Funny Girl (Film)
- Barbra Streisand: Fanny Brice
- Omar Sharif: Nick Arnstein
- Kay Medford: Rose Brice
- Anne Francis: Georgia James
- Walter Pidgeon: Florenz Ziegfeld
- Lee Allen: Eddie Ryan
- Mae Questel: Mrs. Strakosh
- Gerald Mohr: Tom Branca
Funny Girl is an American film musical directed by William Wyler with Barbra Streisand in the lead role from the year 1968.
Action
The film tells the biographical story of the Jewish comedienne Fanny Brice, growing up in the Jewish Quarter of New York's Lower East Side, to be inspired by the idea of a great vaudeville star. However, it is considered ugly duckling, which no great future is predicted. With an iron will, she still manages to be a member of the famous Ziegfeld Follies of Florenz Ziegfeld and ultimately their biggest star. During their ascent they fell in love with the charmer and player Nick Arnstein. The film tells their love story that is as full of ups and downs, as their professional career. The story ends with the divorce of Fanny and Nick. A continuation of the life history was established in 1975 under the title Funny Lady, also with Barbra Streisand in the lead role.
Background
The musical Funny Girl by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill was listed before the film version in 1964 on Broadway. Barbra Streisand already played the role of Fanny Brice here.
The producer of the film, Ray Stark, was the son of the real Fanny Brice.
Reviews
" Neat undemanding musical film adaptation, despite ironical elements rather sentimental entertainment. "
" Hollywood musical with great facilities for a Broadway star of the twenties. Rather routinely and quite nice as kindling, and outstanding only for Barbra Streisand from a similar garment. "
Film Music
Not all the songs from the Broadway musical were incorporated into the film, but some songs were used, which were not written by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill:
- If A Girl Is not Pretty - Fanny, Mrs. Strakosh and Rose
- I'm the Greatest Star - Fanny
- I'd Rather Be Blue Over You - Fanny ( Words and Music by Billy Rose and Fred Fisher)
- Second Hand Rose - Fanny ( text by Grant Clarke, music by James F. Hanley )
- His Love Makes Me Beautiful - Fanny and Ensemble
- People
- You Are Woman, I Am Man - Fanny and Nick
- Do not Rain on My Parade - Fanny
- Sadie, Sadie - Fanny and Nick
- The Swan - Fanny
- Funny Girl - Fanny
- My Man - Fanny (text and music. I. Bibo, L. Woods & M. Yvain This song was sung by Barbra Streisand as a tribute to Fanny Brice, who had sung this song in each case as an encore after the theater and also decides the film. )
Awards
At the Academy Awards 1969 Funny Girl was nominated in eight categories. The nominations are as follows:
- Oscar nomination for Best Film
- Academy Award for Best Actress
- Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress
- Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography
- Oscar nomination for Best Editing
- Oscar nomination for Best Music in a Musical
- Oscar nomination for Best Song
- Academy Award nomination for Best Sound
Only Barbra Streisand won the Oscar for best leading role, she had to share with Katharine Hepburn, who received her prize for her role in The Lion in Winter in the evening of the Academy Awards.
- Society of Film and Television Arts Awards - Barbra Streisand was nominated for the British Film Award, and the camera work and the costume design by Irene Sharaff.
- Golden Globe - Barbra Streisand won the Golden Globe for best actress in a musical. In three other categories nominated but the film got nothing.