Funny Girl (film) Meanwhile, Nicky's various business ventures fail, forcing them to move into an apartment. Refusing financial support from his wife, he becomes involved in a bonds scam and is imprisoned for embezzlement for eighteen months. Following Nicky's release from prison, he and Fanny agree to separate. Although originally released on her 1964 album "People", the song "People" was re-recorded for the film with a different tempo and additional lyrics. In the 1985 book "Barbra Streisand: The Woman, the Myth, the Music" by Shaun Considine, composer Styne revealed he was unhappy with the orchestrations for the film. "They were going for pop
Funny Girl (musical) Finally, Isobel Lennart submitted "My Man", which pleased both Stark and Columbia Pictures executives, who offered Stark $400,000 plus a percentage of the gross for the property. After reading the screenplay, Mary Martin contacted Stark and proposed it be adapted for a stage musical. Stark discussed the possibility with producer David Merrick, who suggested Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim compose the score. Sondheim told Styne, "I don't want to do the life of Fanny Brice with Mary Martin. She's not Jewish. You need someone ethnic for the part." Shortly after, Martin lost interest in the project and backed out. Merrick