The other stopped and looked at her friend: "Ergg..what dya expect for free". Again, SANDBOX got great press reviews but I think I used up most of my public at the preview. It folded after a month. However, now on DVD it is a prize possession of many female friends who have just had their first kid, as Babs had in the early 70s.