Yentl (1983)

A Jewish girl disguises herself as a boy to enter religious training.

Director:

Barbra Streisand

Writers:

Jack Rosenthal (screenplay), Barbra Streisand (screenplay)

Stars:

Barbra Streisand, Amy Irving, Mandy Patinkin

Won 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbra Streisand	...	Yentl
Mandy Patinkin	...	Avigdor
Amy Irving	...	Hadass
Nehemiah Persoff	...	Reb Mendel 'Papa'
Steven Hill	...	Reb Alter Vishkower
Allan Corduner	...	Shimmele
Ruth Goring	...	Esther Rachel
David de Keyser	...	Rabbi Zalman (as David De Keyser)
Bernard Spear	...	Tailor
Doreen Mantle	...	Mrs. Shaemen
Lynda Baron	...	Peshe (as Lynda Barron)
Jack Lynn	...	Bookseller
Anna Tzelniker	...	Mrs. Kovner
Miriam Margolyes	...	Sarah
Mary Henry	...	Mrs. Jacobs

Storyline

Eastern Europe, 1904. A Jewish woman, Yentl, has a thirst for knowledge but is prohibited from learning due to the restrictions of her religion. When her father dies, she sets off to increase her knowledge, posing as a man in order to gain admission to a Jewish religious school.

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Plot Keywords:

gender bender | girl pretending to be a boy | girl disguised as boy | gender disguise | triple f rated | 

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Taglines:

Nothing's Impossible

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Hebrew

Release Date:

6 January 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Йентл

Filming Locations:

Blewbury, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$341,768, 20 November 1983, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$40,218,899

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ladbroke,Barwood Films,United Artists

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby 4-Track Stereo (Dolby Magnetic 35mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Features Amy Irving's only Oscar nominated performance.

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Goofs

Anshel's suit coat is buttoned as if it were a woman's coat. It's not a flipped shot; Avigdor is wearing a man's coat in the same frame.

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Quotes

Avigdor: I can't believe this, I'm arguing with a woman!
Yentl: It's not the first time.

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Crazy Credits

At the very end of the closing credits: This film is dedicated to my father... and to all our fathers.

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Connections

Featured in Your Choice for the Film Awards (1984)

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Soundtracks

Will Someone Ever Look at Me That Way?
(uncredited)
Music by Michel Legrand
Lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
Performed by Barbra Streisand

User Reviews

Classic Still!

Just watched the movie on our local PBS-TV here in Bflo., N.Y. tonight. (Fri., Feb. 17, 2006.) Have seen it several times before, the 1st when it was released in 1983, the year my own father died.

With Streisand dedicating the film to her dad, who she never knew, that, the music & story deeply reached me at the time & still does. Coupled with this, I was assigned by Billboard Magazine to interview composer Michele LeGrand here when he was appearing with the Bflo. Philharmoic Orchestra. I'd always admired his dream-like work, like "Windmills of My Mind" & "What are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" I learned he was working on a film with Barbra & it turned out to be "Yentl." I was thrilled when I later saw the movie & heard the score. Streisand should have been recognized for her directing abilities with an Oscar nomination. OUTRAGEOUS! But then, her film can still touch us & that is worth more than ANY Oscar! Thanks Barb ...