I finally discovered Funny Girl about 15 years ago when a local theater showed it on film. I finally got Barbar. She is awesome in this, not just singing but doing the physical comedy. Her expressions make any scene.
The Criterion Collection 4K UHD looks like I remember that film projected at the Egyptian Theater. It highlights the glorious costumes, from purple roller skating chorus girls to lavish sparkling Ziegfeld diamond costumes. Her wardrobe gets more sparkling the more famous she gets, culminating in a Swan Lake set piece.
Streisand gives a new 40 minute audio interview covering the history of the Broadway show and making of the film. It shows she’s a consummate professional with attention to lighting and camera. Hre disagreements with director William Wyler explain some takes that are in the film and hint at times she didn’t get her way.
Wyler’s son, David, gives a 25 minute interview. He was on set wirh his father so can share some of those observations, plus more insight into his father’s experience, education and navigating the industry.
A 1986 documentary from American Masters tuns an hour and includes Wyler’s last interview in 1981. ‘80s era Streisand, Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, John Huston, Bette Davis, Billy Wilder, Audrey Hepburn, Charlton Heston and more share their experiences on Wyler’s films. It includes clips of some of his Universal western shorts and goes into many of his other films leading up to Funny Girl.
A 2003 SAG-AFTRA talk with Omar Sharif has rough audio, but he’s funny, charming and self-deprecating during it. There are also three archival features, two of which were on the Sony Blu-ray. “The Look of Funny Girl” has screen tests of the wardrobe.