Today is the 70th birthday of the legendary Barbra Streisand who we always call Babs. We were chastized in the comments for not celebrating and we get it. There's only one of her, a national treasure. In fact, just a few weeks ago I watched Funny Girl (for the 6th or 7th time) and Funny Lady (for the 2nd time) almost back to back and that double feature is astounding. The first would have to be in the top ten Pure Star Vehicles ever made (♥) and the second one is just... just no, Barbra!
Like Jane Fonda, another screen icon from the 1970s who is on our way back to us, we're über pleased that she's suddenly decided she's an actress again even if we haven't seen the results yet. Barbra's big picture this year is Guilt Trip (co-starring Seth Rogen. November Release) which happens to be her first leading role since the stoney end stone age. Advanced word is positive but you never know who is doing the talking when it comes to advanced word so we're anxious. Comedy was always her forte and there's no reason that La Streep should be the only elderly giant who younger audiences completely "get" as a Funny Girl.
So for today's big day, let's republish an old article called "Posterized Babs".
Funny Girl (1968. Best Actress Winner Oscars & Globes) | Hello Dolly (1969. Best Actress Musical Comedy Golden Globe Nomination) | On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970))
15 more films and brief commentary after the jump
The Owl and the Pussycat (1970. Golden Globe Nomination Best Actress Musical/Comedy) | What's Up Doc? (1972) | Up the Sandbox (1972)
The Way We Were (1973. Best Actress Nominations Golden Globe and Oscar) | For Pete's Sake (1974) | Funny Lady (1975. Golden Globe Best Actress Musical/Comedy Nomination)
A Star is Born (1976. Oscar Best Song Win "Evergreen". Golden Globe Best Actress Win Musical/Comedy) | The Main Event (1979) | All Night Long (1981)
Yentl (1983. Golden Globe Win Best Director. Best Actress Nomination) | Nuts (1987. Golden Globe Best Actress Drama Nomination) | The Prince of Tides (1991. Best Picture Nomination as a Producer. Golden Globe nod as Director)
The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996. Oscar Best Song Nomination "I've Finally Found Someone" / Golden Globe Best Actress Nod Musical/Comedy) | Meet the Fockers (2004) | Little Fockers (2010)
previously published in 2010
Babs is still one of the most famous people on the planet but I'm guessing that younger generations have quite the incomplete picture of her career. I'm guessing that that picture hangs in an old fashioned frame and shows the diva in a turtleneck sweater. Somehow her expression conveys stifling self regard, political activism and mega-wealth all at once.
Babs & Rogen on the set of "Guilt Trip"But when I think of Babs, I laugh. Not at her but with her. Back in the day -- before most of us were attending the movies regularly (myself included) or even alive yet (myself not included) -- she was a corker of a comic actress. She could also swing dramatic as memorably as she could change keys in song. But if you peruse the posters above it seems clear that her giant movie stardom shrank just as soon as she swung dramatic in a permanent sort of way.
- How many of her 18 pictures have you seen?
- Don't you think she should have three Oscars instead of two (hello The Way We Were)
- Are you looking forward to The Guilt Trip?