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re: UGH! I can't think of a worse choice to re-invent this material...

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 02:54 pm EST 11/02/15
In reply to: re: UGH! I can't think of a worse choice to re-invent this material... - PlayWiz 02:16 pm EST 11/02/15

"In either the film 'Funny Girl' or 'Funny Lady' (I forget which) there is a short scene where she has just finished performing Snooks in costume in front of an audience watching a radio broadcast.

I don't know if it's also in FUNNY LADY, but it is in FUNNY GIRL, although I don't think it's a radio broadcast. From the wings, we see Fanny cavorting on stage as Baby Snooks, then she comes offstage and hears the new that Nick was arrested.

"The film's problem is the much weaker 2nd half: besides 'Sadie, Sadie' it doesn't have much comedy in it."

Another reason why "Find Yourself a Man" is a useful number in the stage version, even if it's not a great song.

"'The Swan' is too weak and not really funny, even if we are shown cutaway shots to the audience enjoying it."

I don't believe that number has cutaway shots of the audience enjoying it. I think there is some humor in the number, but it's not filmed well, and it's something of a mess in the way they edited it down from the much longer version. Nice to have Tommy Rall in it as the Prince, though!


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re: UGH! I can't think of a worse choice to re-invent this material...

Posted by: pierce 02:18 am EST 11/03/15
In reply to: re: UGH! I can't think of a worse choice to re-invent this material... - Michael_Portantiere 02:54 pm EST 11/02/15

You're right - Funny Girl shows Fanny Brice doing Baby Snooks on stage, while Funny Lady shows her doing Baby Snooks for a radio broadcast.

And you're right about something else - although there are cutaway shots in Funny Girl of the audience enjoying "His Love Makes Me Beautiful," there are none while "The Swan" is being performed. In fact, during the latter number, you don't even hear any audience laughter - which was a wise decision, since the number isn't particularly funny. It may be nice from a visual standpoint, and Streisand looks great in a tutu, but it doesn't offer the rousing diversion that "Rat Tat Tat Tat" brought to the stage version's second act.

I saw the uncut version of "The Swan" and thought it was a mess; the two versions shown in the film weren't any better (or funnier), but at least they were shorter. But I agree about Tommy Rall; seeing him onscreen is always a pleasure.


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re: UGH! I can't think of a worse choice to re-invent this material...

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 11:29 am EST 11/03/15
In reply to: re: UGH! I can't think of a worse choice to re-invent this material... - pierce 02:18 am EST 11/03/15

"Although there are cutaway shots in Funny Girl of the audience enjoying 'His Love Makes Me Beautiful,' there are none while 'The Swan' is being performed. In fact, during the latter number, you don't even hear any audience laughter - which was a wise decision, since the number isn't particularly funny."

Yes, interesting! Have you ever seen the full, unedited version of "The Swan?" I haven't, but apparently it was much longer, and some of the editing of the final version is very sloppy. But I kind of doubt they ever intended to have audience reactions shots for that number.


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