Funny Girl was the first Barbra Streisand movie I ever saw as a kid. It was 1968 and I had just gone off the college. A habit of going to the movies every week took root. I’m sure I would have preferred an action movie, but Funny Girl opened that weekend so I bought a ticket. From the first scenes, I realized Barbra Streisand was a STAR. And the cast with Omar Sharif, Kay Medford, Anne Francis, and Walter Pidgeon were great. Now, decades later, Funny Girl is back on Blu-ray with cuts restored and extra material. If you love Funny Girl as much as I do, this new edition is a must-buy!
She was magical for a long time. I can remember seeing MY NAME IS BARBRA at my first semester in college. It was must see TV even in a college dorm.
No Blu-Ray but I did buy it on DVD last year along with the original Broadway cast album of the show (which had some songs that were dropped in the movie). I never did see her in the show but Jackie and I and some friends went on June 17, 1967 to see her free concert in Central Park.
It was only a few short blocks from Hunter College (Park Avenue & 68 Street). We were there early with only a few thousand others when she came out for a rehearsal/sound check and interacted with the audience. Eventually 150,000 people showed up.
Barbra has been more isolated, Jeff. She doesn’t like to mingle with the masses anymore. But, I still think she’s a STAR. I enjoy her early music and movies.
We were a lot closer (obviously) to the stage than we were at the 1981 Simon & Garfunkel reunion concert, when we couldn’t see them at all as we were way back behind some trees.
I guess I’m just an avoider of crowds, Jeff. I’d rather watch the Blu-ray of a Central Park concert than to be there.
You said “If you love Funny Girl as much as I do, this new edition is a must-buy!”
Sorry, but I don’t, so I won’t. I never cared for Streisand, voice or looks. Mostly, it’s that terribly nasal voice that puts me off. If she’s in a film, I’ll skip it.
I know what you mean, Rick. That nasal effect got worse as the years passed.
I agree with you about the crowds, George, but we were a lot younger then. Anyway. if something is “an event” Jackie is going to want to go and see it. She even went (with her sister) to the infamous Diana Ross concert in Central Park when the crowd rioted. Fortunately they were in the back behind some trees and had no problem, other than the torrential downpour.
Like you, Jeff. I’m not eager to be involved in a riot. Or a torrential downpour.
I liked her work, but her assinine political harping turned me off years ago.