ΥΕΝΤL 1983

Barwood / Ladbroke / United Artists, 1983, Color, 134 minutes, ***½


Released November, 1983



Charming story of a young Eastern-European Jewish girl who poses as a boy so that she may become a student.


Amy Irving and Mandy Patinkin turn in fine performances and Streisand's singing is top-notch, as always. Streisand is genuinely warm and sincere in this role.  Her performance is outstanding.



Detractors of the film say it simply isn't realistic that a woman could get away with posing as a boy in order to study. Yes, it might be impossible for Barbra Steisand, but I think it's not impossible for some women. Besides, where is it written that people can't fantasize about things? This is the stuff of movies. Great film!



Setting: Eastern Europe, 1904 (filmed on location in Czechoslovakia)



Produced by: Barbra Streisand and Rusty Lemorande

Executive Producer: Larry DeWaay

Directed by: Barbra Streisand

Screenplay by: Jack Rosental and Barbra Streisand

Based on the novella Yentl, the Yeshiva Boy by Isaac Bashevis Singer

Music by: Michel Legrand

Lyrics by: Alan and Marilyn Bergman

Music Orchestrated and Conducted by: Michel Legrand

Wedding Dance Choreography: Gillian Lynne

Musical Sequences Staged by: Ms. Streisand

Production Designer: Roy Walker

Art Director: Leslie Tomkins

Set Decorator: Tessa Davies

Costume Designer: Judy Moorcroft

Chief Makeup: Wally Schneiderman

Chief Hairdresser: Colin Jamison

Sound: Tim Blackham

Director of Photography: David Watkin

Special Effects: Alan Whibley

Film Editor: Terry Rawlings



Awards: Academy Award for Best Song Score; Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress (Amy Irving), Best Song ("Papa, Can You Hear Me?"), Best Song ("The Way He Makes Me Feel") and Best Art Direction/Set Decoration



Cast: Barbra Streisand [Yentl], Mandy Patinkin [Avigdor], Amy Irving [Hadass], Nehemiah Persoff [Reb Mendel "Papa"], Steven Hill [Reb Alter Vishkower], Allan Corduner [Shimmele], Ruth Goring [Esther Rachel], David De Keyser [Rabbi Zalman], Bernard Spear [Tailor], Doreen Mantle [Mrs. Shaemen], Lynda Barron [Peshe], Jack Lynn [Bookseller], Anna Tzelniker [Mrs. Kovner], Miriam Margolyes [Sarah], Mary Henry [Mrs. Jacobs], Robbie Barnett [Tailor's Assistant], Ian Sears [David], Frank Baker [Village Student], Anthony Rubes [Village Student], Renata Buser [Mrs. Shaemen's Daughter], Kerry Shale, Gary Brown, Peter Whitman, Danny Brainin, Jonathan Tafler, Teddy Kempner [Yeshiva Students]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind opening scene); [1:10] Where Is It Written? (sung by Barbra Streisand); [0:20] Papa, Can You Hear Me? (sung by Barbra Streisand); [0:30] unidentified song (traditional Jewish folk song?) (sung by boys in wagon); [0:38] This Is One of Those Moments (sung by Barbra Streisand); [0:45] No Wonder (sung by Barbra Streisand); [0:52] The Way He Makes Me Feel (sung by Barbra Streisand); [1:10] No Wonder (sung by Barbra Streisand); [1:16] Tomorrow Night (sung by Barbra Streisand); [1:36] Will Someone Ever Look at Me That Way? (sung by Barbra Streisand); [1:42] No Matter What Happens (sung by Barbra Streisand); [2:03] A Piece of Sky (sung by Barbra Streisand)