Broadway Legend Joined: 11/21/06
I've never liked the idea of this movie, at this late stage of her career, but with every passing year this truly does get more ridiculous. I actually thought perhaps this wasn't happening afterall. When she was 69 it was silly, but when she is actually shooting the film in her early to mid-seventies, it's just vanity and delusion.
And yes, she will be far older than Lucy was for MAME.
Or, in the same vein as Auggie27's idea, a film within a film about the Norma Desmond-esque aging diva trying to play the role she was "born to play" even though she "was born too soon and started too late," complete with a real breakdown during "Rose's Turn."
I mean, that's not the movie Barbra wants to make, but we all know it's what's really happening.
Is John Travolta available?...
I'm hoping she plays the Tonya Pinkins role when the film adaptation of the Broadway smash "Holler if Ya Hear Me" is released next summer!
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
"Why doesn't she just direct it herself?"
Babs might be directing it herself after all.
GYPSY Movie Finds New Scribe; Barbra Streisand to Star AND Direct?
Updated On: 7/31/14 at 08:56 PM
"She's not gonna pull off the first 30 minutes of the show. I mean, a 70-something woman with two young children?"
MY HUMBLE RESPONSE:
I honestly don't see the problem. Just film her from behind for the first thirty minutes. In fact just shoot her behind much like they did in THE MAIN EVENT. I'm sure it hasn't changed all that much over the years. I'd even wager that it's matured into a much more earthier one which should be perfect for Mama. Plus imagine the camera work when she sings, "Some people sit on their butts..."
If you look at Streisand in the dreary "Guilt Trip," her most recent footage, she certainly is lit and shot with a looser, less controlling aesthetic. She looks 52ish in that film to my eyes. I don't think anything special needs to be done, just not build the film's first third on close-ups -- which wouldn't be a good idea anyway. Will she seem too old? Probably. Frankly, so did Russell. And Midler. Will she seem so old it doesn't work? Maybe not. By the time the adult actors appear, we will cease thinking about her age, if the film as a whole works. The mistake would be to shoot her through gauze (Lucy, "Mame," enough said), or to pull back "... to Cleveland.." to quote "Tootsie." Just film her well enough, let her carry strong scenes in medium shot, and make it cinematic. It's doable. Other issues -- all about turning a stage show into a film -- are still gnarly, no matter who plays Rose. I actually think casting a younger Herbie will help make the case about Rose's desperation. The last thing we need is, say, Richard Dreyfus. A white-headed Herbie to make Rose look more youthful; it won't. (How about Kevin Kline?) Cast well around Streisand, and build the film's sense of ensemble.
Uggams was technically way too old but I thought she was great. The story is so compelling that I'd sign up to see the movie no matter who's in it or how it's shot.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
Even Entertainment Weekly is writing an article about it.
The 'Gypsy' film with Barbra Streisand might still be happening after all
^Well they didn't so much write an article as copy Nikki Finke's from yesterday.
Well, she played Dolly when she was too young. Maybe a too-old Madame Rose is her bookend film.
Broadway Star Joined: 7/29/12
Cast one of her old co-stars as Herbie. Redford, Segal, O'Neal....maybe not.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
If Babs is really serious about this, she needs to film it next year in no more than 3 months, with the filming techniques mentioned by Auggie27, and release it on HBO, or some other network because let's face it, there is NO WAY this film is going to get a theatrical release (that is if it gets made).
By the way, I'm figuratively dying of lafter after Demitri2's post!
I also have the feeling Babs is just going to sell the rights ala Faye Dunaway (Master Class).
Updated On: 8/1/14 at 07:38 PM
The woman is 72 (seventy-two). Why and how is this still happening? Again, she's 72. Seventy *freaking* two. Why?
Little Lamb just became a duet.
A kind message to most everyone posting in this thread - Get the hell over it.
She wants to do it. Sondheim gave his ok. She appears to have the money behind her to do it. That's it. That's why it's happening. You're all acting like some untalented hack wants to do this. It's Barbra Streisand, one of the most popular artists of all time. So give it a break already. If it happens it happens and you all will be first in line to see it, with your minds already made up about how much you hate it since in these internet days we live in, admitting you're wrong if you actually DO like it, is completely unacceptable.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/21/06
Wasn't the rumour that Sondheim would only ok it if she didn't direct herself? For the life of me, I can't remember where I read that, but I remembered it because it seemed quite reasonable.
And recently when asked about the delay, Babs responded, "talk to Steve!" Did we ever find out what he was holding out on?
I don't remember exactly but he did give his ok to it. But honestly, I dont know why he would have to. Does he hold the rights to it?
As the last living writer, I think he does hold film rights.
I don't care what anyone says, I'll be ecstatic if this ends up happening!
One can have all the talent is the world, but it doesn't mean that it will make a 72 years old woman look believable as a mother of 2 teenage girls. I get that Barbra Streisand wants to close the book with one last great musical film role, but why does it have to be Gypsy?
Why not to do Sunset Boulevard, or Follies, or The Visit, hell, even Mame? Why not to do something where her age wouldn't be such a big issue?
It's a vanity project and nothing else.
Lucille Ball also put her own money into Mame and got the part over Angela Lansbury. As we all know the film was a critical dud and Ball has never made another film in her career.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
"As we all know the film was a critical dud and Ball has never made another film in her career."
Has? You say that like there's a chance she might.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
They could always CGI her younger self like they did with Jeff Bridges in Tron.
I'm not joking, I actually really like that idea!
But, from clips I've seen of her performing nowadays, her voice isn't as strong, but maybe that only happened in those clips. But hey, studio recordings, and all the technology nowadays could make Babs sound just like she did twenty years ago.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
"But hey, studio recordings, and all the technology nowadays could make Babs sound just like she did twenty years ago."
I don't think she's going to sing any of the score. She has so much recorded material out there that they will just stitch together all the notes from other sources.
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