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Ah, Barbra. Of all her onscreen personas, she sparkles in none as she does in her role as 1930s comedian Fanny Brice in the musical Funny Girl. Portraying the life of this star of stage and radio, Brice preens and prances and sings, captivating her audience both onscreen and off. Fanny Brice started life on the Lower East Side of New York, the daughter of a Jewish saloon owner. Not the prettiest girl around, Brice still managed to quickly rise to stardom as a performer in the Ziegfield Follies. A shrewd, obstinate woman, Brice dictated her own success story on stage; things were a different matter in romance.Falling hard for the stunning Nick Arnstein (suavely played by Omar Sharif), Brice must navigate a difficult marriage. While kids may love the tunes (which include the now-infamous "People," as in "People who need people are the luckiest people in the world"), the plot is definitely adult-oriented. Enjoy this one, but don't go too far out of your way for the sequel, Funny Lady. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Streisand's First, Streisand's Best
Wow. One usually becomes a Streisand fan after seeing this movie. I certainly did. Streisand's movie debut begs the question: "Is a nose with deviation such a crime against the nation?" (sung by Fanny Brice's mother in the film). Barbra is Fanny is Barbra. When Streisand as Fanny tells Omar Shariff as Nick that he made her feel "beautiful", who can not love this woman?

The new DVD includes a restored version of the film and an incredibly clear soundtrack. Unless you saw the limited theatrical release this summer, then you have probably never seen FUNNY GIRL in its widescreen presentation. For years I had watched a faded pan-and-scan VHS version. Barbra's hilarious business of straightening her dress in the "You Are Woman" scene is completely cut out in pan-and-scan! Director William Wyler shot the film with a lot of widescreen compositions that the pan-and-scan versions always butchered. Thank you, Columbia, for this restored, widescreen DVD!

I remember watching THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT and seeing highlight clips from famous musicals. They showed "Don't Rain On My Parade" from FUNNY GIRL ...Barbra on the tug boat holding that note ("Paa-aa-raaaaaad-de") as the camera revealed the Statue of Liberty. I was thrilled. The DVD contains a theatrical short that shows behind the scenes footage of how they shot the entire "Parade" number -- really incredible footage!

The movie's second act, a bit slow, gives Streisand the chance to show her acting chops!

"My Man" at the movie's end features a "live" Streisand vocal as she cries on stage then triumphantly finishes. That scene won Barbra the Oscar. It is truly incredible.

I am disappointed that the DVD did not include more of the scenes I've always heard about but never seen. The AFI tribute (on ABC earlier this year) remains the only place you can see scenes from the Swan Ballet number that were cut. Also, I wish there was a Streisand commentary. Can you imagine the reflections about making this film that she could share?

People who see FUNNY GIRL are the luckiest people in the world.

The Greatest Star Comes to DVD - Worth the Wait!
First off - the DVD: It's a letterbox transfer of pristine new print that has been digitally restored (sometimes frame by frame) back to its original condition. Funny Girl hasn't looked this good in thirty years - so if you've only seen it on VHS or TV, you're in for a visual treat. I saw the restored print on a huge screen this past fall, and believe me, this transfer does it justice. In addition they have included the pre-show and intermission music as well. The additional documentary material is nothing to write home about. But I think whoever did the DVD menu deserves kudos for styling it like the New Amsterdam theater marquee from the first shot of the movie, with highlights from the film playing in the background. Very appropriate and very clever.

Funny Girl is A.) the musical biography of comedienne-singer Fanny Brice, and B.) the Oscar-winning film debut of 26 year old Barbra Streisand. As theatrical history lesson it's pretty flawed - (Arnstein was Brice's *second* husband, for example). The Streisand - Brice connection is strong, however. Fanny, like Barbra, wore her Jewishness as a badge of honor - in contrast to most Jewish performers of the day, who tried to blend in as much as possible. As a matter of fact, the "You Are Woman, I Am Man" seduction scene plays like a Brice "Follies" sketch.

And as a star vehicle for Striesand, it's a winner. When she belts out "I'm the Greatest Star" at the beginning of the picture you will understand what it feels like to be in the presence of raw, pure talent. At the end of them film when she falters on the opening words of "My Man", you'll remember what it feels like to watch your beloved walk out of your life.

William Wyer seems to be aware that he's launching a new star. The way he introduces Barbra - that long walk with her back to the camera in the leopard coat - ending with the first teasing glimpse of her face in the mirror - "Hello, gorgeous." It was certainly a closeup that many film folk were sure would have audiences recoiling in horror. Certainly plain looking Barbra couldn't make it as a movie star. Well, it's not news anymore, but certainly a surprise at the time, Barbra photographs beautifully. Even Barbra-hater Rex Reed had to admit at the time, "It took the combined efforts of God knows how many people to do it, but I'll be damned if they haven't made her beautiful!"

Omar Sharif plays opposite Barbra, and he holds up his end of the film nicely, no small feat when you consider that the script gives him little to do and the entire property has been tailored to Streisand's strengths. No one else registers, with the possible exception of Kay Medford as Fanny's mother. (Poor Anne Francis sued Columbia after the film was released, claiming Streisand had her cut out of the finished film. Most of you are sitting there thinking, "Anne, who?")

All in all, one of the better Sixties Broadway musical adaptations. (Note: Funny Girl was nominated for Best Picture in 1968. It lost to another Columbia Pictures musical - Oliver! If you liked Funny Girl, check out Oliver! - it's a better movie, even though it has no star names over the title. More 1968 Oscar trivia - Barbra won for Best Actress in a tie with Kathrine Hepburn of "Lion in Winter". In Oscar balloting there can only be a tie when there are the exact same number of votes. Why do I mention this? Well, it just so happens that because of her "special stature" in the industry, Barbra Streisand was admitted as a voting member of the Academy that year - with the release of just her first film. I wonder who she voted for???? If she hadn't been given special treatment, maybe Kate Hepburn's name would had been the only one announced that night!)

Best Musical
I saw this movie as a teenager and loved it. Barbra Streisand is timeless. I can't wait to add Funny Girl to my collection.

"He's got polish on his nails."
The ultimate showcase for an actress, Barbra Streisand's highly publicized film debut in FUNNY GIRL met every single expectation and then some. The film was the highest-grossing film of 1968, and it's very easy to see why. The film has many great qualities: It's expertly directed by three-time Academy Award winner William Wyler (the finale of the "Don't Rain On My Parade" number is just as astonishing as the chariot race in Wyler's BEN HUR), the storyline is extremely compelling, Omar Sharif is an incredibly suave and charismatic leading man, the supporting players are perfectly cast (particularly Kay Medford, Lee Allen, and Walter Pidgeon), and the song score (primarily by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill) is first-rate.

However, virtually everything that FUNNY GIRL has working for it would be worthless without Barbra Streisand's absolutely phenomenal performance. I honestly cannot think of enough good descriptive adjectives to do justice to her amazing performance in this film. She handles drama, comedy, music numbers, and tearjerking sentiment with equal aplomb, and she does it all better than any actress before or since. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had no choice but to honor her with the Oscar for Best Actress (in an extremely rare tie with academy favorite Katherine Hepburn; only the second tie in Oscar history to date), it is a performance that is nothing less than perfect.

About the DVD: Columbia-Tristar has done an excellent job in bringing FUNNY GIRL to DVD. The restoration of the original source elements may have taken nearly three years to complete, but it was time well spent - the picture quality is gorgeous! Sure, there are a few nicks on the print, but the color, sharpness, and virtually everything else is nearly flawless. Quite possibly one of the best vintage transfers yet. The sound is also excellent, and while there are no new features included (only vintage featurettes - I expect we'll see a special edition re-issue in the future) the menu design is fantastic.

She "IS" The Greatest Star
My dad was a movie projectonist when I was growig up and he took me to see Funny Girl when I was in the 4th grade. I saw that movie 5 times that week and a total of 26 times in every movie theater in town. What an impression it made on me as a yougster, that if you believed in yourself there isn't anything that you can't do. Of course it is my favorite movie of all time and one that I watch over and over again as if I had never seen it before. I see something new every viewing. Do you want to see one of the greatest performances of all time, then watch her perform "I'm The Greatest Star" and then watch it again and again, there has never been a debut performance like this one and probably never will again.

I have been the BIGGEST Streisand fan since and have followed her through all her movies, saw her twice in concert and have everything she has recorded, albums, tapes, 45's, CD's, foreign releases and hard to find classics, every movie poster, every book written about her and every magazine cover she has been on. This collection started back in 4th grade and now I am 47 years old so you can imagine the collection. Of it all Funny Girl has to be the shining moment . If I could have just a few hours with Ms. Streisand I would thank her and ask hundreds of questions, we are only seperated by 2 degrees of seperation, maybe that day will come! Buy this movie, if you are not a fan, you will be--I PROMISE. ... Read more

Description

A Jewish matron falls in love with a Japanese widower. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

After 43 years, I finally got to see the end
Back when I was 16 or 17 years old, I came home late one night after a date, and turned on the TV. A Majority of One was on, and I was soon wrapped up in the story. Believe it or not, as a teenager, I was totally enthralled by this story of a romance between two aging people of different cultures.

But, I came from a very strict family, and my parent's bedroom was in earshot of the TV. I knew if I woke them, I'd be in big trouble. So eventually, I got too nervous to enjoy the movie, and went to bed. But, I never forgot the movie, and always wanted to see the end.

Then one day recently, I suddenly thought about it, and realized I could probably buy it online. I couldn't remember the name of the movie offhand, but I did a search on Alec Guiness, and recognized the title when I saw it.

So, I finally got to see the end. I won't tell you the end, but I will say it was worth the wait. This is a sentimental movie, true, but it also has a number of ideas that work through it. (You remember ideas...) One of the themes, stated in other reviews, has to do with racism. Then there is main theme that, if you are right, and the rest of the world is wrong, then you form a majority of one. Great idea! And there's the idea that mature people should be respected because they have more experience in human relations than young people.

Funny thing is, my mother watched it with me, and loved it even more than I did. It was fun to watch it together as two adults, after my past history with the movie.

Okay, accepting Alec Guiness as a Japanese gentleman is a bit of a strech. But just the scene with Rosalind Russel standing pigeon-toed in a kimono is worth the price of the movie.

DON'T TOUCH MY MOUSTACHE
I love this movie! It is a tender and funny movie. Rosalind Russell (Mrs. Jacoby) shares her jewish traditions with a Japanese gentleman while in Japan. It is about how racism can be overcome by gentle understanding. How graceful times were. Truly a gem!

A Majority of One
This is one of the ultimate feel good movies of the 20th century. Watching the characters develope slowly and completely is so fulfilling. The relationships within the different families in different cultures is so encouraging. It is a little fantasy that proves that there can be exciting romance even though one has raised a family, and lost a beloved long term spouse.

If you like Rosalind Russel you must see this movie.
Rosalind Russel has a great character in this movie. It's definitely a feel good movie.

I Have seen the movie and I have ejoyed it very much.
I just wanted to let you know that an off-broadway show called a majority of one is opening on January 16th at the Jewish Repertory Theatre in Manhattan it is located at 316 East 91st Street. (212) 831-2000. Just in case any one is interested. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Winky Dink cartoons, popular in the 1950s, are now interactive. This set features a "magic screen": a piece of heavy clear vinyl that clings to 27-inch television screens--it can be cut to fit smaller screens, but those with larger sets won't get full screen coverage. Also included are special crayons, soft cleaning cloth, and the first volume of Winky Dink and You all enclosed in a plastic carrying case. Viewers simply trace an onscreen object and watch as it becomes a vital tool in defeating the dastardly Harem Scarem. Don't tell the kids, but viewer drawings don't actually determine the course of the action--they simply fill in blank portions of the animation. While artwork wipes easily away from conventional television screens, the advisability of encouraging children to write on televisions and other household furnishing is debatable. This compilation contains nine episodes featuring Winky Dink, his dog Woofer, and the villainous Harem Scarem. Whether Harem Scarem is corrupting the King, disturbing the music of the spheres, or stealing precious gems, the collaborative efforts of Winky Dink, Woofer, and young viewers ensures that good will prevail. (Ages 3 and older) --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Get fun for the young and young at heart!
I was a huge WINKY DINK AND YOU fan as a kid and was so excited to see that this simple, but simply wonderful interactive set was back for today's generation of kids! All you do is put a piece of plastic (provided in the kit) on the TV screen and following the cartoon character's instructions, you draw something, like a line, that becomes a bridge that magically becomes integrated into the cartoon! The crayons and magic wipe (also in the kit) enables kids do two interactive pieces easily in each cartoon, and there are 18 cartoons in each volume. It's perfect for kids ages four and up. Even a video-obsessed 14 year-old-friend of my daughter thought it was real "cool." The lunch box-type kit is easy to transport, making it great for anyone, including babysitters going to their jobs, to carry it! Anyone who remembers Winky Dink (and his catchy theme song) will be ecstatic that he's returned. Anyone who doesn't know Winky Dink and Woofer and Harum Scarum should! This is great!

Winky Dink Revisited
I was a fan of this show 1st time around (50+ years ago) and was happy to see this release on DVD. I bought it for my wife whose parents were too cheap to shell out the 50 cents for her at the time. She had to have the Winky experience...the bliss of drawing on the TV screen! The 60's version completely escaped me because teenagers didn't do Winky, so these episodes were completely new to me. What was missing was Jack Barry's (50's) cornball antics. I must say, I was disappointed that the second Bonus Episode was faulty: it played the soundtrack of Episode One over the out-of-sync Episode Two. Also Ed Wykhoff's commentary feature was non-functional on my DVD. Otherwise, it was a thrill!...

Who knew crayons on the TV screen could be so much fun?
The concept is simple: Two cartoon characters have adventures on TV, and you have to help them by drawing on the screen. This kit includes the plastic overlay to protect your screen, a cleaning cloth, 6 crayons, and a video with 9 adventures. Other videos are available.

Who would have guessed that such a simple concept would be so much fun? Our 4 year old loves it. We're looking forward to inviting over friends so she can play again with them.

A must-see for all ages
We bought this video with memories of Winky Dink from growing up in the fifties. Our four children, ages 5 through 14, are wild about it, and that's quite an accomplishment for all of them to enjoy the same thing. It's very easy to use and fun for all. For anyone who wants to go back in time to the early days of television and share this nostalgia with each other and with new generations, this video is a MUST!!! We are going to buy several copies to give as gifts and even to save for our grandchildren!!!!

New Winky Dink Lover
Though I am not of the winky dink gernrations (they were aired in the 50's and later in the 70's, I am only 16) my parents were, and stubmbled across this rare gem. Since reciving the kit, I have used it for babysitting, and have found not only do the kids love it and beg for more, but they keep on wanting me to come back, and each time watch Winky Dink again and again! Thank you Winky Dink!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Three views of life in the city of all cities comprise this film, with segments directed by Woody Allen, Francis Coppola, and Martin Scorsese.The best of the three is "Life Lessons," directed by Scorsese, about an artist (played by Nick Nolte) who uses his hypersuccess to lure beautiful young aspiring artists to serve as his assistant/lovers. The segment is an astute portrait of the nature of the New York art world. In "Life Without Zoe," Coppola portrays the life of the privileged Zoe, the daughter of a world-renowned flutist, whose adventures on the Upper East Side (in the upper echelons of society) play like something approaching a cartoon. Woody Allen finishes up the film with his "Oedipus Wrecks," a typical Allen number about a successful New York lawyer who's still hounded by his mother--the title tells you all you need to know. Though stronger segments to complement Scorsese's would have made this film much more interesting and enjoyable, it does provide an accurate glimpse into this wondrous city and is a must-see for anyone fascinated by New York. --James McGrath ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Scorsese Over All!
I didn't think much of the Woody Allen segment (although he's one of my favorite filmmakers) and I hated the Coppola piece but I'm still giving this one 5 stars because of "Life Lessons" which in the first of three short films in this collection. No other movie that I can think of better illustrates the creative thought processes of the artist (Nick Nolte) or their sense of lonely isolation. He cannot live without women and even hilariously tells his young assistant, and I quote from memory, "I don't know anything about love? I was married and divorced four times before you were even born!" Nolte is tortured by his desires and his isolation but even lust will not allow him to compromise his artistic integrity. When Arquette pleads with him concerning whether she has any talent or not, Nolte refuses to lie to appease her. Instead he elects not to answer her question which infuriates her even more. Although he is downtrodden throughout much of the film the ending is a happy one. I own the VHS and have seen the 40 minutes of "Life Lessons" at least seven times over the years. I highly recommend it.

2/3 of a good film
There are two-thirds of a good movie in this movie, as New York's three most famous directors each contributed a short film about an aspect of New York life. The opening short, "Life Lessons" by Martin Scorsese and starring Nick Nolte and Roseann Arquette is a unforgiving look at the competitive, abusive, almost cannibalistic world of a megalomaniacal painter. I read somewhere that this short is flawed because Nolte's character doesn't change. That is not a flaw; that's the point. The ego of a successful artist, according to Scorsese, will not soften, will not learn what a conscience is, will not admit that there are other artists in his/her world. Even when the artist recognizes talent in someone else, it is quickly dismissed. The ego lords over all.

The final short film, "Oedipus Wrecks" by Woody Allen is typical comic genius. The plot is simple. Woody takes his overbearing mother to a magic show, and the magician makes her disappear. Completely disappear. The magician himself doesn't know how he did it. When mom appears as an apparition in the clouds, and speaks to the entire population of Gotham about her son, the laughs are endless.

In between these two films is one directed by Francis Ford Coppola. I can't tell you what it's about. I have yet to sit through more than ten minutes of it.

They are all good, but...
I cast my vote Woody's way. I just love the interaction between the over-the-top characters, wonderfully portrayed by Allen, Julie Kavner, and yes, Mia is good too -- can't always say that...

The real gem here is one of the final performances by Mae Questel, who once upon a time played "Betty Boop." Soon after this performance she began to decline due to Alzheimers.

This is the zany, neurotic fun that made Allen's early comedies my favorite part of his opus. Once upon a time when I was a teacher, I used "Oedipus Wrecks" with my students as a "visual short story." I had them write the ending of the story before they saw it. We had great fun with it.

Second I'd vote for Coppola's "Life Without Zoe" based, again, on the performances, especially Heather McComb's debut. She hasn't done much of note since, but I really enjoyed her here.

Scorsese's "Life Lessons" felt flat to me, despite Nolte and Arquette, both of whom I usually really like. It seemed talky and more like some of Allen's later work. There is a germ of a good idea here -- sexual obsession versus art and getting on with one's life, but I felt the film just didn't deliver.

I skipped everything but Life Lessons.
But that is an absolutely amazing film. I lived in that world for a very long time, and then got out. The film is dead ON in its presentation of the art world during that era, but what struck me most was the absolute dispassionate fairness with which the two main characters, a famous painter and his young "assistant," are presented.

Here are two people using each other, and at the same time dazzled by each other, each in a completely different way. We are given just a glimpse of the tenderness they must have shared early in their relationship when the dazzlement would have been enough to make them believe that what they felt was love.

The same story could have been told about any of the other NYC worlds where people tend to love mostly their own ambitions and only secondarily the idea of someone else. You get the feeling, watching Nolte, that he's on to himself, but doesn't have a choice. As really none of us does, when it comes to being what we are, and whom we love.

New York, the unperishable
Three directors to approach the diversity of New York.
Scorsese depicts the life of a painter in this city. He is a cannibal and needs to possess a younger woman, slightly artistic to find his momentum and his inspiration. He is the absolute vampire who sucks life out of her till she rebels and goes away, but he needs this resistance for inspiration to work.
Coppola looks at the city through the eyes of a young girl, the daughter of an internationally famous photographer, her mother, and an internationally famous flutist, her father. She lives in that rich world without any parents with her most of the time and finds a sudden pleasure when she can take a plane with her mother to fly to a concert of her father's somewhere in the wild wide world. Is that a life for a child ? It sure is the life of the children of that class of world-wide artists and celebrities and New York is an excellent base for them to grow somewhat normally.
Woody Allen goes back to his obsession of a Jewish possessive mother who cannot accept her son to be an independent person. She meddles and the trick is her disappearance and reapparition in the sky of Manhattan talking for weeks to everyone in the street and developing a consciousness of everyday life problems. New York, in that vision, is seen as the ultimate mother and the primeval family.
New York is thus shown as a multifarious entity where people live in a world of their own, a world suspended in mid air, somewhere in another space and time. Outlandish, eerie and fascinating. Nothing can destroy a city like this, and the vision of the twin towers of the WTC are there to remind us of that absolute perennity in resurrection if necessary... ... Read more

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You know exactly what you're getting in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: another goofball, slapstick comedy of chaos and catastrophe with Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and family. This time, there's no traveling involved: Clark and Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) prepare for a nice Christmas with the kids (played by none other than Juliette Lewis and Roseanne star Johnny Galecki), when their home is invaded by backwoods cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) and his brood, along with assorted other crazy and/or stuffy relatives. Complications, of course, are inevitable. The film is preceded by National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) and National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) and followed by National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation (1997). Directed by Jeremiah Chechik, who went on to do Benny & Joon and the Sharon Stone remake of Diabolique. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (209)

A Christmas Classic!
The film that inspired a whole generation of exterior illuminators! Subsequent to the release of this film, houses soon began Christmas-light makeovers, which I think really adds to the atmosphere of the season! Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo are superb in this John Hughes classic Christmas comedy - as is Randy Quaid. Clark W Griswold Jnr is anxious to have the 'perfect' old fashioned, fun, family Chritmas. But, as usual, nothing goes according to plan: Getting stuck under a truck in the opening minutes... becoming psychotic over the failing of the thousands of lights he's added to the building... ruining the Christmas of Tod and Margo (their yuppie, bourgesois next door neighbours)...Eddie (Quaid) kidnapping Clark's boss because Clark didn't recieve his bonus cheque, needed to pay for a swimming pool...a storm sewer exploding (and the poor cat!)...the tree getting burnt...etc...Leading to the house teetering on 'the threshold of Hell'! There are many great moments in this movie. My personal favourite is when he takes Eddie and the kids sledging: a silicone-based kitchen lubricant Clark's company invented is smeared onto his sledge, propelling him like a rocket! The scenery is so Christmassy here. I have a selection of Christmas movies I stack around the video at this time of year. Christmas Vacation takes prime position. I have seen it *so* many times yet I am still not bored with it. Note: There is mild bad language in the PG version, but for those with younger children, some versions have worse. I really don't know why Hughes had to do this; this film could be accessible to all, as with Miracle On 34th Street (Hughes' remake). As is usual with John Hughes, those typical huge mansions (as with Home Alone, Ferris Bueller and Uncle Buck) feature. The photography is very Christmassy and it just might get you in the mood... The DVD has the trailer (including the other Vacation trailers), different language options, production notes etc... I am glad to have found a site that sells those reindeer egg nog glasses too!

At Long Last!!!!!!!!!!
Finally, after all this time, Warner Brothers have come to their senses. On October 7th, we will be treated to a heftly helping of one of the greatest Christmas films to ever grace the silver screen............in WIDESCREEN.

I was extremely disappointed with the previous DVD release of this film which contained a pan & scan presentation and nothing more than a theatrical trailer in the extras department.

What we have here is a special edition of this great movie, which will contain audio commentary from both Beverly D'Angelo and Chevy Chase, a "making of" featurette, as well as other stocking stuffers which have yet to be disclosed at this present time.

Being a huge fan of this movie, I honestly can't wait for this release. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" has become a holiday tradition in my home, and to be able to see it the way it was intended to be seen is truly a treat for me.

Aside from the features of the disk, the film itself is the true gift. One of the funniest movies today which still withstands the test of time even 15 years later. The premise is simple. Clark W. Griswold (Chevy Chase) is hell bent on having an old-fashioned family Christmas in his home, relatives and all. Of course, the hilarity kicks in when things start to go awry. There are so many hilarious scenes in this movie, it would be difficult to list them all. You have everything from an electrocuted cat, to a house with the brightest Christmas light display known to man. Let's not forget the dried up turkey, the saucer sled and the dog/squirrel chase! There's so much more I could say to praise this movie, but if you haven't already seen it, [I won't say more]

The Griswalds are great
The group at national lampoon have a real winner in this one. It is the christmas from hell, and about the greatest christmas comedy there is. It is decided to have an old fashion christmas... all the family on both sides gathering together to celebrate christmas, and the joy of family. Well, it is national lampoon, so you know thats not all together whats going to happen. When you mix in-laws, snooty neighbors, alcohol, and the less desirable part of any family, you get something great! It's 97 minutes of National Lampoons best!

Phenominal
This has to be one of the best "Vacation" movies made yet. I cannot express this enough. It's definitly on my list of all time Christmas Classics, and you can still watch it throughout the year!

The "Vacation" movies really dig into almost any typical American's search to make the perfect vacation, life, experience for their family. Chevy Chase and Beverly DiAngelo just highlight it and make it all funny. I have had many friends and neighbors we could dub "the Grizwolds" over the years because of the bumbling things they've tried to do and these movies hit home, especially Christmas Vacation.

Buy it, love it!

The Griswold Family's Christmas From Hell
It's amazing that Chevy Chase wasn't maimed or killed during the making of this movie. I know, there were plenty of stunt players who fell off the roof, crashed through the attic, were flung about into brick walls, etc.---but still! Chevy, who had a well-publicized stint in the Betty Ford Clinic for addiction to painkillers (due to extreme back pain caused by, of all things, his numerous falls on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1970's while spoofing then-President Gerald Ford---how ironic is that???), certainly took on a certain level of risk in reprising his role as the perpetually clumsy, but good-intentioned, WASP patriarch Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Jr. in this, the third installment of the VACATION series by Chase's old comedy troupe, National Lampoon.

Having not seen (as of yet, believe it or not) either VACATION or EUROPEAN VACATION, I was a bit unfamiliar with the main characters; however, CHRISTMAS VACATION got me to know them real fast. I have to admit, I have not been a Chevy Chase fan since the '70's, during and immediately after his SNL days. (Let's face facts, the show made him an instant star, but he was never really one of the funniest members of the Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time Players.) However, I believe that he gives a truly inspired comedic performance in CHRISTMAS VACATION. I'm not even referring to the copious physical comedy he displays. I'm actually talking about his comedic acting! I love the manic energy with which Chase infuses his role, and the crazed look in his eye when his character is pushed over the edge. Beverly D'Angelo, as patient but frequently unamused wife Ellen, provides a good low-key foil for his over-the-top antics. She's well-cast and, I must say, beautiful.

As far as acting talent goes, this film has no shortage in this department. A pre-stardom Juliette Lewis is welcome as Griswold daughter Audrey, and a very young Johnny Galecki is engaging as her kid brother Russell (three years before he was cast as Darlene's lazy boyfriend David on the hit TV show "Roseanne"). We also get memorable performances from E.G. Marshall, Doris Roberts, an unrecognizable Dianne Ladd, and a hysterically funny William Hickey. Rounding out the mix is Randy Quaid as filthy slob Cousin Eddie (who parks his trailer in the driveway), Nicholas Guest and Julia-Louis Dreyfus as the bland and stuck-up neighbors next door, and Brian Doyle-Murray who serves up good moments as Clark's old crabby boss.

The problem with CHRISTMAS VACATION is that, while it does contain some very funny scenes with lots of great, memorable one-liners, it is marred by inferior direction on the part of first-time director Jeremiah Chechik. He tends to interlace the fast-paced physical scenes with long, slow ones that grind the movie to a dead halt every time. While I didn't expect the level of non-stop, lightning-paced zaniness a la AIRPLANE!, these extended slow breaks (that usually focus on a character staring dreamily into the sky) are awkwardly placed and paced, and thereby create an uneven viewing experience. However, John Hughes' smart and wickedly funny script pretty much saves the day. I wouldn't add this to the list of perennial must-see Christmas films (such as A CHRISTMAS STORY or IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE), but CHRISTMAS VACATION does offer a lot of fun for the whole family (except for kids under the age of 10, as the language is well-seasoned with four-letter words). If it does nothing else, this film should make you feel a lot better about your Christmas!

MODERATELY RECOMMENDED ... Read more

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Funny Girl
Ah, Barbra. Of all her onscreen personas, she sparkles in none as she does inher role as 1930s comedian Fanny Brice in the musical Funny Girl.Portraying the life of this star of stage and radio, Brice preens and prancesand sings, captivating her audience both onscreen and off. Fanny Brice startedlife on the Lower East Side of New York, the daughter of a Jewish saloon owner.Not the prettiest girl around, Brice still managed to quickly rise to stardom asa performer in the Ziegfield Follies. A shrewd, obstinate woman, Brice dictatedher own success story on stage; things were a different matter in romance.Falling hard for the stunning Nick Arnstein (suavely played by Omar Sharif),Brice must navigate a difficult marriage. While kids may love the tunes (whichinclude the now-infamous "People," as in "People who need people are theluckiest people in the world"), the plot is definitely adult-oriented. Enjoythis one, but don't go too far out of your way for the sequel, FunnyLady. --Jenny Brown

Funny Lady
When Barbra Streisand played Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, she brought tolife a sympathetic yet strong-headed performer of stage and radio. In thesequel, Funny Lady, Brice comes off as a harsher woman, slightly bitchy,without the tremendous charm she possessed in the first film. Herbert Ross takesover as director (William Wyler oversaw Funny Girl), and the film justseems to get away from him. This sequel picks up during the Great Depression,when even the great star Fanny Brice is suffering. Along comes Billy Rose (JamesCaan), a small-time hustler who's out to make it big in show biz. The two pairup, both professionally and romantically, although things are uncertain when herfirst husband, Nick Arnstein (Omar Sharif), reappears on the scene. Much to themovie's detriment, Funny Lady concentrates more on Brice's professionallife than on her personal life, as the first film does. The songs areelaborately staged numbers that Brice performs in the theaters, and while theyare visually lush and spectacular, they lack conviction. Caan is solid in hisrole as the bumbling producer, but overall, the film is a disappointment. If youwant more Barbra and Brice, rewatch Funny Girl. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Must for Collectors
These two movies are a must for any collector. Unforgettable music in both and fine acting, despite the critics panning of the sequel. Streisand and Caan are wonderful together.

Classic Striesand
Both Funny/Girl and Funny/Lady both tell the wonderful of the comediane Fanny Brice. Stiesand was born to play this woman. Great supporting casting from Omar Sharif and James Caan. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Bizarre Betty at her best!
These cartoons have to be seen to be believed! Bimbo's Initiation, Is My Palm Red and Betty Boop M.D. are the weirdest things you'll see without breaking any laws.

What must have been in the air at the Fleischer Studios in the early Thirties is anyone's guess. Brilliant stuff that anyone from a casual fan to a student of animation has to see - not just amoung the classic cartoons but amoung the classic films of all time!

Also, the masters used for this series are beautiful, with the only downside being the lose of the Paramount logo on most of them. You will not find better quality B/W cartoons even from Disney.

Surrealism and the boopster
An amazing collection of some of the more imaginative animation of all time. The Fleischers were the greatest innovators of their day, and stretched the bounds of reality far more than any other studio. As Max put it, "if it can happen in real life, it isn't animation.". His brother Dave put this theory into practice.

The first three volumes of this series are the pre-code toons, the others are a bit too cutesy for my tastes. Volume 3 belongs in everyone's collection, it contains 8 classics of surrealism, including "Bimbo's Inititaion" ... Read more

Reviews (5)

THE ANIMATED DIVA.
Betty Boop,"Boop oop a Doop!" This girl was one naughty diva. But I liked her. The creators created her with a lot of sex appeal, and spunk. She was definitely created for the adult audience. These unique cartoon shorts were quite erotic in view, and should take the rate of PG. For the adults, who enjoy viewing Betty Boop cartoons, this one is a must own.

Cartoons don't get any better than this!
I may have seen some of these cartoons when I was small, on TV in the late 50's. Or maybe they just have a familiar quality that connects to me personally. These cartoons are really animated; everything in them is alive and constantly interre lating and moving with the music to create a complex carnival parade of fantastic, vibrant, evocative imagery. The best of them are at once funny, tragic, sexy, and sweet. The most interesting thing to me is the different and seemingly contradictory ways that Betty is portrayed in different cartoons, and even within the same cartoon. Some of this is because she was drawn differently by different artists and her personality developed over time, but that is just like in life. So if she should slap a lecherous attacker in the face one minute and be coming on to him the next, she has her reasons, and the one thing we can count on is that she will be protected; because her experience is her innocence, her strength is her weakness, and so her character is consistent and simple after all. Also, she has her friends Bimbo and Koko, and all of the wild animals of the forest, to help her if necessary.
Because the best of these cartoons represent love, life, and happiness, they have been suppressed to some degree over the years. My favorites are the three with Cab Calloway, particularly Snow White, which is a real classic. There are a few that you would probably not care to watch more than once or twice, but most of the toons on this video are at least very good. One problem is that the film seems to have been cropped, so you sometimes can't see the whole picture, particularly the very top.

great historically and musically
The first few segments are outdated and interesting only from an historical perspective. Don't let this deter you. The rest of the segments are fabulous. The musical numbers really swing. With the animation you can "see" the music. The work here shows great development when compared to the earlier sequences. You will not see these on TV. Political correctness will prevent that. I do not believe any of what is shown is meant to be hurtful although some may interpret it that way.

Betty's Beautiful Classics!
With the state of animation today, and only a few mainstream successes that are actually any good (stand up and take a bow Simpsons) it is a pleasure to find a tape like this.

These truely unique cartoons, that stood out from the crowd even in the Thirties, are amoung the greatest and most unusual animation ever made. Each cartoon is such a bizarre stream of consciousness its sometimes breathtaking.

Worth the price just for the excellent Cab Calloway an Louis Armstrong performances and for Betty Boop's Bamboo Isle.

A major point about this series is the quality of the films. You really won't find any cartoons from the Thirties in better condition - these really sparkle!

Betty at her Naughtiest (and Best)!
These are the cartoons made before Betty had to raise her neckline and lower her hemline. While they've got nothing on "South Park", there is a terrific "anything goes" approach to them that's infectious. Not until Bugs Bunny would cartoons be so liberated.

The best of the bunch are the three featuring songs by Cab Calloway, especially "Snow White", which is a lead contender for best cartoon of all time.

Overall, the quality is excellent; many of the cartoons look brand new. Unfortunately, the picture seems to be cropped heavily on the top. Since these seem to be an old TV package, I don't know if a complete print can be found, but I sure hope so.

The sound is good too, except on some shorts featuring Rudy Vallee and Etherl Merman. But you won't care much, because those shorts are the most forgettable. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Fleischers' Last Hurrah
A critical and commercial failure when first released, Max and Dave Fleischer's "Hoppity Goes to Town" (1941) has grown in stature over the years and remains a minor classic among animation buffs. The Fleischers' second (and last) cartoon feature was a decided improvement over the unevenness of "Gulliver's Travels" (1939) and an admirable departure from the Disney storybook formula. Unlike the Disney features of that period, "Hoppity" utilized an original story (partly inspired by Frank Capra's "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town") with a contemporary New York setting. The result is an offbeat comedy-drama that focuses on urban upheaval and its jarring effect upon the residents of Bugville. Beautifully animated and showcasing some memorable songs from Hoagy Carmichael, "Hoppity Goes to Town" is one of the Fleischers' finest achievements. Sadly, the film's poor box-office showing was a contributing factor to the demise of Fleischer Studios in 1942. Though "Hoppity" enjoyed a sporadic home-video release during the 1980s, present-day VHS tapes are rather scarce. If you can find a used copy, it's well worth the investment.

terrific animated musical for the whole family
I first saw this full-length Max Fleischer cartoon as a child. I purchased it recently for sentimental value, but our three-year old really enjoys it and asks for it repeatedly. Hoppity is a grasshopper who believes that teamwork and community are important. He's in love with Mr. Bumble's daughter, Honey Bee, and things look good except for two things -- careless humans who are trespassing on the grounds after a gate is broken and the dastardly C. Bagley Beetle, who will stop at nothing to marry Honey and run Bugville. The animation is fun, if not as glitzy as more recent fare, and kids might initially blow it off -- but should soon get caught up in the fun characterizations, interesting story and catchy 1940s music. Children will enjoy the clever visuals while adults can appreciate the word play and references. ("Well jeepers, Mr. Creepers!")

This 85-minute film by a real craftsman has all the potential to be a pleasant surprise for your whole family. Give it a try!

The Best Full-Length Animation That Disney NEVER Made!!!
It will always remain a mystery as to why Max and Dave Fleischer didn't persevere with this format, instead of concentrating on 'shorts' and serials, such as Betty Boop and Superman. Perhaps Hoppity wasn't a box-office smash at the time (1941).

Walt Disney's classic animations have stood the test of time - this beauty has too! The quality of the animation is second to none, the storyline is captivating, and the viewer always cares what is going to happen to the characters throughout.

This reviewer first watched Hoppity when it was shown on British television in around 1963 (at nine years old). I will recall being positively entranced by it all, finding the humorous interludes rib-tickling, the threats to our insect friends seemed all too real, and the sense of joy at their eventual arrival in the 'promised land' was overwhelming.

The BBC (who held the rights then, as they still do at the time of this review) regularly repeated showings for the next eight or so years, at which time the film appeared to suffer 'dating'. The last showing (as I recall) would be in around 1982, since when, it seems, it has gathered dust in the vaults. This is a real shame - I think that, despite the advances in animation technology which have produced such movies as 'Antz' and 'Bug's Life', today's youngsters would appreciate Hoppity's adventures as much as I did all those years ago.

Neither my children nor my grand-children have ever seen the film, and, as the VHS PAL (British) format of 'Hoppity goes to Town' has been deleted, I am very likely to purchase an NTSC version in the near future, and pay to have a copy transferred to VHS PAL.

It will definitely be worth it!

Glorious Family Entertainment!
As delightful and charming an adventure for kids and adults alike as you will find! With it's heartwarming tale and beautiful soundtrack this is a movie everyone will want to see over and over again. Follow Hoppity in his quest to relocate his community of bugs and grubs whilst a young songwriter and his wife also struggle to keep a roof over their heads with nothing but a piano and a beautiful song, 'The Couple In The Castle In The Air' keeping them from the streets. Watch as the two stories entwine and delight in a classic happy ending! ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Streisand's First, Streisand's Best
Wow. One usually becomes a Streisand fan after seeing this movie. I certainly did. Streisand's movie debut begs the question: "Is a nose with deviation such a crime against the nation?" (sung by Fanny Brice's mother in the film). Barbra is Fanny is Barbra. When Streisand as Fanny tells Omar Shariff as Nick that he made her feel "beautiful", who can not love this woman?

The new DVD includes a restored version of the film and an incredibly clear soundtrack. Unless you saw the limited theatrical release this summer, then you have probably never seen FUNNY GIRL in its widescreen presentation. For years I had watched a faded pan-and-scan VHS version. Barbra's hilarious business of straightening her dress in the "You Are Woman" scene is completely cut out in pan-and-scan! Director William Wyler shot the film with a lot of widescreen compositions that the pan-and-scan versions always butchered. Thank you, Columbia, for this restored, widescreen DVD!

I remember watching THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT and seeing highlight clips from famous musicals. They showed "Don't Rain On My Parade" from FUNNY GIRL ...Barbra on the tug boat holding that note ("Paa-aa-raaaaaad-de") as the camera revealed the Statue of Liberty. I was thrilled. The DVD contains a theatrical short that shows behind the scenes footage of how they shot the entire "Parade" number -- really incredible footage!

The movie's second act, a bit slow, gives Streisand the chance to show her acting chops!

"My Man" at the movie's end features a "live" Streisand vocal as she cries on stage then triumphantly finishes. That scene won Barbra the Oscar. It is truly incredible.

I am disappointed that the DVD did not include more of the scenes I've always heard about but never seen. The AFI tribute (on ABC earlier this year) remains the only place you can see scenes from the Swan Ballet number that were cut. Also, I wish there was a Streisand commentary. Can you imagine the reflections about making this film that she could share?

People who see FUNNY GIRL are the luckiest people in the world.

The Greatest Star Comes to DVD - Worth the Wait!
First off - the DVD: It's a letterbox transfer of pristine new print that has been digitally restored (sometimes frame by frame) back to its original condition. Funny Girl hasn't looked this good in thirty years - so if you've only seen it on VHS or TV, you're in for a visual treat. I saw the restored print on a huge screen this past fall, and believe me, this transfer does it justice. In addition they have included the pre-show and intermission music as well. The additional documentary material is nothing to write home about. But I think whoever did the DVD menu deserves kudos for styling it like the New Amsterdam theater marquee from the first shot of the movie, with highlights from the film playing in the background. Very appropriate and very clever.

Funny Girl is A.) the musical biography of comedienne-singer Fanny Brice, and B.) the Oscar-winning film debut of 26 year old Barbra Streisand. As theatrical history lesson it's pretty flawed - (Arnstein was Brice's *second* husband, for example). The Streisand - Brice connection is strong, however. Fanny, like Barbra, wore her Jewishness as a badge of honor - in contrast to most Jewish performers of the day, who tried to blend in as much as possible. As a matter of fact, the "You Are Woman, I Am Man" seduction scene plays like a Brice "Follies" sketch.

And as a star vehicle for Striesand, it's a winner. When she belts out "I'm the Greatest Star" at the beginning of the picture you will understand what it feels like to be in the presence of raw, pure talent. At the end of them film when she falters on the opening words of "My Man", you'll remember what it feels like to watch your beloved walk out of your life.

William Wyer seems to be aware that he's launching a new star. The way he introduces Barbra - that long walk with her back to the camera in the leopard coat - ending with the first teasing glimpse of her face in the mirror - "Hello, gorgeous." It was certainly a closeup that many film folk were sure would have audiences recoiling in horror. Certainly plain looking Barbra couldn't make it as a movie star. Well, it's not news anymore, but certainly a surprise at the time, Barbra photographs beautifully. Even Barbra-hater Rex Reed had to admit at the time, "It took the combined efforts of God knows how many people to do it, but I'll be damned if they haven't made her beautiful!"

Omar Sharif plays opposite Barbra, and he holds up his end of the film nicely, no small feat when you consider that the script gives him little to do and the entire property has been tailored to Streisand's strengths. No one else registers, with the possible exception of Kay Medford as Fanny's mother. (Poor Anne Francis sued Columbia after the film was released, claiming Streisand had her cut out of the finished film. Most of you are sitting there thinking, "Anne, who?")

All in all, one of the better Sixties Broadway musical adaptations. (Note: Funny Girl was nominated for Best Picture in 1968. It lost to another Columbia Pictures musical - Oliver! If you liked Funny Girl, check out Oliver! - it's a better movie, even though it has no star names over the title. More 1968 Oscar trivia - Barbra won for Best Actress in a tie with Kathrine Hepburn of "Lion in Winter". In Oscar balloting there can only be a tie when there are the exact same number of votes. Why do I mention this? Well, it just so happens that because of her "special stature" in the industry, Barbra Streisand was admitted as a voting member of the Academy that year - with the release of just her first film. I wonder who she voted for???? If she hadn't been given special treatment, maybe Kate Hepburn's name would had been the only one announced that night!)

Best Musical
I saw this movie as a teenager and loved it. Barbra Streisand is timeless. I can't wait to add Funny Girl to my collection.

"He's got polish on his nails."
The ultimate showcase for an actress, Barbra Streisand's highly publicized film debut in FUNNY GIRL met every single expectation and then some. The film was the highest-grossing film of 1968, and it's very easy to see why. The film has many great qualities: It's expertly directed by three-time Academy Award winner William Wyler (the finale of the "Don't Rain On My Parade" number is just as astonishing as the chariot race in Wyler's BEN HUR), the storyline is extremely compelling, Omar Sharif is an incredibly suave and charismatic leading man, the supporting players are perfectly cast (particularly Kay Medford, Lee Allen, and Walter Pidgeon), and the song score (primarily by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill) is first-rate.

However, virtually everything that FUNNY GIRL has working for it would be worthless without Barbra Streisand's absolutely phenomenal performance. I honestly cannot think of enough good descriptive adjectives to do justice to her amazing performance in this film. She handles drama, comedy, music numbers, and tearjerking sentiment with equal aplomb, and she does it all better than any actress before or since. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had no choice but to honor her with the Oscar for Best Actress (in an extremely rare tie with academy favorite Katherine Hepburn; only the second tie in Oscar history to date), it is a performance that is nothing less than perfect.

About the DVD: Columbia-Tristar has done an excellent job in bringing FUNNY GIRL to DVD. The restoration of the original source elements may have taken nearly three years to complete, but it was time well spent - the picture quality is gorgeous! Sure, there are a few nicks on the print, but the color, sharpness, and virtually everything else is nearly flawless. Quite possibly one of the best vintage transfers yet. The sound is also excellent, and while there are no new features included (only vintage featurettes - I expect we'll see a special edition re-issue in the future) the menu design is fantastic.

She "IS" The Greatest Star
My dad was a movie projectonist when I was growig up and he took me to see Funny Girl when I was in the 4th grade. I saw that movie 5 times that week and a total of 26 times in every movie theater in town. What an impression it made on me as a yougster, that if you believed in yourself there isn't anything that you can't do. Of course it is my favorite movie of all time and one that I watch over and over again as if I had never seen it before. I see something new every viewing. Do you want to see one of the greatest performances of all time, then watch her perform "I'm The Greatest Star" and then watch it again and again, there has never been a debut performance like this one and probably never will again.

I have been the BIGGEST Streisand fan since and have followed her through all her movies, saw her twice in concert and have everything she has recorded, albums, tapes, 45's, CD's, foreign releases and hard to find classics, every movie poster, every book written about her and every magazine cover she has been on. This collection started back in 4th grade and now I am 47 years old so you can imagine the collection. Of it all Funny Girl has to be the shining moment . If I could have just a few hours with Ms. Streisand I would thank her and ask hundreds of questions, we are only seperated by 2 degrees of seperation, maybe that day will come! Buy this movie, if you are not a fan, you will be--I PROMISE. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Jimmyshang, Jimmyshang
What a hat! I mean there is this lady who is in a moovy! What is up with that? Also, Robin Willioms whas horrrribel in this moovy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Live to boop!
If you're a BB fan, this series is for you! Although mild compared to what we see at the movies and on TV today, it is still a significant mile-stone in the evolution of the art. I only wish they were on DVD. The video transfer is as good as can be expected, and I was pleasently surprised at the LFE content, intended or not.

Every Home Should Have One!
The most surreal, risque, astounding and wonderful pieces of Animation you could ever hope to find - including Betty's first appearance as a dog - these are absolute treasures.

On top of that, the picture quality is so sharp you can't believe you're watching cartoons made in 1929. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Must have Betty Tape!
If you don't want to get the whole collection get Musical Madness, Pre-Code Betty & Surrealism. These are the classic must-have cartoons. The Musical Madness tape actually includes Musical Madness and Fairy Tales:

+ Any Little Girl That's a Nice Little Girl: A Casanova cat with a girlfriend for each day of the week visits his favorite, Lulu Belle, leading into a Bouncing Ball rendition of the title song.

+ Dancing Fool. Daredevil sign painters Bimbo and Koko like what they see through the window of Betty Boop's Dancing School, and stay for a lesson.

+ I Heard. What makes this an outstanding cartoon are the compositions and quiet vocals provided by Don Redman, and the superb accompaniment by his orchestra. Very little film footage of Don exists, and every bit of it is to be treasured.

+ Let Me Call You Sweetheart. Betty Boop, a nursemaid, meets a masher in the park; with the Bouncing Ball, Ethel Merman sings the title song.

+ Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning. Reis and Dunn (with Betty Boop) sing the Irving Berlin song with a Bouncing Ball. In a cartoon army camp, everything rises before the soldiers.

+ Romantic Melodies. Bimbo leads an awful German street band to serenade Betty Boop, but she prefers Arthur Tracy, 'Street Singer of the Air,' who in live- action sings several old-fashioned songs with a Bouncing Ball.

+ Popular Melodies. Arthur Jarrett sings some songs with the Bouncing Ball; Betty Boop appears for "One Hour with You" and "Boop-Oop-A-Doop."

+ Sally Swing. Betty Boop, auditioning bandleaders for a college swing dance, "discovers" a cleaning woman who resembles Betty Grable.

+ Mother Goose Land. In response to Betty Boop's wish, Mother Goose materializes from a book cover and gives her a tour; she's chased by Miss Muffet's spider, who proves to be amorous, not predatory.

+ Parade of the Wooden Soldiers. An action figure of Betty Boop drops in on a small toy shop; the other toys come to life and crown her their queen. But there's a big rag doll of King Kong... Based on the titular classical music

+ Poor Cinderella. In her only color cartoon, Betty Boop goes to the ball thanks to the good fairy; later, only her foot fits the glass slipper. This is their finest B-B cartoon, and may just be their finest EVER, period.
Using their 3-D filming process (and a unheard-of budget for a cartoon short), they adapted the Cinderella legend to Betty, adding some marvelous songs and (likely roto-scoped) beautiful dance numbers. For reasons not told, this was the only Betty Boop cartoon ever done in color--a tragedy.
Look for versions with the original opening titles intact--even the titles show that this was a project of love (and yes, money). Plus, Betty's as sexy an ingenue as ever thanks to Technicolor.

+ Jack and the Beanstalk. A differently-drawn Bimbo, incensed at trash dropped from the clouds, climbs his beanstalk to find not only the giant but also his slave (Betty Boop with dog's ears).

+ Dizzy Red Riding Hood. Betty Boop goes to Grandma's through the woods despite wolf warnings; but Bimbo follows and gives the old story a new twist.

+ Betty Boop's Halloween Party. It's the scariest time of year, and Betty Boop hosts a party with aid from a scarecrow; but an uninvited gorilla threatens havoc.

+ Betty in Blunderland. Betty Boop mixed in with some Alice in Wonderland - this cartoon is a classic. Wild story as Betty takes a sip from the shrink-ola juice machine and meets up with the mad hatter, the white rabbit and the queen of hearts! ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Why, Barbra? Why??
This is a disjointed, embarrassing, histrionic hodge-podge of a movie that never comes anywhere near to capturing the magnificent La Streisand's glory days of 'Hello, Dolly!' and the sublime 'Funny Girl'.

There are several reasons for this, though none are to do with the performances given by the leads; Streisand reprising her role as Fanny Brice does what she can with a truly lousy script, ditto James Caan as her hapless second Husband, Billy Rose.

Why 'Funny Girl' fails so badly is the fact that it seems to have had eighteen different writers, producers and directors working on the project at any one time. At one point, early on in the movie, Fanny complains of Rose's show that 'the whole damn thing is overproduced' - ironically, a metaphor for 'Funny Lady' itself. Musical numbers are shockingly produced - 'Clap Hands, Here Comes Charley' looks and sounds like a singer in great pain, while Barbra's showcase songs 'Great Day' (embarrasingly racist) and 'Let's Hear it for Me', while beautifully performed, are hideously shambolic mish-mash affairs of direction and choreography, or lack thereof.

The script, too, is second-rate. Why is Fanny a big bee-yotch all of a sudden? When did the hard-nosed businesswoman come along to replace the sweet, funny Fanny of the previous movie? She's too mercenary now, all shares and profits, and her femininity doesn;t really begin to show until the 'Isn't This Better?' moment (a beautiful song, and an even better performance), but this is towards the film's end, and by that stage we're just plain tired of Bitter Barbra.

Bearing little to no resemblance to its predecessor, 'Funny Lady' is a terribly poorly-produced movie, full of beautiful songs and really awful visuals. Buy the soundtrack instead.

An entertaining album of standards and original songs.
The 1975 sequel to "Funny Girl" in which Barbra Streisand made her screen debut, "Funny Lady" boasts a soundtrack with standards and newly-written tunes by Kander and Ebb. With her voice at its peak, Barbra Streisand interprets this grab-bag of songs with great verve and tenderness, mixing feeling with meaning. Whether Fanny Brice is onstage doing her Yiddish shtick in "Blind Date" or contemplating her emotional relationship with Billy Rose (James Caan) in "Isn't This Better?", the songs hit the right note. What's entertaining about this album is the vividness of the performances not only by Streisand, but also by James Caan and Ben Vereen; the listener can enjoy the songs without having seen the film. If you like melodies, bravura dramatic singing and comedy numbers, this is the album for you! Close your eyes and you'll be back in the good old days when the songs were part of the film's story, not just an excuse for a soundtrack.

ADORABLE! I LOVE IT!!
This is a fabulous movie. I still think "Funny Girl" is better, but I adore this film. One of Ms. Streisand's best! "FIVE STARS!"- Naomi Judd, "Star Search"

"See, Billy, in a tutu, I can be funny."
The 1968 film version of FUNNY GIRL was an absolute masterpiece, and as perfect as a musical-comedy film can be. A sequel to this classic was not something that was ever needed to be made, but since the original was so successful (FUNNY GIRL was the highest-grossing film of 1968) and well-loved, it was pretty obvious why producer Ray Stark wanted to make this follow-up so badly. It took awhile, but he eventually convinced Streisand to sign on and reprise her role as Fanny Brice, with Herbert Ross (who had staged the musical numbers in the original film and had directed Streisand in the box office hit THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT) set to direct. Although the film was generally well-received by most critics and proved to be another big box office hit, many fans of the sweet-natured original did not care for the slightly more harsh and cynical tone of this follow-up, and it has since fallen out of favor with many Streisand fans.

While no film could ever recapture the easy charm and beautiful sentiment of FUNNY GIRL, FUNNY LADY is highly entertaining when viewed on it's own terms. Streisand plays the now-hard-bitten Fanny with a depth and maturity that is very different from her characterization in the first film, but almost equally as stunning. Many viewers often complain that James Caan was badly miscast as Billy Rose. While Caan is physically wrong for the role of the short, unattractive Rose, he still comes across as oddly likable, and he has a nice comic chemistry with Streisand. Roddy McDowell is fun as Fanny's assistant, and veteran hoofer Ben Vereen brings down the house with a incredible, almost gravity-defying dance routine. Omar Shariff also returns for two very effective scenes as Nick Arnstein, the man Fanny will always love, but can't seem to live with.

Though Streisand is in terrific singing voice, the song score is a bit more hit-and-miss. The period standards that Streisand vividly performs (particularly the bittersweet "More Than You Know," the gospel-infused "Great Day," and the heart-wrenching "If I Love Again") are absolutely fantastic, however, the heavily-promoted original songs from Cabaret composers Kander and Ebb are a major disappointment. The intended show-stopper "How Lucky Can You Get" is fine number that is made memorable by Streisand's scorching performance, however, the remainder of the original songs ("Blind Date," "Let's Here It For Me") are pretty forgettable despite Streisand's impassioned vocals. Fortunately, these few mediocre numbers (and the rather predictable narrative) are flaws that are very easy to forgive. No, FUNNY LADY doesn't hold a candle to FNNY GIRL, but the film remains a fun and enjoyable ride that should entertain those who loved the original.

About the DVD: The picture quality is excellent - a bit more edge enhancement than there was the FUNNY GIRL DVD, but still great. The sound is also terrific, but I wish Columbia would have at least included the film's original trailer.

A Worthy and Cruelly Underappreciated Sequel
After reading so many negative reviews of this movie, I was surprised to find that I actually loved it. To refute:

She is bitchy because she has been bruised. Notice upon another rewatching of "Funny Girl" how Fanny slowly but surely learns to cover up her pain and anguish through her constant performativity. Whatever innocence was left in her is gone after Nick walked out the door. "Funny Lady" is a worthy sequel because, psychologically, it starts where the last movie leaves off. Fanny must learn to love again. The reason you don't see "sweet Barbra" until the train sequence is because the movie is ABOUT the re-emergence of the sincere woman.

Pay attention to the kinds of lines the writers of both "Funny Girl" and "Funny Lady" give to Fanny Brice. This is the same woman. Only older. Wiser. More bruised. And to those of you who call the movie "cliché," I wonder if you missed the ending.

Is the movie overproduced? Yes. Is it poorly written? No. I would argue that this movie very nearly merits its original in quality, but because it very sincerely tackles the problems of maturity, the problem of Life After Love, its themes may be too complex for those looking only for another tragic love story.

As someone who knows the power of First Love, I found this movie honest and moving, worthy in nearly every way to its prequel, and though there's not enough room in this space to defend it fully, I count myself among those prepared to do so.

The DVD gets four stars because there are no special features. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

MORE WEIRD CARTOONS
Another excellent compilation of rare cartoons . In this tape :
two more Fleischers' cartoons , " Small Fry " and the surreal
" Betty Boop's crazy inventions " ; one Chuck Jones from the early forties " Inki and the Minah bird " ; one of the best Duffy
Duck's from the second world war period , by Frank Tashlin who would work later with Jerry Lewis directing him in some of his best films ; one silent Walt Disney , " Alice the toreador " ; Pat Sullivan's " Felix the catin non-stop fright " ; one of the first Looney Toons fromthe serie " Bosko " and the jevell of this compilation , a short with animated puppets by Charlie Bowers , a master of stop-motion animation of the early er