The Owl and the Pussycat is a 1970 American romantic film directed by Herbert Ross from a screenplay by Buck Henry, based on the 1964 play of the same name by Bill Manhoff.

The film follows Doris (Barbra Streisand), a somewhat uneducated actress, model, and part-time prostitute who moves in temporarily with her neighbor Felix (George Segal), an intellectual aspiring writer.

Felix Sherman, a meek book clerk and aspiring novelist, struggles to maintain peace and quiet in his walkup New York City apartment.

The TV-loving Doris becomes upset after Felix reads her an excerpt from his novel, which she vehemently dislikes, and the noise from their argument causes Barney and his girlfriend to leave.

When Felix is feverish, Doris puts him in bed and tells him that she is planning to move to Los Angeles and that she has thought about the excerpt from his novel that he had read to her before and now really likes it.

Kicked out of the townhouse and no longer high, Doris and a frustrated Felix, carrying his typewriter, walk together in Central Park that morning.

Though the race of the characters is not specified in the script of the play, in the original Broadway production (1964–1965), the "Owl" was played by white actor Alan Alda and the "Pussycat" by black actress and singer Diana Sands, and many subsequent productions followed this precedent; the film version omitted the characters' interracial relationship.

[4] The film's soundtrack album features comedy dialogue from Streisand and Segal along with music from the jazz-rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears.

"[9] The Owl and the Pussycat opened at Loew's State II and Cine Theatres in New York City grossing $100,206 for the week, ranking 20th at the US box office.

[12][1] Stanley Kauffmann of The New Republic wrote, "if computers can turn out romantic comedies, the results would be a lot like The Owl and the Pussycat".

[14] Barbra Streisand received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, her 3rd in this category.