Gypsy (1962)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

Arthur Laurents (play)
Gypsy Rose Lee (book)

Release Date:

1 November 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Musical

Tagline:

Let this tuneful Broadway classic entertain you.

Plot:

Based on the Broadway hit about the life and times of burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee and her aggressive stage mother, Mama Rose.

Plot Keywords:

Burlesque | Vaudeville | Stripper | Show Business | 1930s

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Rosalind Russell	...	Rose Hovick
Natalie Wood	...	Louise 'Gypsy Rose Lee' Hovick
Karl Malden	...	Herbie Sommers
Paul Wallace	...	Tulsa
Betty Bruce	...	Tessie Tura
Parley Baer	...	Mr. Kringelein
Harry Shannon	...	Grandpa
Morgan Brittany	...	'Baby' June (as Suzanne Cupito)
Ann Jillian	...	'Dainty' June (as Ann Jilliann)
Diane Pace	...	'Baby' Louise
Faith Dane	...	Mazeppa
Roxanne Arlen	...	Electra
Jean Willes	...	Betty Cratchitt - Secretary
George Petrie	...	George
Ben Lessy	...	Mervyn Goldstone

Runtime:

143 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:PG (video) | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:11 | USA:Unrated | UK:A

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "Gypsy" opened at the Broadway Theater on May 21, 1959 and ran for 702 performances starring Ethel Merman and Jack Klugman. "Gypsy" was nominated for the 1960 Tony Award for the Best Musical.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rose starts to sing 'Some People', her red bracelet is up towards her right elbow. In the verse, "when I got all the sights to see yet, all the places I gotta play...” she puts her right hand up, the bracelet is back down at her wrist, although we don't see it slide down again in between the shots.

Quotes:

Rose Hovick: [contemplating an unneeded wig] You know, we could get a nice refund on this... if we'd ever paid for it.

Movie Connections:

References Open Your Eyes (1919)

Soundtrack:

Small World

Everything's coming up roses because I CERTAINLY let it entertain me!

I have LOVED this musical for about seven years... and seen both Roz & Bette's versions... now, I know most people prefer Bette... but I don't. I mean... I've read reviews where people said "Forget the '62 version... go rent Bette's!" Maybe I'm crazy... I mean, I adore Bette Midler to death, but I think Roz did a better job of actually PLAYING the part. Sure, she may not have the vocal talents of Midler and Merman... but who does?! She's more of what I imagined the real Rose Hovick to be... and she's just so... I don't know. The way she delivered her lines... it was perfection. She also made me feel just a tad sorry for Rose... now I never saw Ethel Merman play the part, but Bette never made me feel sorry for Rose. Roz does. And that's a great talent whenever you can play a part where you have people hating and yet, at the same time, feeling sorry for the character. She was absolutely brilliant in the part and I don't see how people cannot recognize this! I also enjoyed Karl Malden in the role of Herbie better than Peter Reigert (I believe that was his name). He brought such life to the role. And although Cynthia Gibb did a good job of playing Louise... Natalie Wood... I mean, who can top THAT? Natalie Wood was GREAT!!!! She was perfect as the sort of quiet, shy child that grew up into a glamorous queen of the striptease. Diane Pace who played Louise as a child did a FINE job too! Cute little girl. And then... Morgan Brittany (who is billed as Suzanne Cupito) and Ann Jillian as Baby and Dainty June... how awesome is that?! Who knew that Ann Jillian could SING? I sure didn't. Paul Wallace was awesome as Tulsa... lots of talent. It's a GREAT movie, even if it WAS a bit altered from the Broadway play... but hey, the play was a bit altered from the true life story so... what does it matter?! A GREAT MOVIE, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!