Yentl **** (1983, Barbra Streisand, Amy Irving, Mandy Patinkin) – Classic Movie Review 1234

Director Barbra Streisand’s 1983 version of Isaac Bashevis Singer’s short story Yentl the Yeshiva Boy, a tale about a Jewess in Poland who cross-dresses to receive a boy’s schooling, is an exceptional labour of love from Streisand. After ten arduous years in production, it is an admirable tour-de-force by her. She became the first woman to win a Golden Globe as Best Director and the film also won for Best Motion Picture – Comedy.

Nothing stops the ambitious and talented Streisand, who boldly goes into co-producing (with Rusty Lemorande) and co-writing (with Jack Rosenthal) as well as directing and starring. The screenplay is based on the 1975 play Yentl by Singer and Leah Napolin. In the story, an Ashkenazi Jewish girl in Poland decides to dress and live like a boy so that she can receive an education in Talmudic Law after her father dies.

For Streisand’s millions of fans, this is her at her best in a richly enjoyable and thoughtful entertainment that manages to be amusing, tuneful, dramatic, informative and romantic too. Its commitment and sincerity are thoroughly engaging.

The show tunes by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, are exceptionally peppy and zingy. Legrand won an Oscar for his Best Original Score, while two of his lovely songs (‘Papa Can You Hear Me?’ and ‘The Way He Makes Me Feel’), both sung by Streisand, were Oscar-nominated.

In acting support, Amy Irving and Mandy Patinkin give sincere and dedicated portrayals as Yentl’s fiancée Hadass Vishkower and Yentl’s study partner Avigdor that help a lot, while the star is convincing, appealing and sometimes moving as Yentl.

Yentl blurs the lines between male and female and its characters develop attractions that could be seen as gay, but the conservative-minded film takes a conventional heterosexual and feminist stance. Yentl’s desire is exclusively for Avigdor, while her marriage to a woman remains unconsummated and is portrayed as comic.

A big hit, it grossed $40 million on a $12 million budget.

Also in the cast are Nehemiah Persoff, Steven Hill, David de Keyser, Bernard Spear, Ian Sears, Ruth Goring, Doreen Mantle, Lynda Barron, Miriam Margolyes, Alan Corduner, Jack Lynn, Anna Tzelniker, Mary Henry, Robbie Barnett and Renata Buser.

After 11 previews, the Broadway production of Yentl, directed by Robert Kalfin, opened on October 23 1975 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, where it ran for 223 performances. The cast included Tovah Feldshuh, John Shea and Lynn Ann Leveridge.

Alan and Marilyn Bergman’s work with Michel Legrand on Yentl won them the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score or Adaptation Score (lyrics), shared with Michel Legrand (music), with the songs ‘Papa, Can You Hear Me?’ and ‘The Way He Makes Me Feel’ also nominated for the Best Original Song award.

Derek Winnert is the author of Barbra Streisand Quote Unquote.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1234

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more film reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/

Isaac Bashevis Singer, author of the short story Yentl the Yeshiva Boy.