Funny Lady-1975

Director Herbert Ross

Starring Barbra Streisand, James Caan

Scott’s Review #1,550

Reviewed September 14, 2026

Grade: B-

The 1968 film version of Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand is such a joy to watch time and time again that I should have known a sequel would inevitably disappoint.

Especially since I had never even heard of the sequel.

But that’s exactly what the 1975 film Funny Lady, with a cutesy title to drum up interest, ultimately does.

It’s a letdown in the highest regard, except for a few choice musical numbers and maybe the costume design.

‘How Lucky Can You Get’ is the prime standout. This powerful anthem is the centerpiece of the movie’s score and allows Streisand to belt it out.

It also shows the most emotion.

Second in line, ‘More Than You Know’ is a lush, beautiful, and deeply emotional ballad delivered with Streisand’s trademark vocal control.

Barbra being Barbra, she does what she can vocally, of course, but the thin script and jarring miscast make for a dull, uneven film experience.

Set in the 1930s, Fanny Brice (Streisand) is now a huge Broadway star whose fortunes, like everyone else’s, have taken a hit from the Great Depression that ravaged the United States.

After a whirlwind romance that finds the couple frequently sparring, Fanny unconvincingly marries songwriter Billy Rose (James Caan), and the two agree to collaborate on a show.

Despite the show’s early flops and errors, Fanny eventually makes it a success, but the sudden pressures of fame put a strain on her marriage.

Events spiral when Fanny’s ex-husband, Nick (Omar Sharif), resurfaces and she realizes she still has strong feelings for him.

The biggest problem is casting the leading man, Billy Rose. The character is supposed to be short, disheveled, unattractive, and awkward.

Supposedly, still in love with Nick, Fanny more or less ‘settles’ for Billy.

James Caan, especially in 1975, coming off a roaring success and career-defining role as the sexy, charismatically aggressive Sonny in The Godfather (1972), has none of Billy Rose’s traits.

Quite the contrary.

Tall, good-looking, with chiseled features, he’s the furthest thing from awkward.

To make matters worse, Caan and Streisand have no chemistry.

Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino, or Robert Blake would have been dynamic casting, and Pacino and Blake were even seriously considered.

When later questioned about the casting decision, Streisand revealed that it came down to who the audience would want to see her kiss.

Maybe it’s Caan, but the decision all but ruins the movie.

The banter and romantic sequences come across as boring, tedious, and therefore unfulfilling.

Other irritants like a throwaway role given to Roddy McDowall don’t help the finished product. As Fanny’s gay friend, Bobby Moore is reduced to serving her hot tea and occasionally walking into a scene to see what troubles Miss Fanny.

Granted, it’s the 1930s; his sexuality is only suggested and never clearly stated, but we know almost nothing beyond that of his character’s thoughts and feelings.

A slyly suggested dalliance with another male character would have been nice.

Soon-to-be star Ben Vereen is given essentially nothing to do but dance a bit, yet was laughably given a Golden Globe nomination for Best New Star.

Obviously, they cut scenes, leaving gaping continuity holes.

Despite the limited chemistry, Streisand and Caan do their best to create tense-filled scenes, but the bickering is overdone. It feels more like they really can’t stand each other than a lovers’ disagreement.

I couldn’t shake my perception of Caan as Sonny from The Godfather, which was more than a little distracting. When Nick returns to the scene, I half-expected Billy to have the poor guy whacked or make him an ‘offer he couldn’t refuse’.

I knew I was supposed to be rooting for Fanny and Billy, but instead I championed a Nick and Fanny reunion during one of their limited scenes.

Which begs the question: why did Omar Sharif have barely more than a cameo’s worth of scenes? Surely, a quality romantic triangle would have held more interest.

Despite all the missteps, the musical numbers are the film’s highlight, and if there’s any reason to tune in, that’s it.

For theater fans, enough gorgeous costumes and dance numbers amid the melodrama keep things interesting, too.

With terrible casting and a marginally digestible script, the recommendation is to skip Funny Lady (1975) altogether and instead dust off Funny Girl (1968) every year or so and pretend this movie was never made.

Oscar Nominations: Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, “How Lucky Can You Get”, Best Sound

Golden Globe Nominations: Best Picture- Motion Picture- Comedy or Musical, Best Actor- Motion Picture- Comedy or Musical-James Caan, Best Actress- Motion Picture- Comedy or Musical-Barbra Streisand, Best Original Score, Best Original Song- “How Lucky Can You Get”, New Star of the Year-Actor-Ben Vereen