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Fanny Brice Sings "Funny Girl" |
Feature/June 2006 |
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June
1,
2006
When it came time to make the movie "Funny Girl," several of Fanny
Brice's
signature
songs
were
incorporated
into
the
story
- a
departure
from
the
Broadway
version
of the
show
which
relied
solely
on
Styne
and
Merrill's
original
score. |
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The "Funny Girl" Score
One of the more unusual
things about "Funny Girl" on Broadway is that, for a musical biography,
the show did not offer any original Fanny Brice numbers. The music,
written by Jule Styne and Robert Merrill was a complete original score.
It wasn't until the closing night of the show when Barbra had an
opportunity to pay tribute to Fanny Brice by performing one of the
legendary comedienne's signature numbers. Barbra performed "My Man" as
her final curtain call encore, the only time an original Brice song was
ever heard during the entire run of "Funny Girl."
When it came time to make the movie, more logical heads prevailed and
three Fanny Brice numbers were interwoven into the Styne-Merrill score.
Their inclusion in the Hollywood version of "Funny Girl" added a
significant measure of legitimacy to the story of Fanny Brice. And many
consider that Barbra's emotional on-screen rendition of "My Man" was the
key that guaranteed her the Best Actress Oscar.
The
Original Brice Renditions
Barbra owes much of
her early success to her universally acclaimed portrayals of
Fanny Brice on Broadway, London and in the movies. Fanny was as big a
star in her time as Barbra is in ours, and these two funny girls
have a lot in common
musically. Though none of Fanny Brice's signature songs were
included in the stage version of "Funny Girl," Barbra had the
chance to sing three of Brice's signature songs for the film.
In the Ziegfeld Follies of
1921, Fanny Brice debuted
the ballad "My Man" and quickly established it as her signature
song. Brice later released "My Man" on Victor records and the
recording became a number 1 hit in 1922. In 1936, Brice also
performed the number in the film, "The Great Ziegfeld." Her
rendition of "My Man" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
"Second Hand Rose" was another of Brice's signature songs. It
was also performed in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1921.
In 1928, Fanny Brice introduced the song "I'd Rather Be Blue" in
the film, "My Man." The song was written by Billy Rose and Fred
Fisher.
Hear Fanny Brice sing three hits from 'Funny Girl'
(external link)
"Funny Girl" - Fact or Fiction?
-
Nick
Arnstein was Fanny's second husband. Her first
marriage was to Frank White, a barber. They were
divorced in short order.
-
Fanny
Brice was born Fanny Borach. Brice was her assumed stage
name.
-
Fanny
came from a wealthy background. Her parents owned
several profitable saloons in New Jersey. They lived on
fashionable Beekman Place in Manhattan, had servants,
and traveled the world.
-
Fanny
debuted at Keeney's burlesque hall in Brooklyn as a solo
performer, not a member of the chorus. She did not meet
Nick Arnstein there. They met in Baltimore in 1912 while
he was still married to another woman.
-
Nick
Arnstein's transgressions with the law were a lot more
serious than what was depicted in the film. He used
several aliases to cover up his international criminal
record. He had served time in Sing Sing prison well
before he and Fanny were married, so she knew his
history in advance of tying the knot. They divorced in
1927.
-
Fanny
and Nick had two children.
-
Fanny
was good friends with Irving Berlin, and it was with his
help that Fanny was able to break into show business.
-
Fanny
Brice never performed in a bride number.
-
The
Brice-Ziegfeld relationship was a professional one and
she always bowed to his creative instincts.
-
Fanny
Brice later recorded for Columbia Records.
source:
Funny Girl Debunked: Fanny
Brice Facts by
John Kenrick
Streisand and Brice at the Winter Garden
One other interesting
fact to mention is that both Barbra Streisand and Fanny Brice
were headliners at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway.
Barbra, of course,
played Fanny Brice at the Winter Garden in the 1964 musical,
"Funny Girl." Fanny Brice was a star at the Winter Garden as
well. She performed there in
two editions of "The Ziegfeld Follies" (in 1934 and 1936).
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