Barbra Streisand's first film as star and director is a bizarre cross-dressing story of a Jewish girl who disguises herself as a man to beat the limitations her society imposes on her. Songs have been added to counter the doubts that soon begin to creep in, but nothing can shore up the crumbling structure of the central situation: few actresses would be believable as a man and Streisand isn't one of them. Even ignoring the stature, the feminine gestures and the tiny feet, there's the voice... 'How could I have been so blind? ' asks Avigdor (Mandy Patinkin), when she finally tells him (having married his fiancée: no, don't ask, just don't ask). And we can but agree. Its major achievement in the middle of the expected razzle-dazzle of a Streisand musical is that moments of quiet observation and reflective wisdom are given their due, and that Streisand manages to play the scenes requiring her to be discreetly demure with surprising success.

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