Gypsy's Turn

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.