Midler Gypsy Movie- Page 2

[AngusN]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 12:03pm

I was very disappointed with it. I think as a performer Bette doesn't have the depth to play Mamma Rose, she is very one dimensional and doesn't bring much to the role.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 4:59pm

I agree 150% with ljay's first post. It's good considering its a TV movie. Its a predictable TV movie, very corny at parts, a bit sloppy, some mediocre performances...but Bette is great. I'd give it either **1/2 or *** stars.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 7:31pm

Compare Roz Russell's face in the railway scene leading up to "Everything's Coming Up Roses" with Bette's. Hands down, Roz is the winner. Midler walked through the role--possibly because the director was dying when they filmed GYPSY and the cast was pretty much on their own.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 7:35pm

^ I totally agree.

I know some say she played it in the style of AUNTIE MAME. But I still think her acting is damn good in the movie. I think her performance of ROSE'S TURN is fabulous.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 7:40pm

Extraordinarily overrated piece of film.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 7:53pm

I'd heard the same thing concerning a lack of focus on the director's part as far as keeping Midler's performance in check due to his near death condition at the time. It's funny, years ago I saw Bette when she was still in her twenties at a high school auditorium in Berkeley, CA. She had just released her first album and Barry Manilow was her accompianist. At one point she said, "Barry, Barry, play that finale song from "Gypsy" and launched into "Rose's Turn". For years I dreamed of Bette someday being the perfect Mama Rose, especially since she had shown such an affinity for playing the role decades earlier. Seeing her in the TV movie was an utter disappointment for me. I expected her to be the perfect Mama Rose... a dichotomy of a ballsy woman yet someone who could also be emotionally fragile at times. Her performance was on one even keel throughout with little variation and nuances. Luckily I had purchased the CD before seeing the movie and found her vocals less than wonderful. Since then whenever I feel a certain performer would be the ULTIMATE choice to play a role, I always can't help but think...yea, but what about Bette in "Gypsy"? How wrong I was.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 7:57pm

You can't blame it all on the director. I know someone who was involved in that production on a very high level who reports Midler to have been quite difficult and willful. She did what she wanted to do with the role.

[sanda]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 8:09pm

I think it's worth buying. It is faithful to the stage production, though the lack of audience applause makes it a little weird. Midler is OK. Not my favorite (that belongs to Peters)but she can deliver the song. I don't like Herbie, very cold. Louise, June and Tulsa are fantastic. Watching Tulsa's dancing is worthy enough for the price. Besides, my beloved Peter Lockyer appeared in the movie. Even for that one reason it is enough to own the dvd.
Updated On: 9/10/05 at 08:09 PM

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 9:27pm

Emile Ardolino directed many of the early Dance In America installments. He was a dear, sweet, talented man. What a shame, what a crime he was dying while GYPSY was being filmed. With Bette and Christine Ebersole in the project one would think it should have been fantastic. It just was not. Andrea Martin actually gave the best performance in my opinion.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 9:30pm

Is it just me or..

Did anybody else NOT feel any chemistry between Bette and Cynthia??

Roz and Natalie had this GREAT chemistry, and their dressing room arguement felt so REAL.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 9:34pm

Sanda, is there such a word as "lackness"?

[sanda]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 9:35pm

Sorry, my grammer sucks as always.

Should I use "lack of " or " lacking of "? Thanks for the correction if you please.
Updated On: 9/10/05 at 09:35 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 9:41pm

Dollypop, back off. English is not Sanda's first language and I think she does very well.

And I agree - no chemistry there.

[sanda]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 9:47pm

Rath, that is really fine. I appreciate people who can correct my grammer. This borthers me a lot. Any correction can help me improve.

Could you tell me?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 9:50pm

sanda, I just didn't appreciate the attitude with which he approached the correction.

And "lack of" would have been perfect.

[sanda]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 9:52pm

Thank you , dear.


:)

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 10:47pm

Sanda, what is your first language>

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 9/11/05 at 1:40am

Why does everyone persist in calling the character 'Momma Rose'? She is never referred to in that way in the show. She's called 'Madame Rose', 'Momma', and 'Rose' but never 'Momma Rose'. Just a pet peeve of mine.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 9/11/05 at 2:06am

Because it's fun. Why do they call him President Bush? He doesn't look, act, talk, walk or do things a President does, the name just sticks.

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/11/05 at 9:45pm

Momma's gotta let go.

[bially082]

Posted: 9/11/05 at 11:13pm

Now I"m regreting not having seen this mivie yet. When did it come out?

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/11/05 at 11:34pm

Pioneer Video originally released it to DVD on April 25, 2000. That edition went out of print.
It was re-released by Lion's Gate Home Entertainment on March 15, 2005.

Updated On: 9/11/05 at 11:34 PM

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 9/11/05 at 11:47pm

Are we still talking about this?......... jk

As far as Bette's acting the role of Mama rose, I thought it was great. Over acting? Mama Rose is a DRAMA QUEEN!
The way she wins over and manipulates Herbie, all the drama with the landlord, how she barges in on the acts, etc.

In the past I posted a thread about Peter's performance (on the cast recording) and I didn't feel she really wanted her girls to "get up and get out".

With Midler, I BELIEVED she wanted those "kids out"

[Pippin]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 10:44am

so if I had to choose one to buy, which one would you recommend?

only one name please, no long reason. this or that.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 10:48am

Both are good for different reasons, but if I had to choose one, it would be the film version with Russell and Wood.