Fanny Brice - When A Woman Loves a Man-1930 Film

Fania Borach aka Fanny Brice was born in New York City in 1891 of Hungarian Jewish parents. She was a comedienne, singer, theater and film actress, and recording artist. Fanny appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies from 1910 - 1930 and in the '21 Follies sang My Man which became her signature song. Here, she sings "When A Woman Loves A Man" from her 1930 film Be Yourself. Fanny was also the voice of the bratty Baby Snooks, one of the most successful radio shows of the 30s although she was over 40 years old when she created that character and voice. Fanny died in Hollywood in 1951. Barbra Streisand starred as Brice in the 1964 musical Funny Girl and 1968 film of that same name.

Appearing at 2:18 in this clip is Marjorie "Babe" Kane, cousin of Helen Kane-the real Betty Boop. Helen's little Chicago cousin Babe was actually more successful in the movie business appearing in 68 films from 1929-1951.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Fanny
• Brice
• Babe
• Kane
• Be
• Yourself
• When
• Woman
• Loves
• Man
• movies
• 1930s

[waynebrasler]

The peson who thought Streisand could portray Franny Brice was Fanny Brice's daughter Frances. She was not looking for someone who could imitate Brice but who could capture her essence, which Streisand did (I am old enough to have been a Brice fan and seen her and heard her). What won the Oscar for Streisand was the film being her screen debut and involving acting, singing and dancing, and the closing performance of "My Man," which at her insistence was done live, not to a prerecorded track.

[preservationhall01]

@waynebrasler Thanks for your comment and for the information on Fanny's daughter.

[baxter5431]

What intellectual pygmy had the idea that Streisand could EVER possibly portray Fanny Brice??? Just saw part of that 1968 insult to such a great talent as Brice and I still can't believe that Streisand got an Oscar for that schlock! Politics, and no doubt paying the right people can buy you just about anything.

[preservationhall01]

@baxter5431 No different than the newby President & future warmonger Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize~We've gone from two to five wars in two years. I agree with your comment totally.

[preservationhall01]

This was too good to keep on the shelf in the museum. - - Had to be shared.

[BRazor78]

This is such amazing footage! You are truely a preservation hall. Keep up the classics.

[brianeduardo1234]

I always heard that Fanny's daughter opposed Babra's casting but it was her husband Ray Stark who persuaded her... whatever happened it gave the world a great star in Barbra Streisand...

[Dannys99887]

Thanks for posting this great clip of Fanny.

[Dannys99887]

As bad as the film "Funny Girl" is, the sequel was worse. Streisand was awful in both, but probably no worse than usual. Ray Stark (with wife Frances) did no favors for the memory of his mother in law when he produced the play and both films. Indeed they are schlock, a word which Fanny would understand. Frances didn't approve of Streisand for the part. She was at least a fourth choice behind Anne Bancroft, Eydie Gorme, and Carol Burnett. The films (and Streisand) really are awful.

[louisa1832]

What an odd and funny number! Fanny's terrific.

[preservationhall01]

@ecapital46 Thanks for that insightful reply to miss414 ec46. I was just sitting at my computer trying to compose a rebuttal of less than 500 characters to missy (trying to get it below 5000 characters actually) and there you go and perform an admirable job of concentrating the very essence of what I was thinking and attempting to compose into your own capital prose!

[ecapital46]

@miss414able negative. true, the ones before him made a mess, but instead of discrediting them for doing so and making a sharp pivot in the opposite direction when he got in, he did exactly what was done to the Confederacy after the war. No one was jailed or fired. Instead a handshake was extended and monuments were built to honor the treasoners. In 2 short yrs, the evil doers now have new life, and like the Confederacy will be back in charge in no time. Poor leadership. Quit making excuses

[miss414able]

@preservationhall01 dont blame the pres for all this bullshit blame all the ones before him ..