Funny Girl (1968) - Synopsis
The newly restored print of Funny Girl (1968) will be re-released by Columbia Pictures on August 31, 2001 in New York at the Ziegfield Theatre, in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Royal and in San Francisco at the Castro Theatre, to be followed by engagements in Chicago, Seattle, Washington DC, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas and other major cities throughout the fall. One of the most acclaimed musicals in history, Barbra Streisand won her first Oscar for her performance in the film directed by William Wyler and also starring Omar Sharif. This restored print of Funny Girl (1968) creates a brilliant image and extraordinary sound quality. It will be presented in its original road-show format complete with overture and intermission. Sony Pictures Entertainment's theatrical re-release of Funny Girl (1968) celebrates their completion of the restoration of this Academy Award ® winning film, and the preservation of American cinema culture.
One of the most popular movie musicals ever made, Funny Girl (1968) follows the early career of stage comedienne Fanny Brice -- a role that earned Barbra Streisand the 1968 Oscar® for Best Actress. Funny Girl (1968) was directed by William Wyler and written by Isobel Lennart and Bob Merrill. Starring Omar Sharif, Kay Medford, Anne Francis and Walter Pidgeon, the film was produced by Ray Stark, with music by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, cinematography by Harry Stradling Sr. , choreography by Herbert Ross and set design by Gene Callahan. Funny Girl (1968) was originally released in the USA by Columbia Pictures Corporation on September 19, 1968. Funny Girl (1968) is 155 minutes and rated G.
Sony Pictures Entertainment, a leader in film restoration, most recently restored the Columbia Pictures classic Easy Rider (1969) and Shampoo (1975). Other Spe restored films include Bridge on the River Kwai, The (1957), In Cold Blood (1967), Oliver! (1968) and From Here To Eternity (1953).
Grover Crisp, vice president of asset management and film restoration at SPE, oversaw the restoration project. "We started restoring 'Funny Girl (1968)' three years ago, to repair the damage that occurred to the original negative when the film was first released, due to the enormous number of prints struck from the negative. Missing frames, numerous scratches and a disintegrating soundtrack were part of the damage done over time. "
"A vital part of our company's overall strategy is to preserve, and restore if necessary, all the films in Sony's feature library. We are eager to play our part along side all the other studios in safe guarding this crucial part of American culture for future generations," said Gareth Wigan, vice-chairman of SPE.
Technicolor's newly re-introduced Dye Transfer Process helped complete the restoration process, providing the rich color saturation that was featured in the original release. The Dye Transfer Process will enable audiences to experience the same look that was intended when the picture was originally released.
SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home video acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, development of new entertainment technologies and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries worldwide. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at www. sony. com.
