1968 Roadshow Feature (To see pictures accompanying story go to https://cinemasightlines.com/roadshow_funnygirl.php)

Bernie and I went to the premiere at The Criterion Theatre on Sept. 18, 1968--a year later I was living in Memphis!


FUNNY GIRL

Funny Show: Ray Stark was producing a new stage musical about the life of Fanny Brice when he signed a fairly unknown and uniquely original performer named Barbra Streisand. The fact that Stark was married to Brice's daughter most likely ensured that the show painted a rosy picture of his mother-in-law. Charlie Chaplin's son Sydney Chaplin was cast as Nicky Arnstein, Kay MedfordJean Stapleton, and Streisand's understudy was Lainie Kazan. The production was directed by Garson Kanin, who, years later, wrote a novel called SMASH, about the production of a musical based on the showbiz life of the producer's famous mother-in-law. While the book is presented as fiction, it's assumed that some real life situations from Kanin's FUNNY GIRL experience found their way into the book. FUNNY GIRL ran on Broadway from March 26th, 1964 to July 1, 1967, having moved twice into a bigger theatre (from the Winter Garden, to the Majestic, to the Broadway). played Mrs. Brice, Mrs. Strakosh was played by

Funny Movie: The film version, again produced by Ray Stark, retained two very familiar elements from the hit Broadway show: the iconic logo, and the leading lady. The movie also kept Kay Medford as Mrs. Brice. Columbia Pictures' production of FUNNY GIRL premiered at the Criterion Theatre in New York, on September 18th, 1968. The opening night party was held in a large tent on the grounds of the former Astor Hotel, just prior to construction of the new Astor Plaza building, which would eventually showcase live theatre and movies, in the Minskoff Theatre one level up, and Loew's Astor Plaza theatre one flight down.

This ad ran in the New York Times, announcing the opening of the boxoffice for the World Premiere engagement at the Criterion Theatre, just a few blocks from the three theatres where the stage show played.

CRITERION THEATRE - Broadway at 45th Street, New York, New York - All Seats Reserved

Sunday through Thursday Evenings at 8:30 - Orchestra & Balcony $4.50, Loge $5.50

Friday and Saturday Evenings at 8:30 - Orchestra & Balcony $5.00, Loge $6.00

Saturday, Sunday and Holiday Matinees at 2:30 - Orchestra & Balcony $4.00, Loge $5.00

Wednesday Matinees at 2:30 - Orchestra & Balcony $3.50, Loge $4.50

New Year's Eve at 8:00 PM and 12 Midnight - All Seats $7.50

Funny Line: When ads depicting a kiss between a nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn and an Islamic native Egyptian sparked controversy...



...Streisand replied: "You think Cairo was upset? You should see the letter I got from my Aunt Rose!"



Funny Scenes: FUNNY GIRL was not the only 1968 roadshow musical to feature the star as a chorus girl who wrecks her first effort onstage and wins over the audience, but the image of a pregnant bride was still considered outrageous.

Funny Business: Stories of Streisand's strong will and desire for control began with her first film. An oft-repeated but unconfirmed account has someone consoling veteran Director William Wyler about Streisand's conflicts by saying something like, "after all, this is the first movie Barbra's ever directed." The script featured a character named Georgia James, who was to become Fanny's best friend. Vivacious Anne Francis, already a seasoned pro of stage (LADY IN THE DARK), screen (FORBIDDEN PLANET, BLACKBOARD JUNGLE) and television (HONEY WEST), was more than able to hold her own in scenes with screen novice Streisand. Francis was almost entirely cut from the film before its release.

Funny Ending: This is not the only Streisand vehicle that ends with her singing a song recalling a lost husband on a dark stage, before throwing her head back into a blackout.

Funny Sequel: Ray Stark required Streisand to sign a multi-picture contract before making her movie debut, presumably at a substantially lower rate than she would be offered elsewhere after FUNNY GIRL was released. A sequel, called FUNNY LADY, was released in 1975 as a regular (non-roadshow) feature. FUNNY LADY borrowed a couple things from the movie that went head-to-head with FUNNY GIRL: Performer Garrett Lewis, (in a similar role) and at least one of Julie Andrews' costumes, from STAR! (worn by a singer in Billy Rose's nightclub).



The premiere of FUNNY LADY at the new Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., was covered in a TV special called FROM FUNNY GIRL TO FUNNY LADY. Host Dick Cavett joked that after FUNNY GIRL and FUNNY LADY, the next one might be called "Funny Old Crock." When Streisand was introduced, she shot back "Funny Grandma, Dick!" Asked if she missed the stage, Streisand said she liked that she could entertain people with movies "while I'm at home in the tub."

While it is an entertaining movie with some nice performances and production values, FUNNY LADY has been much maligned, especially in the 1997 comedy IN & OUT. The protagonist is Howard, a closeted gay teacher played by Kevin Kline, who has made his friends and fiancee watch Streisand movies numerous times. Instead of saying "I Do" on the alter, Howard finally comes out. His fiancee Emily, played by Joan Cusack howls: "Does anybody here know how many times I had to watch Funny Lady?" Howard: "It was a sequel. She was under contract!" Emily: "Fuck Barbra Streisand! - and You!"

Funny Coincidence: while working in a studio store, a former laserdisc producer and future webmaster mentioned to a customer from Columbia Tri-Star Home Video how roadshow movies are treated too much like software, and that he would make the DVD menu for FUNNY GIRL look like a theatre marquee...



Funny Anniversary: The Hollywood Premiere of FUNNY GIRL was at the Egyptian Theatre. In recognition of its Fortieth Anniversary, and the Egyptian Theatre's 81st Anniversary, The American Cinematheque will screen the restored version of FUNNY GIRL on October 18th at 7:30pm.