GYPSY - Original or Remake?

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 3:56pm

I just finished watching the T.V. remake of GYPSY with Bette Midler on DVD. I had only seen it once before, when it first aired back in 1993. Until today I had never sat down to watch it uninteruptted by commericals. I really enjoyed it! I had forgotten how well done it was. And I thought Bette's interpretation of Mama Rose, while somewhat over the top, was for the most part, on the money. Comparing the T.V. remake to the 1962 original with Rosalind Russell, what is the general consensus as to which is the better version? Which one do you prefer and why?

Updated On: 2/1/05 at 03:56 PM

[Liam]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 3:58pm

all i have to saie is that i LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE!your icon!!!




...thats all :)

[Jim Colyer]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 6:10pm

I never saw the remake with Bette Midler but I never cared for Bette Midler so it is assured that I would prefer the original 1962 Gypsy. I always felt the movie (play) was too much about mamma and not enough about Gypsy Rose Lee. I was 17 when I saw the original. I developed a crush on Natalie Wood. To me, Rosalind Russell and Karl Maldin were old fogeys standing between me and Natalie. There is some good music in Gypsy but without Natalie, it is meaningless. http://www.jimcolyer.com/papers/
Jim Colyer

[Marquise]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 6:30pm

although the bette midler telefilm is truer to the show's book it comes across as "too staged". i prefer the 1962 movie version with rosalind russell, karl malden and natalie wood. coyler, i also had a huge crush on natalie wood as well.

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 7:08pm

I agree. The remake does have a staged quality to it. But I thought that there were some excellent performances in it. I loved the three strippers, especially Christine Ebersole's Tessie. And I thought that Cynthia Gibb gave a very good performance as Louise, although she seemed to be trying a little too hard to imitate Natalie Wood's performance from the original. Bette's performance was at times reminiscent of her Sophie Tucker routine, but I thought she did a great job with the musical numbers. It's been quite some time since I saw the original, but I seem to remember it as having dragged somewhat. This one seemed better paced and moved along quite nicely. Although ironically, they're both about the same length. I'd have to go back and watch the original again to better compare, but all in all, I think enjoyed this version more.

[Justice]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 7:11pm

Roz, and Natalie were PERFECT in the original. I've never seen a woman so beautiful as Natalie when she takes off the coat and looks in the mirror with the blue dress.

"Gotta Get A Gimmick" is Ten Times better in the Bette version.

Not a big Bette/Cynthia Gibb fan - though I liked Jennifer Beck, especially seeing her as the whore in Evita a few months later.

Updated On: 1/30/05 at 07:11 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 7:56pm

I'm not a huge fan of either version - it's not something I can sit down and watch, really. I enjoy the Bette version a little better - I just think the performances are better and had better direction. The whole movie seemed sort of "staged and taped for TV," but I prefer it to the original with glazed-over performances and Russell's awful interpretation of Mama Rose and her butchering of the score.

[Iris Chacon]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 9:47pm

Curtainup!

I love Ms Richfield. Love her! Where did you getthat icon? I have a fabulous picture of me taken with her. now I must find it.

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 10:22pm

Iris... you darling prairie dog, you. Yes... it's the one and only delectable Miss Richfield 1981. Alas, I can not tell you exactly where I found my icon photo. I stumbled across it in my travels on the wonderful world wide web. However, I can provide you with a link to Miss Richfield's website.

XXOO and one to Jesus,
CU2

http://www.missrichfield.com/home/home.html

[Iris Chacon]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 10:24pm

Honey. Are you kidding? I have that website bookmarked for the longest time. Have you seen her perform? I have seen her in P Town and in a few cruises.

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 10:32pm

It's been a while, but I saw her in P-Town a while back. Also caught a couple of her T.V. appearances. Wish she would keep her website a little more up to date. Haven't heard much from her lately.

[Iris Chacon]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 10:33pm

She ( and her male "manager" Russel ) say it is to time consuming and he as given up on it. What a shame.

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:05pm

No doubt about it, the original.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:09pm

I agree. I was on a cruise she performed in through Alaska. Brilliant.