Gypsy (1962)

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

Arthur Laurents (book)
Gypsy Rose Lee (memoirs)
(more)

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 | Stripper | Stage Mother | Vaudeville | Dancer

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Rosalind Russell	...	Rose Hovick
Natalie Wood	...	Louise Hovick - aka 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
Guy Raymond	...	Pastey
Louis Quinn	...	Cigar
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Trudi Ames	...	Scottish Girl in Uncle Jocko Scene (uncredited)
Renee Aubry	...	Hollywood Blonde (uncredited)
Josette Banzet	...	Renee (uncredited)
Jack Benny	...	Jack Benny (uncredited)
Gail Bonney	...	Stage Mother (uncredited)
Bella Bruck	...	Stage Mother (uncredited)
Shirley Chandler	...	Hollywood Blonde (uncredited)
Dina Claire	...	Dolores (uncredited)
Mike Cody	...	Farmboy (uncredited)
Fred Curt	...	Specialty Dancer - The Cow (uncredited)
Jules Davis	...	Stagehand (uncredited)
Marcel De la Brosse	...	Monsieur Bourgeron Couchon (uncredited)
William Fawcett	...	Mr. Willis (uncredited)
Dick Foster	...	Farmboy (uncredited)
Eddie Foster	...	Wichita Burlesque Audience Member (uncredited)
Ben Frommer	...	Wichita Audience Member (uncredited)
H.W. Gim	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Ralph Hart	...	Farmboy (uncredited)
Teri Hope	...	Hollywood Blonde (uncredited)
Jim Hubbard	...	Farmboy (uncredited)
Thomas E. Jackson	...	Station Master (uncredited)
Dee Ann Johnston	...	Hollywood Blonde (uncredited)
Frances Karath	...	Hollywood Blonde (uncredited)
Lisa Kirk	...	Rose Hovick (singing voice) (uncredited)
Harvey Korman	...	Phil (uncredited)
Dawn Little Sky	...	Indian Mother (uncredited)
Danny Lockin	...	Yonkers Farm Boy (uncredited)
Robert Lyons	...	Clarence the Clarinetist (uncredited)
Jeff Malloy	...	Farmboy (uncredited)
Paula Martin	...	Hollywood Blonde (uncredited)
Bert Michaels	...	Yonkers (uncredited)
James Millhollin	...	Mr. Beckman (uncredited)
John Moloney	...	Comic (uncredited)
Cubby O'Brien	...	Boy Juggler (uncredited)
Renee Paul	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Adelina Pedroza	...	Mexican Girl (uncredited)
Jeff Pevney	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
Robert Piper	...	Specialty Dancer - The Cow (uncredited)
Beulah Quo	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Robert Richards	...	Ventrioloquist (uncredited)
Lois Roberts	...	Agnes (uncredited)
Cleo Ronson	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Pearl Shear	...	Stage Mother (uncredited)
Hazel Shermet	...	Stage Mother (uncredited)
Jule Styne	...	Conductor (uncredited)
Frank Sully	...	Wichita Burlesque Audience Member (uncredited)
Julie Thompson	...	Hawaiian Girl (uncredited)
Ian Tucker	...	Angie (uncredited)
Herb Vigran	...	Announcer at Minsky's (voice) (uncredited)
Bo Wagner	...	Farm Boy (uncredited)
Rusty Wescoatt	...	Stagehand (uncredited)
Dick Winslow	...	Burlesque House Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Clint Young	...	Western Union Man (uncredited)

Directed by
Mervyn LeRoy

Writing credits
Arthur Laurents		(book of musical play)
Gypsy Rose Lee		(memoirs)
Leonard Spigelgass		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mervyn LeRoy	....	producer

Original Music by
Jule Styne

Cinematography by
Harry Stradling Sr.		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Philip W. Anderson

Art Direction by
John Beckman

Set Decoration by
Ralph S. Hurst

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly
Howard Shoup		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup supervisor
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair styles creator: Miss Wood
Gene Hibbs	....	makeup artist: Miss Russell
Jean Burt Reilly	....	supervising hair stylist

Production Management
Floyd Joyer	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gil Kissel	....	assistant director
Mecca Graham	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Gregg Peters	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Pat Patterson	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
M.A. Merrick	....	sound
Dolph Thomas	....	sound
William Thompson	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
J.B. Allen	....	camera assistant (uncredited)
Frank Flanagan	....	gaffer (uncredited)
George Gall	....	camera assistant (uncredited)
Charles Harris	....	chief grip (uncredited)
William Perillard	....	best boy (uncredited)
Harry Stradling Jr.	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Clyde Taylor	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bill Gaskin	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
John F. Burnett	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Carl Brandt	....	orchestrator
Frank Perkins	....	conductor
Frank Perkins	....	music supervisor
Frank Perkins	....	orchestrator
Stephen Sondheim	....	lyrics by
Cubby O'Brien	....	musician: drums (uncredited)

Other crew
Ruth Bridges	....	secretary: Mr. LeRoy
Leland Hayward	....	producer: stage-play
David Merrick	....	producer: stage-play
Jerome Robbins	....	choreographer: stage play
Jerome Robbins	....	director: stage play
Robert Tucker	....	choreographer
Erika Wernher	....	script supervisor
Robert E. Blair	....	dog trainer (uncredited)
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1969) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• Maple Pictures (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

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

Filming Locations:

Stage 19, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

Rose Marie was considered for the singing voice doubles for Rose.

Goofs:

Continuity: During Mama Rose's last musical number, she rips her dress on one side to expose her leg. But by the end of the number, the rip is no longer showing.

Quotes:

Louise "Gypsy Rose Lee" Hovick:[singing] Let me entertain you, Let me make you smile, Let me do a few tricks, Some old and then some new tricks, I'm very versatile, And if you're real good, I'll make you feel good, I want your spirits to climb, So let me entertain you, And we'll have a real good time; Yes, sir!, We'll have a real good time.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Queer as Folk: Episode #4.6" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Let Me Entertain You

Gypsy is tops

I never saw Gypsy on Broadway, but I thought the movie version was great! I feel Roz Russell was NOT miscast as Rose and she gave a very funny, convincing performance.

Natalie Wood was perfect in the role of Gypsy Rose Lee and who could have been sweeter in the role? Incidently, Natalie does her own singing in this movie and Roz Russell's voice is dubbed in parts.

By the way, Marnie Nixon dubbed Natalie's voice in West Side Story, but can you think of anyone else who could have played Maria with such breathtaking magic? There is a reason why film directors like Robert Wise cast someone like Natalie Wood in musicals. She may not be a "professional" dancer or singer, but she brings something else to the picture... a larger-than-life screen presence that makes the audience care about what happens to her. Many talented Broadway performers are passed up for this very reason. They just don't have that certain screen presence that is going to sell tickets. That's life!