Independent Films, Film Profiles

Funny Girl (film)
by William_Wyler

Funny Girl is a 1968 musical film based on the stage musical of the same name. The semi-biographical plot is based on the life and career of Broadway and film star and comedienne Fanny Brice and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nicky Arnstein. Its original title was My Man. The screen adaptation, directed by William Wyler, paired Barbra Streisand (reprising her Broadway role) with Omar Sharif as Arnstein. Kay Medford also repeated her stage role as Fanny's mother and Walter Pidgeon was cast as Flo Ziegfeld.The film was a commercial and critical success, gaining Streisand an Academy Award for Best Actress. It became the top grossing film of 1968, receiving seven Oscar nominations.The plot follows that of the stage musical. It is set in and around New York City just prior to and following World War I. The story opens with Ziegfeld Follies star Fanny Brice, awaiting the return of husband Nick Arnstein from prison, and then moves into an extended flashback of their story which is the bulk of the film.The film is divided into two acts. In the first act Fanny is shown as a stage-struck teen who gets her first job in vaudeville. She meets the sophisticated Arnstein after her debut performance. They continue to meet occasionally over the years, becoming more romantically involved as Fanny's career flourishes and she becomes a star. Arnstein eventually seduces Fanny in Baltimore as they duet on the song "You Are Woman, I Am Man." The first act concludes with Fanny deciding to give up her place in the Follies and follow her man. She brushes aside objections from her friends, and in a dramatic rendition of "Don't Rain on My Parade," she is seen racing to catch Nick's ship before he can sail out of her life.The second act opens with Fanny revealing to Arnstein that she'd like to become a "Sadie" - her name for a married lady. Arnstein, however, needs to make his fortune from a poker game before he'll agree to marry her. Fanny cannot take the tension of the game and goes back to their cabin. Arnstein returns in the morning, calling her Sadie before revealing all the money he has won. They marry, move into an expensive house and have a baby girl. Fanny goes back on stage with Ziegfeld and life appears very rosy. However, Nick's business ventures fail and they must move into a smaller apartment. He refuses financial help from Fanny, instead getting involved in a bonds scam that goes bad. He is imprisoned for embezzlement.The film returns to Fanny in the theatre, awaiting Arnstein's return from more than a year behind bars. When he arrives, they agree to separate. Fanny sings the closing song "My Man" with tears running down her face.