The best way to describe myself
would be to say that I am a creature of habit. I love movies, but I always love the same movies. Once I
find a film that I like, I attach myself to them. I rewatch films rather than finding new ones, which some
could argue makes me a bit less cultured than others. I take my time with choosing movies to invest in, which is
the case with the first film I have chosen to write about.
To launch my cinematic journey I
will start with a movie that I have been ignoring for far too long. Over a year ago, while mindlessly
flipping channels, I came across a cable description for the movie Gypsy. Musicals have always been appealing to me, something I would
credit Disney movies for. My
second grade self rented Bye Bye Birdie
every Friday until my parents broke down and bought me my own copy. Gypsy was made within a few years of Birdie, so I figured it would be a
similar style film. I recorded the
movie, swearing I would return to it within the week. Well that week turned into a month and that month turned
into a year. Finally, after a year
of being badgered to delete the recording off of the family DVR I had a reason
to spend some time with this 1962 movie musical. Before watching the film I had been introduced to Natalie
Wood from two of her previous films, Rebel
Without a Cause and West Side Story,
but it would be unfair to use those pieces as a guide for my Gypsy expectations. Apparently, the casting of this film
caused huge controversy, but I will come back to that later.
Gypsy
is the real life story of the rise of burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee. Gypsy’s
world includes a flamboyant mother trying to make her children stars in the
world of 1920’s Vaudeville. The
film follows this family as they try to make it big, while parental pressures
push the children in very different directions. Gypsy introduces the audience to Rose, who could be
considered the prototype for the ultimate stage mother. Musical numbers plus dysfunctional
family drama has the making for a fantastic disaster ending. As a viewer I was looking forward to
the large-scale productions I associated with Broadway musicals.
Preconceived notions are difficult
to ignore. I knew that Gypsy was a film adapted from the
Broadway show of the same name, so I was expecting the most lavish, over the
top creation filled with strong, show stopping musical productions. I need to say that, yes, I did like the
film, but it did fall short from the high expectations I set for Gypsy. The film was enjoyable, fun, and an entertaining way to
spend two and a half hours, but the musical numbers almost became distracting
throughout the movie. The singing
was, at least in my opinion, a bit rough.
A veteran stage actress dubbed Rosalind Russell throughout the film, so
her vocals were strong, but unfortunately the “children” of the film did not
quiet match up. Natalie Wood sang
her own songs, but it was clear that this was not the reason she was cast in this
film. She brought so much
sensitively, shyness, and quiet dignity to the role of Louise, but the singing
really just enforced the idea that Louise was the less talented sister. On the contrast, both actresses that
played June, Morgan Brittany and Ann Jillian, were almost unbearable. Yes, the over the top performances were
a signature of the Vaudeville theater, but even off stage June just came off as
obnoxious. One of the lowest
points in the film was the musical number “If Mama Was Married.” The scene was just really tough on the
ears. Wood’s lack of range
combined with Ann Jillian’s screech made me thankful that these two only had
one duet together in the film.
The film adaptation of Gypsy could have fared as a non-musical
film and still captured the same spirit of the stage show. Russell and Wood were cast for their
dramatic abilities and that is evident.
Russell is captivating in any scene, demanding attention as the larger
than life Rose. Wood, as I
mentioned, brings a wonderful quietness to the less than confident Louise who
really comes together in her transformation to Gypsy Rose Lee. The two actresses display their finest
abilities in the last scenes of the film, as Rose and Louise clash over the
fame and jealousy the world of burlesque theater has brought into their lives. Before I watched the film for the first
time there was a brief introduction stating that many Broadway enthusiasts were
upset by the casting decisions of the Gypsy
adaptation. Apparently the film
was almost made with Ethel Merman in the role of Rose (which she originated in
the stage show) and Ann-Margret, which would have really emphasized the musical
importance of Gypsy. Personally, I would have loved to see
Ann-Margret in this film (as I mentioned before Bye Bye Birdie is my most favorite musical of all time) but even I
can admit that she would not be able to match the dramatic talent of Wood.
All in all, Gypsy was a really entertaining film. I had hoped for a flashier, brighter, campier version for
what was presented, but the story was strong enough to trump my disappointment. The film really transformed my
perception of what a movie musical should be. While the music of Gypsy
has become known as some of the traditional Broadway standards, the story of a
struggling mother and daughter has been etched in movie and stage history. Even without all of the glitz and
glamour, Gypsy still dazzled.
