Funny Girl (film) to the film was released by Columbia Records in 1968. Isobel Lennart originally wrote "Funny Girl" as a screenplay for a drama film entitled "My Man" for producer Ray Stark, but when he offered it to Mary Martin, she suggested it might work better as a stage musical. Lennart consequently adapted her script for what eventually became a successful Broadway production starring Barbra Streisand. Although she had not made any films, Streisand was Stark's first and only choice to portray Brice onscreen. "I just felt she was too much a part of Fanny, and Fanny was too much a part
Fanny Brice Rather Be Blue Over You (Than Happy with Somebody Else)", and "Second Hand Rose", which became a Top 40 hit. "Funny Girl", and its sequel "Funny Lady", took liberties with the events of Brice's life. They make no mention of Brice's first husband and suggest that Arnstein turned to crime because his pride would not allow him to live off Fanny and that he was wanted by the police for selling phony bonds. In reality, however, Arnstein sponged off Brice even before their marriage and was eventually named as a member of a gang that stole $5 million worth of