Gypsy (B+ or 3/4 stars)
1962's 'Gypsy' (directed by Mervyn Leroy) is an entertaining movie musical based on the vaudeville hit stage show that starred Ethel Merman on Broadway some years back. 'Gypsy' was considered one of the greatest stage musicals of all-time. Merman would've slid into the lead role of Mama, as she did on Broadway. Even a show-stopping 'Miss Show Business' in Judy Garland could've torn the role to shreds {in a good way!}. But what we get is Rosalind Russell; whose husband owned the movie rights. Good thing that I LOVE Rosalind Russell. She can't belt like Merman, but her spunk, humor & catharsis is undisputable.
Based on the 1957 memoirs of burlesque stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, the script tells of how, in the early days {1920s}, domineering Mama Rose (Russell) got her 2 daughters, June (Morgan Brittany; June is actually real-life actress, June Havoc), billed as "Dainty June", & the older 'tomboy' Louise (Natalie Wood, hot off of West Side Story's success) into showbiz. Nice-guy Herbie Sommers (amiable Karl Malden) is a stage director madly in love with charismatic, headstrong Rose & becomes the manager-agent who gets gigs for her child stars on the dying-out vaudeville circuit. Rose is far more interested in career ambitions for her daughters than a pressing marriage to Herbie, which -- eventually -- turns him off & leaves her.
After June outgrows her child act, becomes an actress & deserts her mom/big sister, Mama then shifts focus to the not-as-talented Louise to be the classy star of a burlesque show {they need $$ & Mama thinks burlesque will lead to bigger things}. With the sharp decline of vaudeville {for "talkies"}, the shy Louise then rails against Mama's wishes & works her way into becoming the world's most famous stripper ... Gypsy Rose Lee. Melodrama ensues.
The score is provided by musician Jule Styne & lyricist Stephen Sondheim, and includes numbers: "Baby June", "Mr. Goldstone", "Little Lamb", "If Mama Was Married", "Let Me Entertain You", & a trio of ABSOLUTE showstoppers ... "Everything's Coming Up Roses," You Gotta Have a Gimmick" & "Rose's Turn". Natalie Wood's singing was dubbed. And Rosalind Russell provides her own singing voice; though, it is blended with the similar-sounding Lisa Kirk. The only major song missing from this production - and inexplicably so - is "Together, Wherever We Go" -- that's a bummer, for me.
Directorially, Mervyn Leroy is sure-footed. The proceedings unfold smoothly. On the writing front, a lot of the "bite" of the Broadway show apparently was taken out of this film -- boo. Visually, the film impresses. 'Gypsy' received Academy Award nominations for its vibrant Color cinematography; and rightfully so. It also received nominations for its beautiful and varied costumes. And, of course, the adapted score got recognition; eventually losing the Oscar to Ray Heindorf's The Music Man. Though much of the proceedings feel/look stagey, I also must commend the production design.
So yeah, an Ethel Merman or a Judy Garland {with her own mother resentments & grueling, verging-on-child-abuse vaudevillian childhood} might've fit the role of Mama more than Roz Russell. But she acts the part of Mama to perfection; conveying conviction & desperation, but with a layer of vulnerability beneath. As Louise, the less-talented-daughter-turned-strip-star, Natalie Wood is solid. My fave number is the burlesque "Gimmick" one; were I loved loud, in-your-face Miss Mazeppa, played by Faith Dane {still alive in her 90s}. Fun movie. Looked good. Performed well. The score is GREAT. I thoroughly enjoyed. But this quintessential musical about stage mothers & the price of success just didn't hit a homerun; more like a triple.
Based on the 1957 memoirs of burlesque stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, the script tells of how, in the early days {1920s}, domineering Mama Rose (Russell) got her 2 daughters, June (Morgan Brittany; June is actually real-life actress, June Havoc), billed as "Dainty June", & the older 'tomboy' Louise (Natalie Wood, hot off of West Side Story's success) into showbiz. Nice-guy Herbie Sommers (amiable Karl Malden) is a stage director madly in love with charismatic, headstrong Rose & becomes the manager-agent who gets gigs for her child stars on the dying-out vaudeville circuit. Rose is far more interested in career ambitions for her daughters than a pressing marriage to Herbie, which -- eventually -- turns him off & leaves her.
After June outgrows her child act, becomes an actress & deserts her mom/big sister, Mama then shifts focus to the not-as-talented Louise to be the classy star of a burlesque show {they need $$ & Mama thinks burlesque will lead to bigger things}. With the sharp decline of vaudeville {for "talkies"}, the shy Louise then rails against Mama's wishes & works her way into becoming the world's most famous stripper ... Gypsy Rose Lee. Melodrama ensues.
The score is provided by musician Jule Styne & lyricist Stephen Sondheim, and includes numbers: "Baby June", "Mr. Goldstone", "Little Lamb", "If Mama Was Married", "Let Me Entertain You", & a trio of ABSOLUTE showstoppers ... "Everything's Coming Up Roses," You Gotta Have a Gimmick" & "Rose's Turn". Natalie Wood's singing was dubbed. And Rosalind Russell provides her own singing voice; though, it is blended with the similar-sounding Lisa Kirk. The only major song missing from this production - and inexplicably so - is "Together, Wherever We Go" -- that's a bummer, for me.
Directorially, Mervyn Leroy is sure-footed. The proceedings unfold smoothly. On the writing front, a lot of the "bite" of the Broadway show apparently was taken out of this film -- boo. Visually, the film impresses. 'Gypsy' received Academy Award nominations for its vibrant Color cinematography; and rightfully so. It also received nominations for its beautiful and varied costumes. And, of course, the adapted score got recognition; eventually losing the Oscar to Ray Heindorf's The Music Man. Though much of the proceedings feel/look stagey, I also must commend the production design.
So yeah, an Ethel Merman or a Judy Garland {with her own mother resentments & grueling, verging-on-child-abuse vaudevillian childhood} might've fit the role of Mama more than Roz Russell. But she acts the part of Mama to perfection; conveying conviction & desperation, but with a layer of vulnerability beneath. As Louise, the less-talented-daughter-turned-strip-star, Natalie Wood is solid. My fave number is the burlesque "Gimmick" one; were I loved loud, in-your-face Miss Mazeppa, played by Faith Dane {still alive in her 90s}. Fun movie. Looked good. Performed well. The score is GREAT. I thoroughly enjoyed. But this quintessential musical about stage mothers & the price of success just didn't hit a homerun; more like a triple.