Watch Funny Girl
- G
- 1968
- 2 hr 35 min
-
7.4 (25,632)
Funny Girl is a 1968 biographical musical film that tells the story of Fanny Brice, a young woman with a big voice and even bigger dreams of becoming a star. The film was directed by William Wyler and starred Barbra Streisand in her breakout role as Fanny, alongside Omar Sharif and Kay Medford. The movie is set in the early 20th century, in the colorful and vibrant world of New York's vaudeville scene. Fanny is a talented but unconventional performer, with an awkward charm and a unique sense of humor that sets her apart from the traditional performers of the time. Despite her unconventional looks and style, Fanny is determined to make it big, and she catches the eye of the suave and handsome entrepreneur Nick Arnstein (played by Omar Sharif) who sees her potential and helps launch her career.
Through many ups and downs, Fanny's star begins to rise, and she becomes a sensation on the vaudeville stage. Along the way, she struggles to balance her career ambitions with her personal life, as her relationship with Nick becomes increasingly complicated.
As Fanny's fame grows, she finds herself torn between her love for Nick and the demands of her career. The two try to navigate their relationship despite their differences in background and social status, but eventually, their differences become too much to overcome.
The film features many classic songs, including "People," "Don't Rain on My Parade," and "My Man," all of which were made famous by Streisand's stirring and powerful performances. Her rendition of "Don't Rain on My Parade" has become an iconic moment in the history of musical cinema, and helped cement Streisand's place as one of the greatest singers and actresses of all time.
Streisand's performance is the real highlight of the film, as she brings Fanny Brice to life with all of her humor, heart, and vulnerability. Her portrayal of the character earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, making her the first woman ever to win this award for a musical film.
Omar Sharif is also excellent as Nick, bringing a sense of sophistication and charm to the role of the suave businessman. His chemistry with Streisand is electric, and their duets and love scenes are some of the most memorable moments of the movie.
Kay Medford plays Fanny's mother, Rose, and brings a lot of warmth and humor to the role. Her scenes with Streisand are some of the funniest and most heartwarming in the film, and their relationship is a key part of Fanny's story.
Overall, Funny Girl is a classic musical film that tells a compelling and moving story of a young woman's struggle for success and happiness. It is a film that celebrates the power of music and the human spirit, and is still as joyful, entertaining, and emotionally resonant today as it was when it first premiered over 50 years ago.
Funny Girl is a 1968 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 89.