Funny Girl

Starring:Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif, Kay Medford, Anne Francis, Walter Pidgeon, Lee Allen, Mae Questel, Gerald Mohr, Frank Faylen, Mittie Lawrence, Gertrude Flynn, Penny Santon, John Harmon, Thordis Brandt, Bettina Brenna, Virginia Ann Ford, Alena Johnston, Karen Lee, Mary Jane Mangler, Inga Neilsen
Director: William Wyler
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Ah, Barbra. Of all her onscreen personas, she sparkles in none as she does in her role as 1930s comedian Fanny Brice in the musical Funny Girl. Portraying the life of this star of stage and radio, Brice preens and prances and sings, captivating her audience both onscreen and off. Fanny Brice started life on the Lower East Side of New York, the daughter of a Jewish saloon owner. Not the prettiest girl around, Brice still managed to quickly rise to stardom as a performer in the Ziegfield Follies. A shrewd, obstinate woman, Brice dictated her own success story on stage; things were a different matter in romance. Falling hard for the stunning Nick Arnstein (suavely played by Omar Sharif), Brice must navigate a difficult marriage. While kids may love the tunes (which include the now-infamous "People," as in "People who need people are the luckiest people in the world"), the plot is definitely adult-oriented. Enjoy this one, but don't go too far out of your way for the sequel, Funny Lady. --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews:

Barbra At Her Best.......2007-06-29

The vehicle that made Barbra Streisand a major superstar. From Broadway acclaim, to her 1968 Academy Award winning performance, "Funny Girl" is Barbra Streisand. When she sings its most familiar number "People", it seems all time stands still. And to date, there still is no one else who can touch that song but Barbra. As the popular comedic singer/actress Fanny Brice, we're given a lesson of survival through adversity. And Omar Sharif's finest hour since his appearance in "Lawrence of Arabia" as Fanny's gambling addicted first husband Nicky Arnstein. You so much want to see these two succeed as a couple; but alas, it just wasn't to be.

Another standout is the finale, as Barbra so convincingly sings "My Man" with every award winning emotion imaginable. A note of trivia, Barbra Streisand won her 1968 Best Actress Oscar in a tie with Katherine Hepburn for her grand performance in "The Lion In Winter". An extreme rarity in Oscar history, having only happened once before back in the 1930s.

MUST SEE - Once.......2007-05-17

This used to be one of my favorite movies. The songs are spectacular, and the telling of Fanny Brice's rise to stardom is a lot of fun. Once she has it all, the movie tends to drag. It's an interesting perspective on how we might look at life, however - it's the struggle to get somewhere that most intrigues us. Once we get there, it's no fun anymore. That's why this is a must see once movie - and you will want a CD of the music.

BARBRA AT HER ULTIMATE BEST.......2007-05-03

"FUNNY GIRL" is arguably Barbra Streisand's best film; probably because, as Fanny Brice, Barbra was human and
vulnerable; qualities she has rarely displayed on screen since. (In "THE WAY WE WERE", another three handkerchief weepie, she comes close.) "FUNNY GIRL" is one of my favorite movies from my teen-age years, but I certainly see it differently as an adult.
As a musical biopic, "FUNNY GIRL" is a mixed bag. Several of the best songs from the original Broadway production, noteably "Coronet Man," "Who Are You Now?" and "The Music That Makes Me Dance", are absent from the film version. This is probably due to director William Wyler's inexperience with musicals. Composer Jule Styne was reportedly furious about the musical omissions. Herbert Ross directed the musical numbers that did survive, Wyler did the rest. Somehow, though, Barbra's amazing charisma and the spirit of Fanny Brice herself carry the viewer over numerous rough spots.
The film is best when depicting Fanny's tremendous drive and deterimination to succeed in show-business, which mirrors Barbra's own. Whereas Barbra's quest for perfection and control made her an untouchable, unreachable star, I suspect Fanny always essentially stayed a kid from Brooklyn. Nobody from show-biz came pounding on Fanny Brice's door. So, Fanny opened doors herself, and paved the way for generations of unconventional, talented funny girls after her. If Fanny had lived in our generation, she would have undoubtedly earned a top spot on "Saturday Night Live" or something similar. She did become a top star of the Zigfeld Follies, but on her own terms, I'll bet. In the musical, she wants the audience to laugh with her instead of at her. So, she sticks a pillow under a wedding gown and turns a lavish Zigfeld production number into a comic farce. She feels the wrath of the Great Zigfeld (Walter Pidgeon) immediately afterwards, but even he admits her comic instincts were brilliant. He hated it, but the audience loved it.
In terms of depicting Fanny's less than brilliant private life, the musical is a sketchy and inaccurrate mess. Fanny was briefly married to Harold White before she met and married gambler/con man Nick Arnstein (Omar Sharif).
So, Nick was Fanny's second, not first, husband. But the audience is not likely to quibble over the facts. When
Barbra sings "Don't Rain On My Parade" and Fanny Brice's signature song "My Man", the movie is sheer, absolute, bliss.
The picture and sound quality, and the Interactive Menu, on the DVD are superb. This is a restored print.
Barbra has often said that "FUNNY GIRL" is her favorite movie. Sadly, there is no Audio Commentary. If Barbra would (please!) someday do an Audio Commentary for another DVD edition, then the audience would truly be "the luckiest people in the world!" Oh, Barbra tied with Katharine Hepburn in "The Lion In Winter" for "Best Actress" of 1968-- the only "Best Actress Tie" in the history of the Academy Awards.
To see the real Fanny Brice on film, check out 1938's "EVERYBODY SING" from MGM. I don't know if it is out on DVD. Fanny plays Olga, the Yiddish maid to Judy Garland's daffy theatrical family. Billie Burke (Glinda in "THE WIZARD OF OZ", and widow of Fanny's former boss Florenz Zigfeld) plays the scatter-brained mother.
It's Judy Garland's show, but Fanny proves she is a funny girl when she gets into the act as her celebrated Baby Snooks character. Barbra is dressed as Baby Snooks in "FUNNY GIRL" in the scene where reporters ask Fanny about Nick Arnstein's criminal activities. She answers back in comical, Baby Snooks fashion until one reporter asks a question that hits a raw, emotional nerve.

Not to be missed.......2007-03-31

This movie is beautiful and entertaining. I have seen it 8 times and never miss it when it is on TV. Omar is so gorgeous to look at and makes a perfect Nick. Barbra shows off her voice in many dimensions and proves what a great singer she is. Most of us did not grow up with Fanny Brice except on the radio so her life was a mystery. It always seemed funny but there was plenty of heartbreak. I know the producers took many liberties in depicting her life but I think we all get the gist.

A must have for any music artist!.......2007-03-28

I saw this movie in theatres decades ago, and am still singing "Sadie, Sadie, Married Lady" to my husband! .. it's a wonderful film, extremely well acted, riveting performances by Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif.. unforgettable lyrics and melodies.. This movie is in my Top 10 of all time favorites! One of the things I love about this film ~ it's not total singing throught the entire film ~ plenty of acting and scenes to make it a super A+ film !

Average customer rating:

BRILLIANT MOVIES, GOOD PRICE, SO-SO/SOFT PRINT AND SOUND. . .
the one and only Barbra
A must for musical fans
Funny Girl/Funny Lady DVD
Why are you reading this review?

Funny Girl/Funny Lady
Starring: Barbra Streisand , Omar Sharif , Kay Medford , Anne Francis , and Walter Pidgeon
Director: William Wyler , and Herbert Ross
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00070HK24
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Customer Reviews:

BRILLIANT MOVIES, GOOD PRICE, SO-SO/SOFT PRINT AND SOUND. . ........2007-06-10

Sure wish studios or distributors would enhance such soft prints, update sound tracks to 5.1; these are classics and deserve it. Oh well, still beats tapes and lasers . . .

the one and only Barbra.......2007-03-17

fabulous DVD great quality and the songs are FAB Streisand shines through both films!

A must for musical fans.......2007-03-10

Beautifully presented double disc set of two Streisand classics. A must for all fans and lovers of movie musicals. Thoroughly recommended.

Funny Girl/Funny Lady DVD.......2007-03-09

These movies are wonderful. I have loved them for years and very happy to add them to my collection. Barbra streisand is wonderful in both. Highly reccomend both movies.

Why are you reading this review?.......2007-02-23

I mean, who are you that you do not know this movie? It is an absolute MUST-SEE! Live it, love it, learn it! Barbara Streisand embodies the awkward post-pubescent in us all. I highly recommend seeing this movie in a local theatre whenever possible. Good times.

Average customer rating:

this makes Van Helsing look like a masterpiece..just kidding
Good adaptation of a Fritz Lieber short story...
Hungry for You
Double the Pleasure! A cult classic finally on DVD!
Eyes is a vampire movie with South Beach flair

The Girl with the Hungry Eyes
Starring: Christina Fulton
Director: Jon Jacobs
Manufacturer: Golden Shadow Pict.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00007CWIF
Release Date: 2002-11-15

Customer Reviews:

this makes Van Helsing look like a masterpiece..just kidding.......2004-09-16

This is about a hotel called The Tides in which case in the past a woman killed herself. Cut to the present where the woman is brought back as a vampire by a voice and a powerful presensce, because the voice wants her to get the deed and key and bring more people in so it can feed. But she falls for the Andy Garcia look a like, becomes his model and soon the guy falls for her and cant get her out of his head. It's an interesting premise and some of the directing is cool but by good this is an awful vampire movie. Christina Fulton is just to boring as the vampire chick, though hot, she is boring. Isaac Turner or Andy Garcia wannabe is just to constipated and that actor Leroy Jones, who played Zippo, looks like he could win an award for best Keith Richards impression. The person who did the voice talking to Fulton did a horrible job. Sounds like the guy was holding his breathe whilet talking. I admit I was very dissapointed because Vampire movies are what I love and this was just plain crap...this makes Van Helsing look like a masterpiece..just kidding because Van Helsing was horrible like this but this was even worser.

Good adaptation of a Fritz Lieber short story..........2003-03-21

"The Girl with the Hungry Eyes" is a short vampire story by Fritz Lieber. This movie takes the basic premise of the book- about a vampire who's a model and expounds on it. And it works. Christina Fulton makes a good vampire, by the way.

Hungry for You.......2002-12-07

Kristina Fulton (sometimes billed as Christina Fulton) is one sexy vampire.

The plot's a bit strange; an old hotel resurects Kristina as a vampire after she committed suicide, then asks her to go & kill the person holding the deeds to the hotel (does the hotel want the deed so it own's itself? Hotel Liberation! Free the Hotels!)

But, visually, it's very interesting. And, did I say, Kristina's a sex godess? I've been waiting for this to come onto DVD for ages.

Double the Pleasure! A cult classic finally on DVD!.......2002-11-07

Now here is an unusual treat, this DVD has 2 versions on it, the original shorter Columbia Tri-Star cut and the Director's sexier and more sophisticated version.

Personally I prefer the Directors cut. Not only is it naughtier, but the soundtrack and sound design are inspired
as opposed to the Schlockier Studio overdub.

What do you think?

Eyes is a vampire movie with South Beach flair.......2000-08-25

The Girl With the Hungry Eyes is based upon a short story by Frietz (sp?) Leiber and it's about a woman in the 1930s (owner of the fashionable South Beach hotel, The Tides) who kills herself because the man she wanted was cheating on her. Flash foward 60 years and the hotel is about to be demolished. The evil place brings Louise (Jon Jacobs' alum Christina Fulton) back to life as a vampire. With every person she kills, the hotel restores itself. Will Louise save her soul?

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Barbra At Her Best.......2007-06-29

MUST SEE - Once.......2007-05-17

BARBRA AT HER ULTIMATE BEST.......2007-05-03

Not to be missed.......2007-03-31

A must have for any music artist!.......2007-03-28

Average customer rating:

Funny Girl [Region 2]
Starring: Barbra Streisand , Omar Sharif , Kay Medford , Anne Francis , and Walter Pidgeon
Director: William Wyler , and Herbert Ross
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00005UWV1

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