Funny Girl (1968)

The life of Fanny Brice, famed comedienne and entertainer of the early 1900s. We see her rise to fame as a Ziegfield girl, subsequent career, and her personal life, particularly her relationship with Nick Arnstein.

Director:

William Wyler

Writers:

Isobel Lennart (based on the musical play by), Isobel Lennart (screenplay by)

Stars:

Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif, Kay Medford

Won 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Branca
Frank Faylen	...	Keeney
Mittie Lawrence	...	Emma
Gertrude Flynn	...	Mrs. O'Malley
Penny Santon	...	Mrs. Meeker
John Harmon	...	Company Manager
Thordis Brandt	...	Ziegfeld Girl
Bettina Brenna	...	Ziegfeld Girl

Storyline

Early twentieth century New York. Fanny Brice knows that she is a talented comedienne and singer. She also knows that she is not the beauty typical of the stage performers of the day, she with skinny legs and a crooked nose among other physical issues. So she knows she has to use whatever other means to get her break in show business, that break so that she can at least display her talents. With the help of Eddie Ryan who would become her friend, Fanny is able to get a part in a novelty act in a vaudeville show, the renown from which eventually comes to the attention of famed impresario Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.. Fanny does become one of the Ziegfeld Follies most popular acts, despite she almost getting fired after her first performance by defying Flo's artistic vision for her closing number. Beyond stage success, Fanny also wants a happy personal life, most specifically with the suave Nicky Arnstein, a gambler in every respect of the word. Fanny loves him and loves that he loves her ...

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Plot Keywords:

national film registry | comedienne | entertainer | singer | money | 

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Taglines:

Hello, gorgeous!

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dokhtar-e shookh

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$14,100,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$65,560, 2 September 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$223,306, 7 October 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Rastar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

151 min 155 min (roadshow)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) Dolby SR (35mm restored version) Dolby Digital (35mm restored version) SDDS (35mm restored version) DTS (35mm restored version)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Barbra Streisand was, at the time of the film's release, a voting member of AMPAS. When she found she was nominated, she, like any member nominated, voted for herself. If she hadn't, she wouldn't have tied with Katharine Hepburn for the year's Best Actress Oscar.

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Goofs

In the sequence where a telegram is brought to the Brice saloon, the camera closes in on two ladies, one of whom says, "That's life for you: somebody's dead." She wears a skirt with gray and white stripes, a cream blouse, and a straw hat with a pink and green ribbon. As the camera follows the Western Union delivery man, the same outfit can be seen on a different bystander.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Fanny Brice: [looking in the mirror] Hello, gorgeous.

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Connections

Referenced in A Planet Comicon Panel with Helen Slater (2011)

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Soundtracks

People
(uncredited)
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Bob Merrill
Performed by Barbra Streisand

User Reviews

"When a person's a stranger...they should act a little strange."

Tour-de-force for Barbra Streisand, reprising her Broadway triumph and taking over the screen as 1930s Ziegfeld singer/comedienne Fanny Brice. Streisand's incredible self-assurance and clowning poise was enough to win her the Best Actress Oscar AND tick off most of Hollywood (few in the business were prepared for someone like Streisand in 1968, except maybe those familiar with her TV work, but the results here show she didn't care what anyone thought of her). The sets look phony, the script is contrived, and Omar Sharif is somewhat miscast as husband Nick Arnstein (Sharif is wonderful in the early stages, but his wet, red eyes and mincing baby-talk grow incredibly weary); however most of the song numbers are fabulous, and Barbra is at her best when delivering a high-powered number. She's tough and unyielding even while doing a comedic bit, but during an emotional song she lets her guard drop a little (not enough to become truly vulnerable, just enough to let us share her pain). The film doesn't exhaust one the way some musical extravaganzas can; the camera-work is uneven and some sequences are overlit, but it has lots of spirit and dazzle. Most importantly, it's a film that remembers it is about a woman and a man, and never allows the show-biz glitter to suffocate the characters. *** from ****