If you liked Funny Girl, and what connoisseur of musicals didn't, you'll be interested to know it wasn't the first story inspired by Fanny Brice. Rose of Washington Square is a fictional-as advertised by the disclaimer in the credits-depiction of a Ziegfeld girl who falls in love with a gambler. Sound familiar? The names are totally different, so if you weren't looking for it, you might not immediately recognize the similarity to Funny Girl. Once Alice Faye started singing "My Man," hopefully you'd figure it out.
Tyrone Power plays the scoundrel, and he and Alice have as much sizzling chemistry as they always do in their movies together. Al Jolson, who spends more of his screen time in black face than out of it, plays Alice's devoted friend. Since this was the time period without video rentals, Al pleased audiences by repeating his signature numbers "Mammy" and "California Here I Come." In the story, Al's in love with her, but since he's up against Tyrone Power, he doesn't stand a chance. It's love at first sight for Ty and Alice, and even though he's no good, albeit incredibly shrewd, she can't let him go. Barbra Streisand couldn't let Omar Sharif go, could she? Make sure to go into this movie expecting a drama.
