Product: Funny Girl [VHS] (1968)
Rating: 4.0
Hello, Gorgeous...
It was certainly one of the most memorable screen debuts of all time: swathed in leopard skin, our Funny Girl saunters up to a backstage mirror, eyes herself in a perfect three-quarters profile, and purrs to her reflection, "Hello, Gorgeous." From that moment on, there was no doubt that the appelation fit the film's star to a tee.In this biopic about Fanny Brice -- arguably the greatest stage and radio comedienne who ever lived, Barbra Streisand turned in a remarkable performance -- shaded, multi-layered, hilarious, and pathetic -- and won a well-deserved Oscar to boot. Her only shortcoming was her inability to match Fanny Brice's unattractiveness. True, the film makes numerous references to the fact that Fanny wasn't pretty, and Streisand tries in vain to carry off the ugly duckling routine. It was a wasted effort; Barbra was simply beautiful in each and every frame.Perhaps some of the credit for that goes to the film's director, William Wyler (in his only musical directorial effort), and the cinematographer, Harry Stradling -- whose camera work bathes La Streisand's visage in etheral radiance from start to finish. Wyler's directorial style was a bit heavy-handed, giving the film a decidedly dated look, but he nonetheless extracted polished, disciplined performances from the actors. The musical numbers were unimaginatively staged ("Don't Rain On My Parade" is a notable exception), but they succeed largely due to Streisand's vocals.Some supporting players worthy of praise: Anne Francis, in an abbreviated cameo as Zigfield girl Georgia James, Kay Medford (repeating her Broadway role), as the sharp-tongued, warm-hearted Rose Brice, and Lee Allen as Fanny's friend Eddie Ryan. Only Omar Sharif, as Nick Arnstein, missed the boat. Appearing stiff and uncomfortable with the role (Arnstein was not an Arab.), Sharif makes a valiant effort to portray Arnstein sympathetically -- but never manages to connect with the character effectively.Nonetheless, this was Barbra's movie, and she wisely ran with it. Whether gazing wistfully at Nick Arnstein, or joking with reporters about his arrest for embezzlement (a scene she handles remarkably well for a screen novice), Streisand expertly carried the audience through an almost two-and-one-half hour extravaganza. The second half of the film dragged just a bit, and some of the dialogue must have seemed cliche even then.But Streisand pulled it off, right up through the tear-soaked finale. This was the type of big finish that Hollywood legends are made of. Having just called it quits with Nick, she stands alone in a spotlight, in a simple black velvet dress, summoning all of her resources to make it through "My Man." Halfway through, she sniffs back her tears, flings her arms outward, and launches into the song full tilt. As her voice grows in intensity and power, the scene ends with the spotlight illuminating only her hands and face. Audiences in 1968 were left stunned, and knew for a fact that they had witnessed the emergence of a major film star.In a long overdue widescreen presentation, the new DVD incarnation of this musical classic boasts a remastered soundrack and a beautifully restored picture. Color saturations are intense and vibrant, with skin tones appropriately subtle. As a whole, the transfer is well-focused and clean, with only occasional artifact present. Some interesting extras and a clever user interface make for an overall appealing package. All in all, the DVD presentation is quite an achievement. For the first time, "Funny Girl" has gotten the treatment it deserves, and we are all the richer for it.