Silver Screen Magic with Barbra Streisand

Born as Barbra Joan Streisand in New York City, she became an Oscar-winning actress and filmmaker. She started out by performing in nightclubs and on Broadway. In the late 1960s, she went into the movies. Streisand made her directorial debut with the 1983 film "Yentl," becoming the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a motion picture. Today she is 84 years old.

Director William Wyler directed the 1968 American biographical musical film “Funny Girl." The film was written by Isobel Lennart and adapted from her book for the stage musical of the same name. It starred Barbara Streisand and Omar Sharif. Streisand won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1969 for her performance and received the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

This was Streisand’s breakout role as Fanny Brice, a bit player on the vaudeville circuit in NYC. When renowned theater producer Florenz Ziegfield (Walter Pigeon) recognizes Brice’s potential, her career begins to take off, but obstacles are thrown in the path when she meets suave businessman Nick Arnstein (Omar Sharif).

Director Herbert Ross directed the 1975 American biographical musical comedy-drama “Funny Lady." It is the sequel to the 1968 film “Funny Girl." The film starred Barbra Streisand, James Caan, Omar Sharif, Roddy McDowall, and Ben Vereen.

In this film, Streisand reprises her Oscar-winning role as Fanny Brice. In the sequel Brice marries songwriter Billy Rose (James Caan), and the two agree to work on a show together.

Director and actor Gene Kelly directed the 1969 American musical romantic comedy “Hello, Dolly!” It was based on the 1954 Broadway play “The Matchmaker” by Thornton Wilder. The film starred Barbara Streisand, Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford, and Louis Armstrong. Armstrong’s recording of the title tune became a number one hit in May 1964.

The storyline revolves around Dolly Levi (Barbra Streisand), a widow-turned-matchmaker who travels to New York to find a suitable match for the unattached half-millionaire, Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau), who is more interested in finding a woman to keep house for him instead of a wife.

Barbra Streisand directed and starred in the 1996 American romantic comedy-drama “The Mirror Has Two Faces." It was loosely based on the 1958 French film of the same name written by French filmmakers Andre Cavatte and Gerard Oury. The film starred Streisand, Jeff Bridges, Pierce Bronson, George Segal, Mimi Rogers, Brenda Vaccaro, and Lauren Bacall.

The storyline revolves around Rose Morgan (Barbra Streisand), an English professor at Columbia University who lives with her overbearing mother Hannah Morgan (Lauren Bacall) and is about to celebrate her sister Claire Morgan's (Mimi Rogers) third marriage to her ex-boyfriend, Alex (Pierce Brosnan).

Director Martin Ritt directed the 1987 American legal drama film "Nuts." The film starred Barbra Streisand and Richard Dreyfuss. It is based on the 1979 play of the same name by Topor. This was the final film for veteran actors Karl Malden and Robert Webber. It also featured Leslie Nielsen in his last non-comedic role.

The storyline revolves around call girl Claudia Draper (Barbra Stanwyck) who is charged with murdering one of her clients. Her parents attempt to have her declared insane, but Draper refuses. Taking on her case is experienced defense attorney Aaron Levinsky (Richard Dreyfuss).

Streisand directed the 1991 American romantic drama “The Prince of Tides." It was based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Pat Conroy. The film starred Streisand and Nick Nolte.

The storyline revolves around NY psychiatrist Susan Lowenstein (Barbra Streisand), who, after one of her patients, Savannah (Blythe Danner), attempts suicide, asks her twin brother, Tom Wingo (Nick Nolte), to help her gain insight into his sister's dysfunctional childhood and upbringing.

Director Frank Pierson directed the 1976 American musical romantic drama “A Star Is Born." It starred Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. It is the remake of the 1937 film starring Janet Gaynor and Frederic March.

The storyline revolves around John Norman Howard (Kris Kristofferson), a famous musician at the tail end of his career who walks into a nightclub and watches a young aspiring singer, Esther Hoffman (Barbra Streisand), perform and is drawn to her. He encourages her to pursue her dreams of stardom and lets her take the spotlight in his live performances.

Streisand co-wrote, co-produced, and directed the 1983 American romantic musical drama "Yentl." The film is based on the short story “Yentl the Yeshiva Boy” by Isaac Bahevis Singer.

The film incorporates music to tell the story of Yentl Mendel, an Ashkenazi Jewish woman in Poland in 1904 who decides to disguise herself as a man named Anshel so she can receive an education in Talmudic law.

Director Sydney Pollack directed the 1973 American romantic drama “The Way We Were." The film starred Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford.

The storyline revolves around outspoken activist and college student Katie Morosky (Barbra Streisand), who meets a dull, high-society young man, Hubbell Gardiner (Robert Redford). Even though they're opposites, they attract. Years later, meeting again, they end up marrying and settling down in California.

Director Peter Bogdanovich directed the 1972 American screwball comedy “What’s Up Doc?” The film starred Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal.

The storyline revolves around Dr. Howard Bannister (Ryan O'Neal), a musicologist at the Iowa Conservatory of Music who, along with his fiancee Eunice Burns (Madeline Kahn), arrives in San Francisco to compete for a grant. Confusion ensues when he meets Judy Maxwell (Barbra Streisand).