Funny Lady DVD in Stores February 5, 2002
Posted/Updated: 30 August 2003 14:19
Review: "Hello, gorgeous...again!" After last fall's magnificent Funny Girl DVD release, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment has undone itself visually with Funny Lady, the entertaining 1975 sequel. Of course, the major treat for Streisand fans is a virtually flawless digitally mastered widescreen presentation and lively Dolby Digital 3.0 soundtrack. Not only will you catch every line of crisp-sounding dialogue and all the song lyrics, you will marvel at the vibrant palette of colors painted by late director Herb Ross and legendary DP James Wong Howe. From the bright pinks, oranges, and yellows (roses!) in the opening "Blind Date" to Crazy Quilt's use of virtually every color in the spectrum, the film fills the screen with dazzling costumes, scenery, and sets. Of course, Barbra's mid-1970s bravura vocalizing leaves you breathless, as she purrs "Isn't This Better?" in a dark train compartment, lights up the lonely stage with "How Lucky Can You Get," and gets a "great big hand" with "Let's Hear It For Me." If you haven't seen "Great Day" in widescreen, as with all of the big production numbers, this will definitely seem fresh and new, certainly the way this lavish musical is meant to be enjoyed. Kander & Ebb's original songs are unbeatable. Despite labeling on the package, there is no full screen presentation on the disc.
From professional colleagues to friends to lovers, Barbra as Fanny Brice and James Caan as Billy Rose form an unusual and fun couple, derailed intermittently by Omar Sharif's Nick Arnstein. This is the last of CTHE's seven Barbra Streisand films to be released on DVD. The film marked Barbra's last film for producer Ray Stark. In 1998 Arista issued the remastered soundtrack CD. The DVD package includes a 4-page booklet with interesting production notes and excellent color photos. Don't hesitate to continue or begin your Streisand DVD collection with Funny Lady. - MJI, 1/22/02
FUNNY LADY (1975)
Release Date: February 5, 2002
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
List Price: $24.95
Catalog Number: 06676
ISBN Number: 0-7678-6967-2
UPC: 0-43396-06676-2
Features:
* Digitally Mastered Anamorphic Widescreen Format (2.35:1 Aspect Ratio)
* Digitally Mastered Audio: English Dolby Digital 3.0, French
* Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai
* Filmographies (Streisand, Caan, and Ross)
* Bonus Trailers
Running Time: Approx. 135 minutes
DVD Region Code: 1
Barbra Streisand films on DVD:
- Hello, Dolly!, FOX # 2007579
- What's Up, Doc?, WHV #1041
- Up The Sandbox, WHV#11325
- The Main Event, WHV #17161
- Nuts, WHV #11756
- Funny Girl, CTHE #03089
- Funny Lady, CTHE #06676
- The Prince of Tides, CTHE #23329
- The Owl and the Pussycat, CTHE #04751
- For Pete's Sake, CTHV #05814
- The Way We Were, CTHV #02850
- The Mirror Has Two Faces, CTHV #82529
Copyright © 1996-2003 Mark Iskowitz. All rights reserved.
www.bjsmusic.com
)
)
)
)
)
)
