‘Yentl’ Wins Oscars for Barbra Streisand and Marilyn Bergman – The Hollywood Reporter

Marilyn Bergman was flanked by fellow Oscar winners Michel LeGrand (left) and her husband, Alan Bergman, at the Academy Awards, where they won for original score for the film “Yentl.”

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YntlIt is a film that tells the story of a woman who disguises herself as a man to achieve her dream of a Talmudic education. It is a groundbreaking film for director and star Barbra Streisand, who became the first woman to win a Golden Globe for directing in 1984. Two months later, the film broke new ground again when Marilyn Bergman became the first woman to win a Golden Globe for directing. Wins an Oscar for original score. She shared the award with her husband and writing partner, Alan Bergman, and composer Michel Legrand in the Original Song Score category (at the time, the Academy handed out separate awards for “musicals” and “non-musicals”; Yntl was considered the former).

The Bergmans were accomplished songwriters before Yntland won the original two Academy Awards: L Thomas Crown case (also in collaboration with Legrand) and As we were before, their first film team-up with Streisand. She and the duo met when Streisand was performing in New York clubs when she was 18, and became close friends.

When Streisand struggled to get studio support Yntl, the Bergman family suggested turning the film into a musical – and Orion Pictures came on board. Streisand expertly wove the music into the film’s structure, according to him THRReview: “Incorporating Alan and Marilyn Bergman’s lyrics into the development of the story line is unique (for Streisand). They make it work smoothly and effortlessly. Streisand is the only character who sings in the film. The songs become a projection of her inner feelings… and the device itself… becomes untenable.” Not only is it wonderful in its own right.

Yntl It was nominated in four other Oscar categories — including two original song nods for the Bergmans and Legrand’s “Papa, Can You Hear Me.” and “The Way He Makes Me Feel” — but Streisand was overlooked as a director candidate. THR She reported that after the concert, “Marilyn Bergman, who learned of the insult to Barbra Streisand, said, ‘Yes, I’m happy Yntl He won something. Barbara is the winner. The film is a triumph wherever it is shown. ”

This story first appeared in the December stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter. Click here to subscribe.