“I’m a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls.”
What’s it all about? In New York City after WWI, comedienne Fanny Brice (Barbra Steisand) obtains her first gig in vaudeville, a step closer to her dream of becoming a Ziegfeld Follies star. Based on true events, FUNNY GIRL also stars Omar Sharif as Nick Arnstein.
It is difficult not to become immediately endeared to Steisand’s character Fanny Brice as she fumbles through chorus girl choreography in a sailor outfit. If not by “I’m the Greatest Star”, Fanny will win you over by her rollerskating number. Her demeanor is both self-effacing and arrogant. She has a laugh that is catching. Fanny is so ridiculously charismatic that she manages to make even the most pretentious of the Ziegfeld Follies numbers into a humourous showstopper. I was sold.
And then Fanny had sex with Nick Arnstein.
It’s right around here, after about forty minutes into the film, that FUNNY GIRL no longer maintains the high levels of wit, charm and talent that were so ever-present in the film’s first act. Almost immediately after consummating their relationship, Fanny leaves her job — the one she has always desperately wanted — and gets married. She trades in her Ziegfeld Follies stardom for the life of housewife and mother because, yes, Fanny is also suddenly pregnant.
There is an extreme lack of sass and musical numbers in the film’s second act. Without sequins and feathers as distraction, I noticed that two hours into FUNNY GIRL, there still wasn’t any conflict. Yes, I understood that the bomb was eventually going to drop regarding Nick’s gambling problems, but there isn’t any other conflict in this film. Fanny gets everything she wants with ease: the stint as the chorus girl, her headlining act with Ziegfeld Follies, a successful marriage, motherhood, wealth. To have Nick’s gambling as the film’s only conflict is a let-down, especially when the leading man has absolutely no stage presence in comparison to Barbra Streisand. At first sight, I was indifferent to Nick Arstein. Why wasn’t Fanny?
All in all, I didn’t enjoy FUNNY GIRL as much as I would have liked. The storyline regarding Nick’s gambling and pride becomes centre-stage, sidetracking the much-more entertaining story of Fanny’s rise to fame. Fanny’s identity becomes completely overtaken by that of her husband, even to the extent that, when a reporter calls her “Miss Brice”, she snaps that she should be referred to as “Mrs. Arnstein”. This change of focus in the life of Fanny Brice — from herself to her husband — is reflected in FUNNY GIRL’s narrative, a change which, regretably, lessens the enjoyment of the film.
By the end of FUNNY GIRL, I only half-remembered the woman who could out-charm any starlet, as Fanny’s individuality is washed away by her blind devotion to her husband. Nick allows himself to be arrested and taken away from his wife and child — all because he is ashamed that his wife is more successful financially than himself. And Fanny just sits there and says that she’ll wait for him? Where did that roller-skating, headstrong Fanny disappear to?
Regarding the musical numbers — “If a Girl Isn’t Pretty”, “I’m the Greatest Star”, “Rollerskate Rag” and “I’d Rather Be Blue Over You (Than Happy With Somebody Else)” were my favourites. So, basically the numbers which occur before Fanny has become a Ziegfeld Folly and the romantic plot is established. “Don’t Rain On My Parade”, though one of my favourite songs of musical theatre repertoire, was dissatisfying in context. When I listened to that song on its own, I pictured a woman willing to do anything to obtain success, to become a star. Knowing the song is actually about Nick Arnstein, well, that’s a little bit of rain on this parade.
Notes: Directed by William Wyler; Produced by Ray Stark; Written by Isobel Lennart; Starring Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif; Music by Jule Styne, Bob Merrill; Cinematography by Harry Stradling, Jr.; Editing by William Sands, Maury Winetrobe.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Dang it is depressing to hear what this movie is like! I’ve never seen it and have always considered that an oversight in my movie musical education, but maybe now I’ll just watch the first half and be done with it? I can’t stand when strong characters lose themselves in an unconvincing romance. Exactly the same thing happened in SYLVIA SCARLETT.
I know you’re a bit like me and you get pissy about female roles, especially when they’re pretty good at the beginning of the film and then subsequently fall apart. I thought this was an oversight in my education as well. I’m glad I saw it but you’re right — I’m only ever watching the first forty minutes again.
Did you watch this at TIFF in the Park? I was there with Ginny and Shane and a bunch of older gay guys were there. I was there to help complete my gay card. You should have said hi!
Also, what do you think about Six Feet Under’s Lauren Ambrose, rumoured to be reinterpreting the role to showcase the real Fanny Brice’s original klezmer roots?
I saw this on my television immediately after it played the park. I couldn’t go, as I was working. I would have loved to see it with you.