VividSimon Simply Perfect

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

ActuallyGlimmer The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

MartinHafer I know that the film "Gypsy" is a beloved film to many and it was nominated for three Oscar. However, I was surprised, as I didn't particularly like the film. It's not because of the quality of the production....but the character Mama Rose. Mama Rose (Rosalind Russell) is the absolute worst sort of stage mother...selfish, manipulative, obnoxious and, worst of all, a woman who ultimately seemed to care very little for her children. Perhaps this aspect of the film impacted on me more than most folks, as I am a trained psychotherapist and saw the woman as malevolent and god- awful...perhaps because I've seen some moms like this. And, the character is supposed to be what Mama Rose actually was like!Apart from having a difficult to like main character (her daughter, Gypsy Rose Lee, really is not the main character in this movie), there are quite a few songs. Some, such as "Everything is Coming Up Roses", are great...most are extremely forgettable and awful.Overall, I was very surprised how little I liked the film. The production is high quality and all...but not particularly enjoyable...at least to me.

SnoopyStyle Based on Broadway musical, Rose Hovick (Rosalind Russell) is a stage mom from hell. Her daughter Louise (Natalie Wood) is a shy dutiful wallflower. Her younger daughter June is the bubbly blonde star of the show. Herbie Sommers (Karl Malden) becomes their manager who is ever hopeful to marry Rose. When June finally runs off to get marry at 13, Rose refuses to settle down and sets Louise up as the new star. They end up broke and stranded at a burlesque show. At first Rose refuses to let her daughter to lower herself to burlesque. However when she's faced with settling down with Herbie, she jumps at the chance to push her daughter on the road to becoming big burlesque star Gypsy Rose.I find most of the songs are very Broadway. Rosalind Russell's singing is dubbed, and the result is unsatisfying. Of course, the big song is 'Everything's Coming Up Roses'.Rose is a tough character to take. I guess that's the point. The start with the daughters as little girls is sometimes fun. However the middle is a little extended. This is probably where the long running time of 143 minutes could have been trimmed. When they get to the burlesque, the movie gets dramatic and good. However the ending is a little bit abrupt and too happy. The story seems to be begging for a more powerful outburst from Louise to finally break off with her mother.

vincentlynch-moonoi I suppose most musicals are dated. But in a sense, this one seems more so, even though it was released in 1962. But somehow, film musicals like "Bells Are Ringing" (1960) seemed more modern. Ah well, that's not to say this film isn't worth a watch, because it is.First off, it's a great cast. Although some disagree -- perhaps because of a less than stellar singing voice -- Rosiland Russell's performance as the stage mother is exceptional. Here, her voice was combined in some numbers with a professional singer (and done rather well, BTW), so I think she shines...and at least in terms of a film, so much better than I think Ethel Merman would have (although I enjoyed EM in "There's No Business Like Show Business"). And Karl Malder -- what a gifted and underrated actor. He's perfect here...although how anyone could love the mother here is anybody's guess...but (relative) truth is stranger than fiction. And, although I'm not a fan, Natalie Wood turns in a stellar performance here, as well.Then, there's the music. "Small World", "Some People", "All I Need Is the Girl", "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "Let Me Entertain You" are the show-stoppers by Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) and Jule Styne (music).And, of course, it's a relatively true story. I'm old enough to remember Gypsy Rose Lee...on television, not in burlesque, and it's difficult for me to imagine she was that "hot" at one time (take either meaning you wish). But, she did make history.Definitely worth watching, but again, and not because of the era of the story, this film seems very dated...but enjoyable. Rose's Turn ... Rose

williwaw First of all let me join the throngs who feel Ethel Merman should have played Mama Rose to repeat Her legendary performance, and even the star of this movie Roz Russell was quoted as saying "Why couldn't they let Merman do it?" but after J L Warner decided Merman was not box office Roz Russell went after this part and was the first billed star. Roz got it because she could open the picture overseas as a worldwide Movie Star and because of her great success in WB's 'Auntie Mame', Warner Bros felt the magic would repeat. Just as Audrey Hepburn was unfairly maligned for doing 'My Fair Lady' instead of Julie Andrews, many critics went on a tear about Ms. Russell doing the film instead of evaluating the film on its merits. Roz Russell brings a leathery and determined force to Mama Rose and Roz knew and loved the camera and vice versa; Merman did not. Natalie Wood, the resident Queen of the Warner Bros lot, enchanting and beautiful is Gypsy Rose Lee. Ms. Wood was nothing like the real Gypsy but got the role anyway because of her stature at WB. Mervyn LeRoy who had decades of experience at Warners directs professionally. Karl Malden contributes a fine performance. The movie was filmed at Warner Bros studio in Burbank and for that I want to say while the sets look like a movie back lot-they were-it is one of the things I enjoyed of this movie. Both Ms. Russell and Ms. Wood would go on separately to a great starring decade in the 60's in other films. As did Mervyn Le Roy. A good film, not a great film, but a good film.