Product: Funny Girl [VHS] (1968)
Rating: 4.0
BARBRA SHINES IN HER FILM DEBUT - Now more than ever!
I was fortunate enough to see the theatrical re-release of this refurbished print in Los Angeles last month, and I must say the DVD does it full justice. The incredible dye-tranfer Technicolor print has been faithfully mastered, and the six-track digital sound makes the original six-track mag tracks sound properly bright and full. This film introduced movie audiences to the powerful Barbra Streisand, and everything was designed in this production to show her off the best way possible. Her performance is alternately heart-breaking, hilarious, and resoundingly musical. This is one of her best screen performances, and holds up very well after 33 years. The drama is appropriately weepy, the comedy amazingly specific, and the musical sequences (directed by the late Herb Ross) are superb examples of how musical cues can work on film when handled correctly. This picture is a lush slice of nostalgia that is a full, satisfying evening of entertainment. The only thing keeping me from handing this DVD a 5-star rating is the lack of commentary on alternate tracks, no trailers for the film, and no footage of the excised pieces of "The Swan" ballet parody. It's too bad Sony couldn't have spent some more time and money to make it a genuine collector's item. But the film, and the performance, stand up easily to the test of time - they look and sound better than ever!