Funny Girl is old-fashioned; it is also exhilarating.

You can reexperience the humor and magic -- and the essence of Streisand -- in this William Wyler classic.

The musical biography of comedian Fanny Brice emerges as a true classic, as enthralling as the day it was released in 1968. It is a superb example of Hollywood craftsmanship in which all elements have been blended to perfection with inspired artistry.

It's a cross between confidence and vulnerability that's hard for an actress to pull off, but Streisand hits the note perfectly. And her greatest moment of acting, I think, is also the picture's strongest musical number.

Despite its two-and-a-half hour running time, the movie flies by, so absorbing are its story, songs and stars.

Barbra Streisand in her Hollywood debut makes a marked impact.