Funny Girl G
William Wyler's adaptation of the
classic Broadway saga of Fanny Brice, (there is a sequel), like the play
deviates from the true story of Brice only because her second husband was still
alive when the show started. The second husband plays the suave hustler as
though he's her first in this, but actually he's not. Fannie was married
briefly before him. Barbara Streisand makes herself a star in this, and Omah
Sharif also, but he was already a star. Also Fanny Brice wasn't really that
impoverished in real life, had her first husband been mentioned. It seems that
'second' husband gambler man is angry about his wife being more famous than
him, but really in the last half he comes off as more of a heel in general. A
bit overlong but definitely groundbreaking for its day. It came out in 1968,
over a decade after Brice died. It's the quintessential Hollywood romantic
comedy turned drama. Winner of many Academy Awards back when getting one
actually meant something, and wasn't just a popular movie makes good contest.
Oh wait, it was intensely popular too. Scratch that. It was right there. Ha. Review by Adam Browne
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