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Barbra Streisand in "Yentl" in 1983. Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086619 (May be subject to copyright) |
When I heard today that Barbra Streisand was given a Screen Actors Guild life achievement award, I reflected back on her career.
Three-channel universe
It is hard to imagine turning on a television and seeing vast swaths of empty space on the dial, because there are only three channels. Unlike today where there are so many channels and the appetite for programming is insatiable, with only three channels there was no demand to create unlimited hours of shows. As a result, there were a lot of re-runs of old shows, especially in the hours outside prime time, and a lot of movies. Some of those movies were made specifically for TV, but most were theatrical movies. A lot of those movies were aired over and over too.
It is hard to imagine turning on a television and seeing vast swaths of empty space on the dial, because there are only three channels. Unlike today where there are so many channels and the appetite for programming is insatiable, with only three channels there was no demand to create unlimited hours of shows. As a result, there were a lot of re-runs of old shows, especially in the hours outside prime time, and a lot of movies. Some of those movies were made specifically for TV, but most were theatrical movies. A lot of those movies were aired over and over too.
That is where I first saw Barbra Streisand.
The years before in the movies
Barbra Streisand had quite a career in movies leading up to the ‘80s, that I had encountered.
Barbra Streisand had quite a career in movies leading up to the ‘80s, that I had encountered.
It started with “Funny Girl” in 1968, which was her first film. Based on the life of comedienne Fanny Brice, the role earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1968.
“Hello Dolly”, based on the successful Broadway production about matchmaker Dolly Levi, came out the following year in 1969.
“What’s Up Doc?” was a comedy in 1972, involving several cases of mixed up luggage, that co-starred Ryan O’Neal. I am pretty sure this was one of the many novelizations of movies my brother and sister left behind when they went off to college.
The next year, Barbra Streisand was again nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in “The Way We Were” in 1973. It is a romance between two people with opposing political views, and ultimately their experience with the House Un-American Activities Committee.
More than anything, what I remember is the song “The Way We Were” performed by Streisand, that just melts the heart. “The Way We Were” went all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Best Original Score. It also won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song and the Grammy for Song of the Year. However, those went to the songwriters not Streisand.
“Funny Lady”, a sequel to “Funny Girl”, came out in 1975, picking up the story of comedienne Fanny Brice in her later life and career.
The next year, 1976, “A Star is Born” came out featuring Streisand as an up-and-coming singer falling in love with an established star played by Kris Kristofferson. I recall my Mom having the soundtrack record for “A Star is Born”, and seeing it in the living room. The album cover was also very memorable with Streisand and Kristofferson kissing passionately. The soundtrack featured the song “Evergreen” by Barbra Streisand, which went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Streisand also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy for Song of the Year for “Evergreen”.
Streisand closed out the decade in 1979 with “The Main Event”, where she plays an entrepreneur who is bankrupt trying to make some money getting a washed-up boxer, played by Ryan O’Neal, back in the ring.
The years before in music
Something I had initially forgotten about what was that Barbra Streisand had made her name in large part through her voice, starting back in 1962.
Something I had initially forgotten about what was that Barbra Streisand had made her name in large part through her voice, starting back in 1962.
Songs I recall include “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas” and “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” both in 1967; and the aforementioned “The Way We Were” and “Evergreen”.
She also released “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” in 1978, a duet with Neil Diamond that just melts my heart. “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” went all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 as well.
Streisand had a number one duet with Donna Summer in 1979 called “No More Tears (Enough is Enough); and a number one song in 1980 called “Woman in Love”. She also had two singles with Barry Gibb that hit the top 10. “Guilty” peaked at number three in 1980, while “What Kind of Fool” peaked at number 10 in 1981.
So, by the dawn of the 1980s, Barbra Streisand was a household name, someone my Mom sure liked in our household.
Music memories
Barbra Streisand continued to produce quality work in the 1980s. She released six albums starting with “Guilty” in 1980 which contained “Woman in Love” and “Guilty”. “Memories” followed in 1981, a greatest hits album that reached number 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Next was “Yentl” in 1983, a soundtrack for the movie of the same name which peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200; and “Emotion” in 1984 that peaked at number 19.
Barbra Streisand continued to produce quality work in the 1980s. She released six albums starting with “Guilty” in 1980 which contained “Woman in Love” and “Guilty”. “Memories” followed in 1981, a greatest hits album that reached number 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Next was “Yentl” in 1983, a soundtrack for the movie of the same name which peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200; and “Emotion” in 1984 that peaked at number 19.
In 1985, she released “The Broadway Album”, which I heard a lot about. It was a departure from her last few studio albums where she had sung pop, rock, folk and disco songs. This album was a return to her roots in musicals, featuring classic show tunes such as “Send In the Clowns”, which songwriter Stephen Sondheim had written additional lyrics for.
The album was a massive hit, going all the way to number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. I had heard about “The Broadway Album” on “Entertainment Tonight”, but it was not top of mind because it did not have any single playing on the radio in support of it. That in itself makes it an even more impressive feat to reach number one. It is also a testament to the popularity of Barbra Streisand and her fans.
In 1988, she released the album “Till I Loved You”, which I had never heard of. It was in that void when I wasn’t into music, busy with the start of university. The title track is a duet with Don Johnson of “Miami Vice” fame, who was also Streisand’s boyfriend at the time. The song reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. I just listened to it, and it is pretty good.
Streisand closed out the decade with another compilation album in 1989 called “A Collection: Greatest Hits…and More.”
Movie memories
Barbra Streisand made just three movies in the 1980s.
Barbra Streisand made just three movies in the 1980s.
In 1981, she starred opposite Gene Hackman in the comedy “All Night Long”, about a man who is demoted at work, leading to an extra-marital affair.
Her most celebrated work of the decade, and maybe her career, came in 1983 with the release of “Yentl”. It was a romantic musical drama where Streisand plays a young Jewish woman in 1904 Poland who disguises herself as a man to get an education in Talmudic Law. She produced, directed, starred and sung in the movie. She won a Golden Globe for Best Director, and was nominated for another Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Streisand closed out the decade with the legal drama “Nuts” in 1987. She played a prostitute who kills a client in self-defence. Her parents want her declared insane, but she resists, and is aided in her efforts by a defence attorney, played by Richard Dreyfuss, who takes on her case.
I actually haven’t seen any of her work from the decade, but am thinking I have to.
The years after
Interestingly, I saw all her movies in the 1990s – all two of them.
Interestingly, I saw all her movies in the 1990s – all two of them.
“The Prince of Tides” with Nick Nolte came out in 1991. I saw it with my friend Karry Close, who I went to movies with pretty much every week. It tells the story of a man battling the demons of his upbringing.
I saw “The Mirror Has Two Faces” in 1996, about a romance between Streisand and co-star Jeff Bridges. It was part of one of my first birthday movie marathons, along with “Shine” and “Mother”. I also had tickets to “Mars Attacks” as well, but was done with movies by the time it was to start at 10 p.m.
Streisand has also been in “Meet the Fockers”, “Little Fockers”, and “The Guilt Trip”.
She recorded a duet with Canadian singer Bryan Adams called “I Finally Found Someone” for “The Mirror Has Two Faces”. The song peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and is the last top 10 single for either Adams or Streisand.
Streisand also released “Back to Broadway” in 1993. A follow-up to “The Broadway Album”, it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart.
She continued recording, with her most recent live album “Live at the Bon Soir” coming out in 2022, and her most recent greatest hits album “Evergreens: Celebrating Six Decades on Columbia Records” coming out in 2023.
Streisand also released her memoir, “My Name is Barbra” on Nov. 7, 2023.
She is 82 and going strong.
Parting thoughts
It is strange. When I hear the name Barbra Streisand, I think actor.
It is strange. When I hear the name Barbra Streisand, I think actor.
Yet, she has really made her mark singing. As I wrote this, thought about the songs she has released, and checked some out on YouTube to see if I heard them before or not, I am just struck by her talent.
She has a golden voice that really can melt my heart.
Even now “The Way We Were” just echoes in my mind.
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