MovieChat Forums > Funny Girl (1968) Discussion > onion rolls to bagels

onion rolls to bagels

posted 19 years ago by HardWhitePureFreeBaseCocaine
6 replies | jump to latest

There is a funny analogy in "I'm the greatest star" about onions and bagels, and I think that fits the motif of conventional looks and unconventional looks. As time has passed, notice how the idea of bueaty has molded from the full fiqured look of the 60's to the "skinny leg" of the 90's. The major problem that Kenney had with Fanny Brice had with her were her skinny legs, and look today skinny is in and full is out. And so the onion roll has been pushed out by the bagel. I honestly believe that Barbra of the 60's could have been a 90's model, her exagerated features would have been intresting rather than ugly, I mean look at Sarah Jessica Parker, who also has a pronouced nose, she has become a sex symbol.

"Your what Grammy Hall would call a real Jew" Annie Hall

[–] glennh69 19 years ago

You're right, and the trend was pioneered largely by Barbra and other performers of her generation. Up until the 60's, there were many women not considered to be conventionally "beautiful" (in the Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Carole Lombard mold), however, they were always relegated to the comic and secondary sidekick roles (i.e. the "best friend" of the glamorous leading lady).

Barbra was one of the first women in a starring role to be considered both beautiful and ugly, comical and dramatic, self-effacing and egotistical all at the same time.

[–] HardWhitePureFreeBaseCocaine 19 years ago

well said, i especially love the end.
"Your what Grammy Hall would call a real Jew" Annie Hall

[–] vanityfair_713 17 years ago

You do know though that she was referring to being Jewish when she said the bagel thing, yeah?

He said it's all in your head, and I said, so's everything--
But he didnt get it.

[–] aroth15 13 years ago

I don't think the line about the bagels refers to her being Jewish, as much as it does to her being the exception in a world of beautiful chorus girls. After all, in the world of Vaudeville, being Jewish was not at all unusual. Jewish performers couldn't really get work in Hollywood until quite recently, believe it or not (recently meaning after about 1955). Until Jews became more acculturated, the Hollywood Studio heads were too self-conscious to hire almost anyone (in an acting role) that appeared Jewish. Hardly anyone in the world of silent film was Jewish; I can't think of one. Even in the 1930s and 40s; almost no one. There were Jewish directors (William Wyler, Billy Wilder, down to Steven Spielberg, Joel & Ethan Coen, etc.), and virtually every film composer was Jewish (Korngold, Steiner, Waxman, down to Elmer Bernstein, Danny Elfman, etc), and orchestra members, but not actors. Until you got to someone like John Garfield (original name Julius-something), did you start to find Jewish actors. But in Vaudeville, most of the comedians, musicians, and many actors were Jewish; burlesque was almost a Jewish invention (see Gypsy's portrayal of Mama Rose is definitely of a Jewish woman).

Allen Roth
"I look up, I look down..."

[–] leader-7 13 years ago

Jewish Actors: Edward G. Robinson; the Marx Brothers; Sylvia Sydney; Dinah Shore; Keenan Wynn; Jack Albertson; Stella Adler, Howard Da Silva; Melvyn Douglas; Gertrude Berg; Eddie Cantor; Jack Benny.

too many to name. aroth, do a little more homework.

[–] aroth15 12 years ago

I guess I would say those are the exceptions that prove the rule. They really are very few, considering you span the years from 1930-1970. I guess what I meant was "Jewish actors (or actresses) in a Leasing (romantic) role." There really were just about none. Certainly as compared to vaudeville, where almost everyone was Jewish.

Allen Roth
"I look up, I look down..."