'Gypsy' - 1962 movie

It's not that it's bad. It's just...well...different from the show. Rosalind Russell (Rose) had some strong points but personally, there weren't too many. It wasn't the true FEEL of the show, I feel. They added some scenes that just didn't work. And they made Dainty June just there, she had very little screen time as the actress would in the show. So, it wasn't as a shock that she left in the middle of the movie. The Bette Midler ABC version is a lot better. More true to the show. In fact, I think it practically IS the show in studio.

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I was still going to movies when GYPSY first was released. I was terribly disappointed in Roz Russell's singing because I was so accustomed to Merman's cast album.

However, time has mellowed my views on this. Roz Russell is an incredible actress and she does a fine job in that department. Look at the expressions on her face in the scene leading up to "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and compare it with Bette M's reactions in that same scene. Roz wins, hands down.

Incidentally, the singing voice of Rose belongs to Broadway legend Lisa Kirk.

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I'm probably in the minority here, but I thought Roz Russell was the best Rose. To me, Russell was the best acting wise and she was the only world-class actress to play Rose. Her singing is rough around the edges mixed with her dubbed voice, I think her name was Lisa Kirk, but she performed her numbers well. I thought the movie gave the show extra depth that it didn't have before. Don't get me wrong, I liked the other Roses too, but I felt Roz was the best one all-around. Bernadette and Angela maybe the best singers, but I didn't think Bernadette was that great of an actress for Gypsy (which is weird because I usually think Peters is an excellent actress when I see her in other things). And Merman may have created the role, but I don't think she was the best Rose really, and I find Tyne Daly's acting really annoying.

I also loved the way Natalie Wood played Gypsy...(yes it was her real voice) she was beautiful but also an excellent actress. She actually got tips from the real Gypsy Rose Lee while filming this movie.
I liked how they the numbers with June too. I didn't like how they did it in the Bernadette Peters revival b/c all the squeels seemed to just get cheap laughs rather than to be taken seriously.

I also felt this movie had the best Tessa, Electra, and Zeppa.

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Updated On: 5/9/04 at 04:09 PM

she was the only world-class actress to play Rose

You really think that? By all accounts Lansbury was amazing in that role.

Gypsy is one of my top-five favorite musicals.

The Lansbury recording is my personal fave. Not only can Lansbury sing the hell outta the score (w/ transpositions), but you can hear her amazing acting of the songs as well. Just from comparing the recordings, IMO she understood the character best.

However, it must be noted that no one can sing those songs like La Merm. Chills.

I enjoy the Roz Russell movie, but more for the Natalie Wood performance. The Bette movie - save Christine Ebersole - was not so hot.

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Well, I love Gypsy but sadly have never seen a staged performance of it. I also never have seen the Bette movie. I have however seen and own the 1962 movie. After listening to as many recordings of Gypsy as I could find (Lansbury, Peters, Daily, and Merman), I found Roz's Rose a little dissapointing. I think she could have added something more to the charater. I did enjoy Wood's Louise though.

Slightly OT - Does anyone else hate the poster for the 1962 movie version? Just the three people on the bottom (Rose, Louise, and Herby). They look so randomly stuck there, and since Roz is wearing this hat with feathers, and with the shadow, it makes her look like she has long hair. Random I know, but it botters me. lol

"...the actress playing Rose...."

"...all actresses better than Russell..."

Oh, sweet Jesus on the cross...

voiceanth--Sorry, I should have noted in my anti-Russell diatribe that the victims of the Russell buyout of the rights to "Gypsy" included not only Merman and the audience, but the wonderful Natalie Wood, whose (as you noted) yet-to-be-topped performance as Louise was like pearls cast before swine because she had to do it opposite the miscast Roz. Merman and Wood--now that would have been perfection!

It's hard to dispute Ethel merman as the ultimate Rose. She knew the character, had the voice and the presence and really brought Rose to life. However, Rosilnad Russell was a wonderful actress. Her Rose may pale in comaparison to Merman but, it wasn't as awfiul as some people seem to think.

When looking at the 1962 movie, one has to keep in mind that the movie was meant to appeal to a wider audiance than the Broadway show. 1962 was a time when the average person (unless they lived in or near NYC) did not go to the theater. People wanted tosee movies with stars they recognized and liked and they wanted smaltzy musicals. The movie going audiance then would have been less likely to respond to the Rose of stage. They would have an easier time with a Rose who was more likable, had a certain sweet quality to her and felt familiar. That is part of the reason Merman wasn't cast in the movie. She was Broadway and therefore too high brow in the eyes of the average movie goer. She was also a harder Rose than Russell, a more determined and ambitious person and hse wouldn't have played the role any other way to accomadate the taste of movie goers.

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That's so funny. I am visiting family in Maine right now and I saw that on HBO the other morning. I was thinking "this is the most horrid version of Rose's Turn I have ever heard!!

I have to disagree with VA about Natalie's Louise. I think Zan Charisse was the most touching, adorable Louise I've witnessed. Her mirror scene and her transformation during "The Strip" have never been equalled. BTW: whatever happened to her?

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That's funny, because when I saw Ginifer King's Louise, I thought it was contrived. An imitation of what Tammy Blanchard does. So for you not to like one over the other is funny to me. I think Tammy's a star. You either like her or don't. There is no in between. As with all stars.