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Anne Francis |
People We Remember |
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Actor
Anne Francis, who played Ziegfeld
Girl Georgia James opposite Barbra Streisand in the film version of "Funny Girl"
has passed away at the age of 80. |
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Remembering Anne Francis
Jan 3,
2011 (update)
We are saddened to learn that
Anne Francis has passed away
after a lengthy battle with
cancer. Francis played Ziegfeld
Girl Georgia James opposite
Barbra Streisand in the film
version of "Funny Girl." She
died yesterday at a hospice near
her home in
Santa Barbara, California at the
age of 80.
Anne Francis was perhaps best
known as TV's "Honey West" for
which she won a Golden Globe in
1965. "Funny Girl" aside,
Anne Francis's most notable film
role was in the sci-fi- classic,
"Forbidden Planet" opposite
(future Streisand co-stars)
Leslie Nielsen and Walter
Pidgeon. Nielsen passed away
this past November.
Our original profile of Anne
Francis, which we first
published here in 2009, is
presented below. |
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Honey West Meets Ziegfeld
 Early in her career, Anne Francis became the queen of the B-movies.
Her most famous film role was opposite Walter Pidgeon (right) and Leslie
Nielsen in the 1956 science fiction cult classic, "Forbidden Planet"
(in 1968, Francis and Pidgeon would reunite on screen opposite Barbra
Streisand in
"Funny Girl"; Nielsen would later appear with Barbra
in 1987's "Nuts").
Anne Francis was one of Hollywood's earliest sex symbols, and as time
progressed, she became a genuine pop culture icon. She was even
immortalized in the score of
"The
Rocky Horror Picture Show."
If you're old enough
to remember the 1965 television detective series called "Honey West,"
you'll also remember the excitement created by its star. Anne Francis
was cast by producer Aaron Spelling for a role that blended just the
right amount of drama, suspense and sex appeal to attract big
audiences.
Anne
Francis and "Honey West" were ABC's answer to Diana Rigg and the
British series "The Avengers." "Honey West" was also a precursor to
another Aaron Spelling phenomenon called "Charlie's Angels."
But in fact, when ABC actually acquired
the broadcast rights to "The Avengers," "Honey West" was deemed
redundant. The show was cancelled despite its high ratings and a
Golden Globe win for Anne Francis as Best Female TV Star. The show ran
for just one season - a heartbreaking blow for Anne Francis.
The
"Funny Girl" Controversy
 If you read one of Isobel Lennart's early shooting scripts
for "Funny Girl," you'll notice that the role of Ziegfeld Girl Georgia
James had quite a bit of substance to it, much more than the final cut of the
film revealed. In fact, when Anne Francis initially read the part of
Georgia, she even thought there might be a Best Supporting award in
the offing. The part
was that good.
But
as shooting progressed, the character of Georgia was whittled down,
and with it, Anne Francis' hopes for any measure of critical
reception. Barbra Streisand was the star of the film, indisputably. To
have focused any part of the story on another female character would
have been a mistake. So in yet another unfortunate twist of fate for Anne Francis,
her best scenes were left on the cutting room floor.
Over the years, the story of Anne's fate in "Funny Girl" became
legendary with Anne herself bearing the brunt of harsh criticism. Tales of a
sour-grapes feud between Francis
and director William Wyler made the rounds, while some even suggested
that it was Barbra who demanded Anne's role be cut. Regardless
of the reason, from an
artistic point of view, Wyler's final cut of "Funny Girl" came out
just right. And we now know that Anne Francis never blamed Barbra for
what happened.
Anne Sets the Record Straight
For years, Anne Francis has had to contend with a large amount of
negative press over the "Funny Girl "incident." In an
open letter to Barbra,
which she published on her web site in 2002, Anne finally set the
record straight:
Dear Barbra,
 It
has gnawed at me for years that you have believed that I blamed you
for cutting most of my scenes from “Funny Girl.” ... I tried to make
it plain that I did not blame you, and had no idea why I was cut from
the film. To this day, I don’t know the circumstances that caused the
decision, but I am lead to believe it probably had to do with the
length of the film. The sub plot of Georgia’s histrionics with Florenz
Ziegfeld was really not necessary to the story about Fanny Brice.
... The whole thing
was messy and painful. I had never been embroiled in that sort of
ruckus before ... I had hoped then that it would all blow over
quickly.
... The role of Georgia was a great gem for me, and I had high hopes
(I had just come off of “Honey West”) that it would do a lot for my
“career.” The flashy role, along with the drunk scene (which hit the
editor’s floor) pretty much cinched the prospect of a supporting
nomination with the Academy that year.
... I have had the greatest respect for your talent and for what you
have made of yourself, Barbra. You are a brilliant woman and I have
always wished you the very best. One more time, it is important for me
before I leave this planet to say, I have never accused you of having
the role of Georgia cut to the quick.
God Bless,
Anne
Today, Anne Francis
lives in Santa Barbara, California. According to her own recent web
site updates, she is struggling with cancer in a battle that, thankfully, she
appears to be winning. So to Anne, our favorite TV detective, sci-fi
heroine, and "Funny Girl" co-star (you were still great as Georgia
James), we wish you a speedy and lasting recovery.
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