Funny Girl made a star out of Barbra Streisand. All she had to say was “Hello, gorgeous” in her feature film debut. Funny Girl was originally a Broadway musical based on the life of singer, entertainer, and all around funny girl Fanny Brice. Although Hollywood wanted a bigger star, Streisand made the role her own on Broadway. Director William Wyler similarly took a chance on the then unknown Audrey Hepburn for Roman Holiday. Streisand is such a natural talent who fully embodies a 1930’s starlet.
Like Fanny, Streisand has unconventional beauty that didn’t stop her from becoming famous. Streisand very much earned her Best Actress win, but she did ironically have to share it with the legendary Katherine Hepburn for her performance in The Lion in Winter. Funny Girl was the most successful film of 1968, but it still lost Best Picture to fellow musical Oliver! We follow Fanny’s success in the Ziegfeld Follies and her love story with handsome gambler Nicky Arnstein. Luckily I became familiar with Florenz Ziegfeld after watching The Great Ziegfeld.
Walter Pidgeon hits the right note of frustration with Fanny. Anne Francis is one of the many Ziegfeld girls to appear alongside her. Betty Boop herself Mae Questel even makes an appearance. Though it’s Kay Medford as Fanny’s supportive mother who was also nominated. This was the third movie in a row I saw with Omar Sharif. A romance between the Jewish Streisand and Egyptian Sharif was very daring for the time. It’s an epic romance supported by several showstopping numbers like “People” or “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” Though they grow distant in the end, “My Man” is the best song to end a gorgeous picture like Funny Girl.
“Hello, gorgeous”
Followed by: Funny Lady
Master Mix Movies 
Streisand is part of that small company who won Oscars their first time nominated, a very diversely talented lady. Ironically, Fanny Brice herself wasn’t as stunning as Streisand, but she had a presence and a look that made her the star she was. Walter Pidgeon was a great choice in one of his final roles as Mr. Broadway himself Florenz Ziegfeld. Omar Sharif as Nicky was an interesting choice for sure as Sharif was at the height of his popularity then. It’s for certain that Fanny and Nicky loved each other dearly, but Nicky couldn’t get away from the gambling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Streisand deserved it too and the rest of the cast that you mentioned is just as good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny Girl, The Lion In Winter and Oliver.
I saw all of those movies.
1968 had a lot of exceptionally great films nominated for Best Picture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a good group, but I still have to see The Lion in Winter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s hard to believe that this is Streisand’s first movie — she looks so confident in front of the camera.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It often surprises me what some first time actors or actresses are capable of.
LikeLiked by 1 person