Debunking Inaccuracies in the Beloved Musical

Although Funny Girl, both the stage and screen hit, draws inspiration from the life of singer-actress Fanny Brice, it is important to note that the story is mostly a work of fiction with a sprinkle of truth. Produced by Fanny Brice’s son-in-law, Ray Stark, it comes as no surprise that the creative liberties taken by librettist Isobel Lennart helped shape the narrative into a deliciously entertaining experience.

With the recent release of the digitally restored film on DVD, it is the perfect time to uncover some of the inaccuracies that Funny Girl perpetuates. While it successfully provides good entertainment, it is essential to discern between fact and fiction.

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Fanny Brice: A Life Beyond the Stage

• Fanny’s family name was Borach, and she later changed it to Brice after establishing her career in burlesque.
• Contrary to the portrayal in Funny Girl, Fanny’s parents owned a chain of thriving saloons in Newark, New Jersey. They lived a comfortable life, with household servants and frequent trips to Europe. Fanny’s mother, Rosie, managed the bars while her husband enjoyed cards and drinks. Eventually, Rosie had enough and sought a legal separation, taking Fanny and the other children to New York. Rosie found success in real estate, and the family lived in impressive apartments and townhouses, far from the humble settings depicted in the show.
• Fanny made her amateur debut as a solo singer at Frank Keeney’s popular Brooklyn vaudeville theatre, never as part of the chorus.
• While Funny Girl portrays Fanny being fired from a chorus by Keeney, it was actually Broadway legend George M. Cohan who dropped her from the Broadway cast of Talk of the Town due to her inability to dance. Fanny humorously claimed it was because of her “skinny legs” to cover her disappointment.
• Fanny had a close and enduring friendship with Irving Berlin, which the musical fails to acknowledge. Berlin wrote several special numbers for her, including the iconic “Sadie Salome,” which propelled Fanny into the big-time show business.
• Contrary to the show’s storyline, Fanny made her Broadway debut in a Shubert Brothers production and was not in burlesque when Ziegfeld discovered her.

Fanny’s Relationships and Personal Life

• While Funny Girl portrays Fanny’s sexual innocence being lost before meeting Nick Arnstein, she had been previously married to and quickly divorced from Frank White, a barber with a penchant for young actresses.
• Fanny’s first encounter with Nick Arnstein was in Baltimore during the Whirl of Society tour, where he bet on horses using the alias “Nick Arnold.” He soon became infatuated with Fanny and followed her on tour, eventually moving in with her and her mother. Fanny’s mother, however, saw through Arnstein’s charms and despised him from the beginning.
• Fanny discovered that Nick was still married to his first wife but chose to ignore it due to her deep love for him. They had to wait until 1919 for Nick’s divorce to be finalized, marrying just two months before their daughter Frances was born.
• Nick Arnstein was not the sophisticated and classy gambler presented in Funny Girl. In reality, he shamelessly relied on Fanny’s financial support and engaged in criminal activities, including swindling and wiretapping. He had a history of arrests in Europe before meeting Fanny.
• Fanny and Nick had two children together, Frances and William. William grew up to become a respected artist and educator.

Uncovering the Truth

• The film version of Funny Girl inaccurately portrays Fanny performing a “Baby Snooks” routine on the night Ziegfeld informs her of Nick’s arrest. In reality, she did not portray Snooks until the 1933 Follies, a year after Ziegfeld’s death.
• Nick often disappeared to engage in unexplained “business deals,” leaving Fanny puzzled and concerned.
• Contrary to the musical’s narrative, Fanny did not lose her Manhattan townhouse and the country estate in Huntington, Long Island, due to Arnstein’s financial losses. Fanny’s money was the primary source of their wealth.
• Funny Girl suggests that Nick’s major mistake was selling fake bonds. However, he was part of a gang involved in stealing five million dollars’ worth of Wall Street securities in 1920, a significant sum at the time. Instead of surrendering himself, Nick went into hiding for four months, leaving Fanny to face the press and police scrutiny while giving birth to their son William. When he eventually surrendered, Nick fought the charges for four years on technicalities before spending 14 months in Leavenworth.

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It is vital to separate fact from fiction when immersing ourselves in the captivating world of Funny Girl. While the musical captures the essence of Fanny Brice’s triumphs and struggles, it is important to recognize the creative liberties taken to deliver an entertaining story that enchants audiences to this day.

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