| Overall Grade: |
A+ |
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| Story: |
A+ |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
A+ |
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| Visuals: |
A+ |
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A Fitting End
by Cinemabon (movies profile)
Jul 4, 2005
1
of
1 people found this review helpful
William Wyler was one of the finest film directors who ever sat in the chair. His films have been nominated for more Oscars than any film director in the history of the medium. "Funny Girl" came at the twilight of his career. Most of his triumphs had become legend in a town born of myth. He had done historical films, war movies, westerns, biblical epics, and personal dramas; the musical was just another notch on his directorial finder. Harry Stradling, Jr. was a tried and true cinemaphotographer, and as experienced in just about every genre as was Wyler. Together, they photographed a hook-nosed New York girl who had no screen persona, and made her look like a model from Vogue. Having a stage presence is one thing. Having star power on that screen is another. The team gathered at Columbia were all men who had devoted their entire lives to film. Through Wyler, they made Streisand look and sound great.
In the midst of all these men came a young and very fresh Barbara Streisand, who had been an enormous hit on broadway for over a decade, and had made numerous appearances on television. Wyler and his team took this awkward and ugly young talent and made her a star. Jack Hayes and Walter Scharf took Jule Styne's score and really jazzed it up, giving it more punch and pizazz. The result? When Streisand finished the fifth reel on a tugboat in New York, audiences' were on their feet applauding from Cleveland to Phoenix.
The following year, the Academy awarded the first time film actress with the Best Actress award. I've never heard her thank Willie or any of the crew that made her look the best she ever has in any film she ever made... but she should. The DVD narration track, which should of had Streisand telling us about the shoot, was mysteriously and ominously absent of any contribution from her. She has so much to be proud of from this film. Yet, her political correctness of today prevents her from acknowledging how little Willie Wyler launched a career and made her a star. This was the vehicle that did that. |
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