Gypsy

Rating:
Summary: Very entertaining! A DEFINITE WINNER!!!
Review: I think that Rosalind russel was absolutely stunning and Natalie Wood was Outstanding. I thought the casting was very good and the acting was superb.

Rating:
Summary: Rosalind is amazing
Review: I thought I wouldn't see Rosalind Russell in a better role than in His Girl Friday. But then I saw Gypsy, and was once again blown away by her talent. She plays a mother that is simply obsessed with being a mother--and stayin' in show biz. Russell won a Golden Globe for Best Actress as Rose in this film.

Natalie Wood plays Russell's daughter, Louise. Poor Louise has always been overshadowed by her "famous" sister, June. But once June gets fed up with doing the same baby performance every year on Vaudeville, she decides to run away.

Heartbroken, Rose tries to turn Louise into a star. The result? Louise becomes a stripper named Gypsy Rose Lee. The catch? She never actually strips (how could they get away with that in a 1962 movie?).

Karl Malden is also in the film, playing Herbie, who falls in love with Rose--only to regret it later.

My favorite song in this movie is "Rose's Turn"--sung obviously by Rose. Russell has such power, and it is such a moving piece. Other great songs are "You'll Never Get Away From Me," "Small World," and the movie's theme, "I Had A Dream."

This movie is an amazing classic that all should see!

Rating:
Summary: Not enough Natalie!
Review: I thought overall the film Gypsy was very good and entertaining (hence the four stars). However, I didn't feel it was a five star film because of the fact that Natalie Wood, one of my favorite actresses, was not in much of the movie, in the beginning at least. It focused on her overbearing stage mother the most. When the movie did begin to focus more on Natalie, it was when she became "Gypsy Rose Lee" but by then the movie was nearly done!
I think this movie is definitely worth seeing, but don't anticipate, as I did, very much Natalie.

Rating:
Summary: A charming adaptation of a charming musical
Review: I was really very pleased by this version of Gypsy. This movie had all the old time production values one expects from a musical of this caliber, and good acting all around. Karl Maulden is a great Herbie, and Natalie Wood handles Louise's metamorphis from awkward teenager to sex symbol magnificiently.

For what it's worth, I think that Rosiland Russel was the best of the Mama Roses I've experienced. Ethel was probably great on Broadway, but judging from the soundtrack, she would have been too stagey on screen for my taste, and Bette's version was just a little too psychotic for me. For my money, Rosiland really captured the essence of Rose: The frustrated almost-ran who lived her life vicariously through her children. The fact that she wasn't a singer just added to that image for me.

All in all, this is a great movie that is well worth the money.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific Musical, a definite "MUST WATCH"!!!
Review: I wish I could have rated this film much higher than just 5 stars, because it's truly a MASTERPIECE. Based on the infamous story of Burlesque stripper (more teaser in my opinion) Gypsy Rose Lee, the movie is an amazing re-creation of the book. Roz Russell portrays Mamma Rose and she's excellent in this role. All of the songs were NOT dubbed by professional singers (as many think); Roz in her biography wrote that she did the singing (as well as Natalie Wood) and they both had terrific voices. Natalie Wood is very convincing as an innocent neglected Louise and later is luminious as Gypsy, already the stripper and a famous star. But as Mamma Rose dominates the story, she also dominates the movie and stands out as an eccentric but very positive character. The last scene of reconciliation between Rose and her daughter is beautifully done, it sort of makes you realize that there is always a place in your heart for forgiveness...

Rating:
Summary: And we'll have a real good time!
Review: I've seen countless versions of Gypsy from movie to stage and have never been disappointed in any of them. For the film version Rosalind Russell, one of my all time favorite actresses shines bright as Mamma Rose. Critics tore her apart but they are nothing but want-to-be actors anyway. I know enough about theatre to see that Rosalind had everything it took for this part and next to Angela she is my next choice.For Louise, Natalie Wood also shines and has given this role all the class of a great Broadway performance. She's beautiful and next to West Side Story the role of Gypsy (Louise) is what i'll always remember her for.The movie production itself isn't bad. I would have liked it more if they stayed closer to the stage version but considering Hollywood they did do a wonderful job. The Stereo 5.1 Sound is breathtaking, the colors are sharp and the extras are very much appreciated but don't know why they just didn't edit them into this production.You won't be disappointed, you'll enjoy all the wonderful songs, wonderful production numbers and see really fine actors of yesterday at their very best. "And you'll have a very good time."

Rating:
Summary: Natalie Wood Shines!
Review: I, too, read Rosalind Russell's autobiography. She recorded all the songs herself, but in many places, her voice was replaced by that of Lisa Kirk, who herself is no great shakes as a singer. The overall effect, however, serves the purpose of getting the performances across.
It is Natalie Wood who dazzles, despite her less-than-great singing voice; the somewhat raw and untrained voice just adds poignancy to her earlier songs and her characterization. The glitzy, bass drum-underlined "Let Me Entertain You" is dazzling and difficult to get out of one's memory, as are the costumes in the entire sequence. Miss Wood was never costumed as fetchingly before or after. A very underrated actress, this role shows her talent and versatility. Karl Malden deserves kudos for demonstrating a strength and sensitivity that his reputation as an actor so justly deserves. A nubile Ann Jillian as June Havoc is also a winner.
Gypsy Rose Lee's autobiography was fictionalized to a substantial degree; she often gave different versions of her early days and what led to her becoming a star. However, this doesn't matter, since what she delivered, and what the dramatization turned out, gave us a true classic. Lee was a fascinating raconteur, right up there with the late Judy Garland in wit and style.
The film is a keeper, by all means!

Rating:
Summary: Not as bad as you may have heard...
Review: In 1962 Warner Brothers Pictures released two film adaptations of two great 1950s Broadway musicals. Their delightful filmization of "The Music Man" struck all the right chords, from the casting all the way through to art direction and the shimmering stereo sound. It was a hit in 1962 and has been fondly remembered ever since. But that same year came the movie version of "Gypsy" and for everything they did right with "Music Man", Warners was roundly criticized for just about everything they did to "Gypsy." But looking at this film today, we can see that it really isn't nearly as bad as many critics thought. Indeed, it's far from a screen classic, but the story is so powerful, the music so engaging, and the production so beautifully handled that it is entirely possible to overlook the flaws and enjoy the show. Let's get the big issue right out of the way - the casting. Rosalind Russell is possessed of a seemingly innate haughteur that works against the grit that Madame Rose is supposed to embody, but she gives a whale of a performance here. No, she isn't anywhere close to Ethel Merman, but then, no one ever has been - Merman was unique. And yes, Roz is dubbed (extremely well, by the way, by Lisa Kirk) for 95% of her singing vocals. But the vocal matching is very well done, and Roz gives it her all performing the great song stack presented here. Karl Malden is, well, Karl Malden. He acquits himself nicely in the thankless role of Herbie. The oddest casting isn't either one of the former. It's Natalie Wood as Louise Hovick (who becomes Gypsy Rose Lee). A gorgeous young woman, Wood was utterly incapable of giving a naturalistic performance on film (other than in some of her childhood roles). And, she simply wasn't, by any stretch of the imagination, a musical performer (try as she might, God bless her). Her lack of naturalism actually works in the earlier parts of the story. She is playing after all, an untalented girl. But when she has to bloom, she looks splendid, but can't pull off the soignee chutzpah that's needed.

The film is beautifully designed, photographed, and scored. And the soundtrack (originally in mono) has been juiced up with a 5.1 surround mix, making that razzmatazz Styne-Sondheim score sound better than ever. The whole thing still packs a punch thanks to the strength of the story, and the professionalism with which it's presented. The Technirama frame has been overmatted at about 2.55:1 for some reason, but the mastering is clear and clean on DVD. Two outtakes from a 16mm print are included: the duet reprise of "You'll Never Get Away From Me" (which is the only time that Herbie gets to sing in the whole show), and a portion of the great song "Together Wherever We Go" - both were apparently cut after the 1962 premiere engagements. The latter gives us a scary taste of how truly limited Russell's own vocals were.

Rating:
Summary: Good try - mediocre results
Review: In this adaptation, most of the beautiful play was lost, Mama Rose was depicted as far too chic and beautiful, and three highly competent actors had the misfortune of displaying their lack of musical gifts.

Rating:
Summary: The "PERFECT" Musical
Review: It is sad that this film did not get its due during its original run in 1962. It is beautifully produced. There were some alterations to the script for cinematic purposes, but praise the Lord, the greatest score in the history of musical theatre was not butchered. Roz was a perfect choice for Rose. She brought control and substance to a role that could have been too bombastic if Merman had been cast in the film. Natalie Wood was perfect. Gypsy Rose Lee was not a singer or a dancer, nor was Miss Wood. The DVD transfer is flawless. Crystal clear picture and glorious 5.1 dolby digital. My only complaint is the lip snyc is off during some of the musical numbers, most notably in "Small World" and "If Mamma was Married." This should have been fixed before the films original release.