1930s in New York. The famous singer Fanny Brice has divorced her first husband Nicky Arnstein. During the depression she has trouble finding work as an artist but meets Billy Rose, a newcomer who writes lyrics and owns his own nightclub.

Producer Ray Stark was forced to sue Barbra Streisand to make this movie after she refused; Streisand had only one film left on her contract with him. Reportedly, upon completion of filming, she presented him with a mirror on which she'd written in lipstick, "Paid in full".

Fanny Brice:
[at her first meeting Billy Rose] If we hate the same people and you get your suit cleaned, it's a match.

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the "How Lucky Can You Get?" musical number, when Fanny is turning on the stage lights she is clearly not singing, although Streisand's singing voice is heard on the soundtrack.

Written by John Kander and Fred Ebb
Performed by Barbra Streisand