Gypsy (1962)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

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 Hovick, later Gypsy Rose Lee
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
George Petrie	...	George
Ben Lessy	...	Mervyn Goldstone

Runtime:

143 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

6-Track Stereo (70 mm prints) | 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:

Most of Rosalind Russell's songs were dubbed by Lisa Kirk. However, Russell's voice can be heard in "Mr. Goldstone," the reprise of "Small World," and parts of "Rose's Turn" and the cut "Together Wherever We Go".

Goofs:

Continuity: When they get out of car at their grandfather's house June and Louise are carrying suitcases with right hands, but seconds later are carrying it with their left in reverse shot.

Quotes:

Rose Hovick: [on remarrying] After three husbands, it takes a lot of butter to get you back in the frying pan.

Movie Connections:

References Why Girls Leave Home (1921)

Soundtrack:

Some People

Well, I liked it.

No, it didn't have Ethel Merman. Most films didn't have Ethel Merman. That's because Ms. Merman was always something of a Sherman Tank personality- regardless of vocal strength- and her vocals and mannerisms would've been entirely too big on film. The jury will be forever out as to whether or not Rosalind Russell did her own singing or was partially looped by Lisa Kirk, but it ultimately doesn't matter. She captures perfectly the nuance of a driven stage mother whose ambitions cause her daughters to simultaneously love her and be frustrated by her. (In hindsight, the best possible Rose probably would've been none other than Judy Garland, named in an early casting package. Can you imagine?) As it is, I thought the most amazing performance came from Natalie Wood- who appears to age roughly fifteen years throughout the film. Note her first appearance in the film celebrating a lonely birthday with a baby lamb; she looks roughly thirteen years old. All through the troupe's vaudeville adventures she remains in the background until the train depot sequence; she then grows up overnight- first as a counselor to her mother (as 'Rose-Louise'), then begins to find her voice in the Wichita burlesque sequences as a seamstress and bit player with the strippers, then finally in the "star strip," we actually see her turn into Gypsy Rose Lee- all grown up and gorgeous. Wonderful support from manager Karl Malden and sister Ann Jillian.