“Funny Girl” was Barbra Streisand’s first film, but you would never guess it. She performs in this movie as though she’d done it a thousand times. Every line, every song, is perfect.
She plays Fanny Brice, real-life vaudeville star. Fanny wants to be on stage more than just about anything in the world, but she’s not a very pretty girl. Her eyes are too close together, her nose is too big, and, let’s face it, she’s flat-chested. That doesn’t keep her from going down to the theater and auditioning. It’s not her looks that get her the part, of course – it’s her strong voice. The director needs a good voice for the act, and when she answers in the affirmative when he asks if she can roller skate, she gets the job.
There’s just one problem. She’s never roller skated in her life. When she comes out to take her place with the other chorus girls, she makes a total mess of things, but the audience thinks she’s doing it on purpose. Playing it up, she adds even more touches of comedy, and everyone loves it.
Soon she’s the toast of the theater, and loves every minute of it. One night, a gambler by the name of Nick Arnstein catches her act, and is smitten with her. He comes backstage and charms her, but she can hardly believe her good fortune. A man who looks like that (Omar Sharif) can’t possibly want anything to do with her.
After a year’s separation, they meet again and begin a whirlwind love affair. They marry and they are each happy with their careers, but Nick’s gambling gets him into trouble and they lose everything they have, including each other as he serves jail time.
This movie is loosely based on a true story. The real Nick Arnstein wasn’t nearly as suave and sophisticated as he’s made out to be – he really was a bit of a bum. However, if you take the movie on its own merits and don’t worry about historical accuracy, you’ll enjoy it quite a bit.
There is some sexual innuendo in the film, including a scene in a restaurant where they have their first encounter, but barring that, there’s nothing to worry about in the film, which is rated G. Personally, I would have given it a PG, but no one asked me.
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