European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 24, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse A daily Agazine up Yonkers May have looked like this 40 years ago but it had no Barbara Streisand. By Harold Heffernan Nana staff writer while she generates plenty of excitement around her barbra Streisand who has wanted to be a film Star for As Long As she can remember has moved into this cherished celestial company with self Confidence and an apparent Calm. Only two weeks after finishing the Long and arduous schedule for funny girl she started another and even More physically taxing chore at 20th Century Fox. From Early morn usually 6 . To dusk she s applied herself to the title role in Ernest Lehman s sumptuous production of the Carol Channing starred stage musical hello Dolly the sets which have been built for this show including the replica of a new York elevated the costumes and furnishings Mirror an extravagance and a Money spending spree unmatched since the fabulous Days of de Mille. During a pause in one vast number in which she was backed by close to 400-gaily-bedecked extras barbra was asked if she Felt any sense of Awe at being entrusted with approximately $50 million Worth of motion pictures past present and a Little surprised she replied i never think of it that s probably because my mind is incapable of grasp wig any figure beyond $4.95. That i something i can realize and compre Hend. All the rest is just so but she works those Long hours with an imaginative intensity that suggests $4.95 then is a very important sum. Returning from new York to Star rehearsals on hello Dolly she brought along trunks loaded with Feath ers brooches and other adornments of toe period-1890and a brain full of in formation on How people lived thought and acted at the time. In this picture that will be special interesting and stories trickling out of the Security tight operations on funny girl emphasize barbra s Zeal for getting to the Bottom of things no matter when where or How. Almost nightly she would be on the phone with the harassed producer Ray Stark at his Home wanting to clarify something or make a suggestion. Arguments betwee her and director William Wyler became so drastic that at one Point someone sneaked a Canvas backed director s chair in with her name painted on tieback. But at the Post movie party everyone wept with happiness and exchanged gifts. T also brought a head full of curiosity us her associate on the movie by now Are fully aware. It to Euleil ush for her to know As she noes that director Gene Kelly costume signer Irene Sharaff cameraman Harry Stradling and others to charge a. Tops in their respective lines. I 4 no who photographed her film debut in funny girl says she Al ways wants to know Why we of things of Way we do and is it the Best Way to v a lavs searching for some better and you watch and i bring something to her role by a 24, 1968 _ Rue to cameraman Stradling s prediction she has already brought something specially her own to hello Dolly for some sequences when the title character is being her most Devi Ous barbra plays her with an Arches that carries the faintest suggestion of Mae West. She wanted to stress the effect by the use of a Lornette but director Kelly vetoed it on the ground that the contrast with the open warm hearted Ness of the hello Dolly num Ber and much of the rest of the picture would be too applies this same Range of inquiry to everything in which she i involved the Shade of her hair Light Golden redder walk mostly a Long purposeful stride and All other details. She is a relentless uncompromising critic of her own singing but As pro Ducer Lehman confided she can come up with too Many suggestions to suit me. I listen attentively to Ever single one and it s really been Surpris ing How Many have been Good enough to the beginning of her career barbra has described herself As a actress who sings " even when she was a vocal Star with Little or no actin experience. And it s True that she turned to song after rejection As a actress. She now makes the Point that on both hello Dolly and the still unreleased funny girl there is More footage erf comedy or drama than that ascribed to musical numbers. And whether she thinks in terms of$50 million or $4.95, barbra Streisand is going to be one of the most exciting new stars to Streak into the Long starved movie heavens. As doily she has an arc Ness that carries a suggestion of Mae the stars and stripes Page 11
