Food 'n' Flix: Funny Girl

 

I've never been one for classic movies - Bond films from the 1980s are about as far back as I go. So there are countless era-defining films that I have never seen, and household-name Oscar-winning actors I have never seen perform. For instance, I'd never seen a Barbra Streisand film - not Funny Girl, nor Yentl, nor The Prince of Tides, and not even Meet the Fockers (thank goodness).

I'm a big fan of Glee (or rather was, it went off the boil a bit in the last series) and loved the performances Lea Michele as Rachel Berry gave of Don't Rain on My Parade, from Funny Girl, in season one. She performs plenty of other Barbra songs throughout the seasons and in the most recent series, she is cast as Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl. I liked all the songs I'd heard from Funny Girl as Rachel rehearses and was really curious about the musical itself, so decided to rent it on DVD.

It's amazing how much Lea/Rachel looks like Barbra Streisand and watching the original Funny Girl having seen elements of it in Glee was great - I felt like I knew the story a little bit already and didn't expect it to be a patch on the modern Glee version but in fact I absolutely loved it. I think you have to be a fan of musicals to enjoy it though!

So Funny Girl is my chosen film for Food 'n' Flix, which I am hosting this month.

Without giving too much away for those of you who want to participate in Food 'n' Flix but haven't seen it yet, the film begins with American wannabe star Fanny Brice auditioning for her first role on the stage. She falls in love and while her career takes off her relationship has its ups and downs.

To take part in Food 'n' Flix this month, I want you to cook something inspired by the film. It can be a direct reference to the film - something that the characters eat - or a line from the film. Fanny, describing herself as something of a misfit, says: "I'm a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls!".

Eating dinner with Nick, he orders "filet de boeuf, sauce bordelaise".

Fanny: I would have ordered roast beef and potatoes.

Nick: I did.

Later:

Fanny: If I can't tell when you're ordering roast been and potatoes, how will I know when you're making advances?

Nick: You'll know. I'll be much more direct.

Your dish can also be inspired by the location (New York and Baltimore), the era (around World War I), the world of vaudeville and theatre, the cruise ship Fanny and Nicky travel on, their wedding, or indeed any of the songs from the musical. Really, anything that inspires you whether it has a direct or indirect link with the film.

I've been so busy for the past few months with selling my house and buying one with my boyfriend, then moving in and unpacking, that I haven't had a chance to think about what I'm going to make yet!

How to participate in Food 'n Flix:

   1. Watch the chosen film Funny Girl.  Taking inspiration from the film, head into the kitchen and cook or bake or make something.

    2. Post about it on your blog with a link back to THIS post and a link to Food 'n Flix.  Use of the logo is optional.

    3. You must post during September, preferably by the 25th. And of course we don't mind if your post is linked to other events...the more the merrier.

   4. Have fun with it!

    5. Email your entries to me at:caroline@carolinemakes.net and include

                     ~Your name
                     ~Your blog's name and URL
                     ~The name of your dish and the permalink to the specific post you're submitting
                     ~Attach a photo of any size (or just give me permission to "pull" one from your post)
                     ~Indicate "Food 'n Flix Submission" in the subject line

    Deadline for submission is: September 25

*watch for the roundup to be posted shortly after this deadline!