Gypsy

source: Gypsy

Trailer—Gypsy

Gypsy

This Gypsy is not wonderful, some of the staging is clunky and some of the singing is off key(and I am including Russell here). However it is very good and better than the reputation it's gotten over the years. The musical is a masterpiece with a masterful score especially and memorable characters. This film does mostly look great, with beautiful photography, costumes and sets and the score and songs are delightful. The story did resonate emotionally with me as did the script and characters even Mama Rose. The acting is fine, Rosalind Russell is superb as a less dark(character that is) but believable Mama Rose(Merman and Lansbury are my favourites though) and Natalie Wood and Karl Malden provide great support. Paul Wallace's dance number is also show-stopping. Overall, very good but not the outstanding masterpiece as it could've been. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Gypsy a musical based on the life of Gypsy Rose Lee takes liberties with the true story, its a clunky musical drama with some comedy, rather tame by today's standards as its not erotic or sexy, the musical numbers are rather forgettable and goes on for too long. The film is dominated by Rosalind Russell's overbearing and pushy stage mother who wants to make her children stars. She plays it loud and brash. Karl Malden is the put upon suitor who wants to marry her but gets nowhere as she loves the limelight too much. Natalie Wood plays Gypsy as someone who is sweet and innocent, a vaudeville act who stumbled into stripping and ended up being a successful showgirl. Even though the film was made in 1962 and there were censorship rules, its too wholesome. Burlesque is supposedly rather sleazy and she was a * for goodness sakes but here we hardly get to see any bare flesh and when Woods does her turn, the men are going crazy when all she has done was show a bit of shoulder.

Rosalind Russell, a true world-class actress, brought perfect line readings and comic timing and delivery, along with a nice patrician air, to the role of Rose, and no one has matched her -- before or since. I've seen every Mama Rose -- Merman, Peters, Midler, Lansbury, Betty Buckley, Andrea McArdle, Mary McCarty, Joanne Worley and Giselle MacKenzie -- and none of them touches Russell in the role, certainly not in the kind of nuanced humanity she brought to it. (There have been a lot of caricaturing, mugging and over-acting in this role.) And Natalie Wood is the only actress I've seen to do anything remotely three-dimensional with the underwritten role of Louise/Gypsy. Bravo to both!

Although the television remake is truer to the original script Bette Midler was a dreadful Mama Rose she peaked way too early for us to care about her. by the time Rose' Turn happens we want her to shut up. Roz Russell has so much more depth in the role playing the caracter, not just the songs. True she is a bit weak vocally but she is always on key and the emotional levels are right on. Natalie Wood is charming as Louise and Virbrantly sexy as Gypsy. her transformation is flawless.Malden is avery good Herbie but too bad they cut "together" The three actors would hae been a joy to watch in that number. Over all this is a very good film. not perfect but it hits the right chords.

This enjoyable class act has Natalie Wood as Gypsy Rose Lee and Rosalind Russell as her overbearing mother Rose. And they are both terrific. Ok, so Russell isn't Ethel Merman and the OBC has that bit of an edge where the songs are concerned, but as an actress she is great in this role, especially in the scenes where June and Louise (Gypsy-to-be) are auditioning and she constantly interrupts; and in the Mr Goldstone number. Natalie Wood looks the part and gives Louise a sympathetic edge, particularly in 'Little Lamb'. The best musical numbers of the lot though are Tulsa's song and dance number rehearsing his imaginary double act, and the truly brilliant 'You Gotta Have a Gimmick'. It is also a joy to see Karl Malden in a nice supporting role as Rose's long suffering beau Herbie.

For years I have read that Rosalind Russell was miscast as Mama Rose in this film production of "Gypsy." I disagree. I thought she brought great humanity to this hard-boiled character. Russell proves that no person's persona is black or white, but a mixture of both. In short, her performance is excellent and very touching.