Funny Girl (film) York Times" wrote that "Streisand's talent is very poignant and strong," but that the film had "something a little condescending about it," with Wyler "treating Barbra rather fondly, improbably and even patronizingly," and concluded that "Miss Streisand doesn't need any of this." "Variety" said Streisand makes "a marked impact" and continued, "The saga of the tragi-comedienne Fanny Brice of the ungainly mien and manner, charmed by the suave card-sharp Nicky Arnstein, is perhaps of familiar pattern, but it is to the credit of all concerned that it plays so convincingly." Jan Dawson of "The Monthly Film Bulletin" in the UK
Ray Stark went on to produce many notable films from the 1970s to the early 2000s, including "The Owl and the Pussycat" (1970), "The Way We Were" (1973), "Murder By Death" (1976), "The Goodbye Girl" (1977), "Seems Like Old Times" (1980), "Annie" (1982), and "Steel Magnolias" (1989). In 1974, Rastar was acquired by Columbia Pictures, which included Rastar Productions, Rastar Pictures, Rastar Features, and Rastar Television. Ray Stark then founded Rastar Films, later selling it to Columbia Pictures in 1980. Although stage and film actress Anne Bancroft was the initial first choice to play Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl", (the biopic production