"The Swan" was written especially for this movie. The original number, "Rat-a-Tat-Tat", was deemed too dated (though appropriate for the setting of the show). Fanny Brice did a similar act dressed in a similar costume complete with a huntsman carrying a bow and arrow in the movie Be Yourself!.
Frank Sinatra was seriously considered for the role of Nicky Arnstein but Barbra Streisand vetoed this as she didn't like him.
Barbra Streisand was, at the time of the film's release, a voting member of AMPAS. When she found she was nominated, she, like any member nominated, voted for herself. If she hadn't, she wouldn't have tied with Katharine Hepburn for the year's Best Actress Oscar.
Barbra Streisand's feature film debut.
William Wyler was hired to replace Sidney Lumet as director. Lumet left the picture over differences with producer Ray Stark and star Barbra Streisand. Wyler originally declined the offer, because he was deaf in one ear and said he couldn't do a musical, but reconsidered after meeting Streisand.
Columbia wanted to cast Shirley MacLaine as Fanny Brice. However, producer Ray Stark, who also produced the Broadway show and was Brice's son-in-law, insisted on Barbra Streisand repeating her Broadway role.
Final film of Frank Faylen.
Originally a musical on Broadway (03/1964 - 07/1967), based on the real life story of Fanny Brice.
Producer Ray Stark was Fanny Brice's son-in-law and the baby that Fanny (Barbra Streisand) gave birth to in reality grew up to become Stark's wife.
Several co-stars publicly blasted Barbra Streisand and director William Wyler for much of their scenes being cut in favor of focusing almost entirely on Streisand.
The final musical number, "My Man", was filmed "live" both to maximize Barbra Streisand's dramatic rendition and because she hated the lip-syncing process.
The highest-grossing film of 1968.
The iconic logo for Funny Girl of an upside-down girl with roller skates was created by illustrator Talivaldis Stubis.
The movie's line "Hello, gorgeous" was voted as the #81 movie quote by the American Film Institute (out of 100).
The original Broadway production of "Funny Girl" opened at the Winter Garden Theater on March 26, 1964, ran for 1348 performances and was nominated for the 1964 Tony Awards for the Best Musical and Score. Barbra Streisand and Kay Medford reprise their roles in the movie and were both nominated for Tony Awards.