Posters, Lobby Cards
Barbra Streisand's first film, Funny Girl, was advertised in movie theaters with movie one-sheets, or posters. A variety of designs were created for both U.S. and foreign markets:
(Posters, above, clockwise, from left): French, Spanish, U.S. original theatrical posters; bottom right is the 2001 restored release poster.
Lobby cards —like posters but smaller, usually 11" × 14", and created in sets of eight—were also distributed. Below are some European lobby cards:
Movie Program
- 8-1/2 x 11-1/4 inches; 48 pages; color and black & white photos; Star bios; Creative Team bios; Songs; Cast & Credits
- Written by Jack Brodsky
- Designed by Robert Geissman
- Produced by National Publishers, Inc.
- Photos by Steve Schapiro and Ted Allan, John Monte, Pierluigi, and Sterling Smith
(Above: a few pages from the Funny Girl movie program)
Featurettes + Roadshow Sales
In 1967, selling the Funny Girl film was very different than the way films are publicized today. Funny Girl was what they called a roadshow film, meaning that it was exhibited much like a Broadway show: reserved-seat tickets were sold in advance.
Columbia Pictures produced three featurettes to publicize Funny Girl. A featurette has a 20 to 44-minute running time and is approximately three quarters of a reel. It is, literally, a “small feature”—or a featurette.
They were shown in theaters before other Columbia films to generate buzz among the audience.
This Is Streisand
Running 5:30-minutes in length, this Columbia featurette utilized photographic stills of Streisand's costume and makeup tests, as well as behind-the-scenes shots to introduce Streisand the movie star to audiences. This Is Streisand was included on Columbia's 2001 DVD of Funny Girl as a Special Feature.
Click here to watch This Is Streisand on YouTube >>
Barbra in Movieland
This 10-minute featurette followed Charlie Peterson, who worked at the Hoboken, New Jersey rail station since 1929, as he interacted with the Funny Girl film crew.
Behind-the-scenes shots of Streisand, Wyler, and Ross filming “Don't Rain On My Parade” are included. Curious is an alternate take of one of Barbra's last phrases of the song.
Barbra in Movieland was included on Columbia's 2001 DVD of Funny Girl as a Special Feature.
The Look of Funny Girl
Narrated by Arlene Francis, The Look of Funny Girl was about 8 minutes in length. It consisted of Streisand's filmed costume fittings, with Francis narrating about each design.
A 1967 news article about the marketing of Funny Girl said the fashion short was made for women's clubs and merchandising tie-ins, all meant to generate advance sales for the film.
The Look of Funny Girl was not included on the 2001 Columbia Funny Girl DVD. Here's hoping that Columbia/Sony Pictures will do a proper Blu-ray disc release of Funny Girl and include this featurette as well as the complete Swan Lake number and outtakes!
Click here to watch The Look of Funny Girl on YouTube >>
Opening Funny Girl
Funny Girl premiered on September 18th, 1968 at the Criterion Theatre in New York. The premiere benefitted the Mayor's Committee on Youth and Physical Fitness. Mayor Lindsay interviewed Streisand on television when she arrived to the premiere. “It's a long way from Brooklyn to Broadway,” he said to her. “It's not so long if you take the BMT and change at Canal Street,” Barbra replied. After the film, an opening night party was held in a tent on the grounds of the Astor Hotel.
New York's opening was broadcast on the Kraft Music Hall special (see newspaper clipping below...)
The Hollywood Premiere of Funny Girl was at the Egyptian Theatre.
The London premiere of Funny Girl was in January 1969, and Streisand greeted Princess Margaret.
Funny Girl premiered at the Opera of Paris on January 16, 1969. Streisand was joined by Maurice Chevalier.
Oscar
The Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on April 14, 1969. Streisand tied with Katharine Hepburn for Best Actress. She joined Anthony Harvey (accepting for Ms. Hepburn) on stage with presenter Ingrid Bergman.
Click here to watch the Streisand win Oscar at YouTube >>
“Funny Girl” Major Awards
- Academy Award winner for Best Actress: Barbra Streisand
- Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actress: Kay Medford, Best Sound, Best Music, Best Original Song and Best Film Editing
- Golden Globe Award winner for Best Motion Picture Actress: Barbra Streisand
- Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical, Best Motion Picture Director, and Best Original Song
End.
