It makes a particular mess of the McCarthy witchhunt sequence and never overcomes the fundamental problem that Barbra Streisand's character, a radical Jewish student who joins every political organisation there is, is profoundly irritating.

Redford, who begins the film as a handsome college student intent on becoming a writer, and ends it as a handsome sell-out writing scripts for cheap television shows, is politically neutral and, as a character, infinitely more appealing than Streisand's bluestocking girl.

Redford and Streisand first meet, briefly, at a dance.

There is an attraction, but Streisand is the butt of jokes (what a surprise) from Redford's snobbish friends, so possible romance is put on the back burner. Years pass, World War II begins, and they meet again. But Redford, now in the armed forces, is drunk, so she takes him back to her apartment where he passes out on her bed. And so on and so forth, through three decades, until they marry and have a baby. This is the romantic half of the film.

The political half dwells on Redford's tanglings with the House Un-American Activities Committee. Much of this footage was cut by director Sydney Pollack after filming had been completed.

The wildly uneven and frenetic comedy Cadillac Man (World, 2.05am) tests the mettle of even the staunchest Robin Williams fans.

Like its star, the film is infuriating at times, then almost redeemed by the occasional good moment.

Clint Eastwood had seemingly forgotten how to direct entertaining films when he directed The Rookie (World, 9.35pm). Even by the conventions of the buddy pic genre, this is nothing more than a cliche-ridden slog through all-too-familiar territory.

Eastwood is the ageing cop who chews cigars for breakfast and teaches his new, young, rich-kid partner (Charlie Sheen) how to be a hero.

The faithful are duly rewarded with at least one good freeway pileup and the teaming of Raul Julia and Sonia Braga as unpleasant Germans.

Stick with it for the particularly silly scene when Braga bondage-rapes Clint (she must have seen Tightrope).

In Bambino Mio (Pearl, 1.15am), a BBC drama never before seen in Hong Kong, Julie Walters goes to El Salvador to adopt a baby. George Carraface, who played Columbus in the film Christopher Columbus, co-stars. Brits might recognise John McArdle, who for four years was Billy Corkhill in Brookside.

Films on Cable Movie Channel: Francois Truffaut: Portraits Voles (1am). Documentary film of the great director at work on films spanning three decades, from The Four Hundred Blows in 1959, to The Little Thief in 1989, which was completed by assistant Claude Miller after Truffaut's death.