Fun, love and laughter a Funny Film (Funny Girl (DVD))

Member Name: arnoldhenryrufus

Product:	Funny Girl (DVD)
Date:	19/09/08 (897 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The fantastic voice of Streisand

Disadvantages: only if you don't like musicals

FUNNY GIRL
This magnificent musical was the first movie for Barbara Streisand who was already on the stage playing Fanny Brice in the stage version. Producer Ray Stark wanted to make this into a movie and he managed to get Columbia on board, at first Columbia wanted Shirley MacLaine, an actress who had already worked on a musical movie, but Stark insisted on keeping Barbara in the part of Fanny. Columbia became so impressed with Barbara that they signed her up for three musicals, (which I will review later).

Now for the character of Nick they were seriously considering Frank Sinatra but Barbara didn't want him, so they choose Omar Sharif the movie heart throb of that time, after appearing in the smash hit Dr. Zhivago (a heart rendering film).
It is the story of Broadway comedienne Fanny Brice, who would describe herself as an 'ugly duckling', and her eagerness to overcome the obstacles and become a star of the Ziegfield Follies. Although in true Hollywood style they did change some of the true facts, for instance the film shows Fanny as a single naive girl when she met Nick, but in true life she had previously been married to a barber named Frank White. The other major change to fact is Nick; you are led to believe when he goes to prison that it is his first offence, but in life he had arrested for swindling on several occasions before he met Fanny.

I bought this film originally simply because I love Barbara Streisands' powerful voice and I love enjoyed some of her other performances in musicals. I do have to say she was outstanding in this and earned a well deserved Oscar for Best Actress, anyway enough waffle and onto the movie.
~~The Story~~

After a series of stills the camera moves to the fur-clad Fanny Brice, as she turns and looks at her reflection, comically she says 'hello gorgeous' and the camera takes us a step back in time when Fanny does a quick reflection and launches the show with her first song 'If a girl isn't pretty'.
Back in the present we follow Fanny as she walks to Keeney's Music Hall where she has a spot to replace a chorus girl, but on seeing her bad attempts at dancing Keeney fires her. On her own on the stage she sings 'I'm the greatest star'. Unknown at the time Fanny was being discovered by the accompanist Eddie Ryan, who tells Fanny that she is a singer and comedienne not a dancer.

He gets Fanny to turn up that evening for 'Roller skate Rag'; it is here she comes into her own singing 'I'd rather be blue over you'. After the song we go backstage with Fanny and the sexy and debonair Nick Arnstein knocks on her door. Whilst the love struck Fanny is gazing into her eyes Keeney offers her a job and Nick starts to barter for her getting her a substantial pay rise.
We skip a little forward to excitement in Fanny's street as a telegram is being delivered and for once it is not a notification of a death, but it is an invitation for Fanny to audition for the famous Florenz Ziegfeld. Fanny goes to the audition and wows Ziegfeld with her wonderful singing voice as she performs 'Second Hand Rose'. He hires her and tells her she is going to sing 'His love makes me beautiful in the finale.

Fanny's strong opinions come out as she tries to argue that she is not comfortable singing the song saying she is beautiful and asks to be dropped out of the finale. Ziegfeld wins the argument, or does he? After we see how Fanny puts her own personality into the song.
So, Fanny's career is launched and we move on to the wonderful love story between her and Nick. We watch as the nervous love struck young girl, falls deeply in love and grows into a young woman and marries Nick.

The emotions and special moments these two share; is recreated brilliantly matched with wonderful lyrics and vocals. The film takes us through the ups and downs of their relationship and careers.
You will laugh and cry with Fanny as she takes you through her life story, well a good section of it, as later on they do a follow up with 'Funny Lady'.

~~Songs~~
There are an amazing 13 songs in this movie, it is truly a great musical and not surprisingly Barbara sings in every single song.

If A Girl Isn't Pretty - this is quite a comical song as Fanny takes a good look at herself.
I'm The Greatest Star - another comical song which gets Fanny discovered by the accompanist Eddie Ryan as he convinces Fanny of her talent and what she should do.

Roller-skate Rag - a very funny sequence with Fanny trying to roller skate with the chorus line.
I'd Rather Be Blue Over You - this follows straight after the roller skate rag as a very nervous Fanny is pushed back on the stage on her own, as the song progresses so does her confidence as she works the audience and brings her personality into the song.

Second Hand Rose - Fanny's audition song for Zeigfeld a fun kind of up beat song.
His Love Makes Me Beautiful - this is a big production number and possibly the funniest one in the show, beautifully performed and sung by Streisand.

People - Fanny and Nick step out from the party which was held to celebrate Fanny's success. Nick is something of a loner and Fanny faces some realizations as she sings this song with the line 'people who need people are the luckiest people in the world'.
You Are Woman; I Am Man - a fun ballad with both Barbara and Omar Sherif singing. Fanny, bringing a little fun into a nervous and romantic situation.

Don't Rain On My Parade - a big production number which starts off in a railway station. It took 10 days to complete the number for the show at an astronomical cost of $250,000, which resulted in a very powerful ballad. This was also covered by the winning choir in Last Choir Standing (2008) recently shown on BBC1.
Sadie, Sadie - a really nice ballad where Fanny sings about Sadie becoming a married lady.

The Swan - a funny production number which makes fun at the ballet Swan Lake.
Funny Girl - Barbara's high standards were rewarded with this song performed with a symphony orchestra, she requested take after take until she was satisfied with the result, which ended with the orchestra giving her a standing ovation.

My Man - the final song and a real tear-jerker, Streisand insisted on singing this live to get the emotions right for the song, and wow did it work well, really excellent.
~~Characters~~

Barbara Streisand was absolutely brilliant as Fanny Brice; she bought emotion and character as well as a wonderful singing voice to the part.
Omar Sharif - I am not one of his biggest fans, but I do feel that he fitted the part, with his charming eye and smooth tongue to make a woman melt, especially Fanny. He was a very heavy gambler.

Kay Medford played Fanny's mother Rose Brice, a rather down to earth lady that is under no illusions and will not hold her tongue.
Anne Francis as Georgia James she becomes Fanny's best friend when she joins Ziegfelds follies.

Walter Pidgeon - plays the famous Florenz Ziegfeld
Lee Allen plays Eddie Ryan who convinced Fanny to sing and be the comedienne she is getting her that first break.

Gerald Mohr as Tom Branca the manager of a gambling establishment and a good friend to Nick.
Frank Faylen as Keeney the club owner that gives Fanny her first job.

Others are
Gertrude Flynn as Mrs O'Malley
Penny Stanton as Mrs Meeker
John Harman as Company Manager
Mae Questel as Mrs Strakosh
Director - William Wyler
Producer - Ray Stark
Music - Jule Styne
Lyrics - Bob Merrill

~~Extras~~
Barbara in Movie land - this is a short documentary lasting about 10 minutes and tells the story of the making of the song 'Don't rain on my parade'. It starts with introducing us to the care taker of the disused railway station, Hoboken, New Jersey, Charlie Paterson. Charlie tells us how for 10 days Columbia bought the station back to life and even gave him a small part, giving him a memory that will stay with him for the rest of his life.

This is Streisand - a short documentary about Barbara and her part as Fanny Brice it lasts approx 5 minutes.
Song Highlights - if you enjoyed the musical and want to hear the songs again, then this section is a must. It gives you the opportunity to see 12 of the songs performed again without watching the film again. They are listed over two pages, so all you need to do is click on the one you want to watch and listen to again.

Filmographies - this is quite simply information sheets on the films accredited to various people. These are William Wyler (Director), Barbara Streisand, Omar Sharif and Walter Pidgeon. There is no music to accompany it; you just have a picture of the said person and a fact sheet.
Audio - 5 languages comprising of English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Subtitles - are not as many as modern day DVD's you have the same five as in the audio plus one more which is Dutch.
Scene selections - as most DVD's the opportunity to flip through different scenes with small thumbnail pictures to help see where you are in the film.

~~Trivia~~
In 1968 the onscreen romance between Nick and Fanny caused the film to be banned in Omar Sharif's home country Eygpt because Fanny was Jewish.
Barbara was born 24.04.1942 to a poor Jewish family in Brooklyn, her father passing away when she was only 15 months old. She sang in the school choir with Neil Diamond (also a young boy at the time). They next sang together again 25 yrs later on the record 'You don't bring me flowers'.

~~Conclusion~~
If you have not guessed it by now then I will tell you that I really enjoyed this musical and believe it should be put up there with some of the greats. It won't appeal to everyone like some of the family musicals like Wizard of Oz etc. But it does have an audience. Streisand does not let us down with her wonderful singing voice, her perfectionism gave us a magnificent performance. I would most definitely recommend it and I will watch it again and again over the forthcoming years.

Summary: A wonderful easy to watch Musical with the fantastic voice of Streisand