Barbra Streisand? Yes please. 

 

Funny Girl is a 1968 Romance/Musical (directed by William Wyler) that follows a young Fanny Brice (played by Streisand) as she works up the ladder from being a bit player on the New York City vaudeville stage to being a Broadway sensation. Along her early journey, she meets Nick Arnstein (played by Omar Sharif), whom she soon marries. Her husband, Arnstein, is a businessman, but Fanny is soon to be surprised when she finds out what type of business. 

 

This movie was one of my early favorites. A good laugh, a good romance, and brilliant songs. (NOTE: I cry during “My Man”), Some of my favorite scenes were where Fanny was on stage. Early in the movie, we know that she wants to become a star. In the film, she is often criticized by her family and by Ziegfeld (played by Walter Pidgeon) for her big personality and her looks. However, her personality ultimately allows her to reach stardom. With her quirky performances and amazing voice, she wins the heart of the public. Not only does this show that a woman does not have to “be pretty” by society’s standards to succeed in life, but it shows that being true to one’s character is the first step to getting there. 

 

Fanny also defies the stereotype that all women have to be “proper” and “modest.” The film is called Funny Girl for a reason. She’s meant to be funny and known for this personality. Being a 60s film, this really surprised me. Women in film have historically been sidelined as being nothing more than the mere love interest. In Funny Girl, this is the complete opposite. Fanny is the main character, and the film is about her climbing up the ladder of success (which, spoiler alert, she achieves). Though it is also heavily suited on the romance side of her marriage with Arnstein, Fanny’s overarching goal was to make it to Broadway. Also good to note here is that women have historically been perceived as incapable of humor. This is most evidently not true. Women can be both proper and full of personality. Looks are not a trait, but a person’s character is. 

 

Funny Girl is a film for the feminists. Women can have humor. Women are more than their appearances. Women can succeed despite what society tells them. A woman’s life is more than just her relationships.

 

If you like musicals or romances (or both) I highly recommend this gem <3