Customer Reviews

Gypsy [VHS]

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This made-for-TV version of the classic Broadway show GYPSY is remarkable. It sticks primarily to what to see if you were in a theatre. The show is essentially what you would see if you were on Broadway.

Bette Midler is dynamite as Mama Rose, the ultimate stage mother. She reportedly recorded most of her songs live, without the pre-recorded vocal track. The role had been a dream of Midler's for years. She makes an indelible impression in the role.

Cynthia Gibb (THE KAREN CARPENTER STORY) plays Louise, who would blossom into the burlesque stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. She has a pleasant singing voice and charming acting style. She has been highly acclaimed for her performance here.

Peter Riegert plays Herbie, Rose's love interest. In a very under-developed and not very well-written role, Riegert tries his best. He also sings wonderfully.

In supporting roles are Jennifer Beck as June, Christine Ebersole as Tessie Tura, Anna McNeely as Elektra, Linda Hart as Mazeppa, and Jeffrey Broadhurst as Tulsa.

A glittering, lavish, explosive production that can be revisited again and again.

Finally, a film version that does this classic show justice. It keeps the original book intact, along with Jerome Robbin's expert choreography, adds some smart dierection and a tour-de-force performance by Midler. Though Midler may look a little too young to play Mama Rose, she pulls off the part remarkably well. You can see her determination to make her daughters succeed and deep sadness at her own failures in songs like "Some People," "Everything's Comming Up Roses," and "Mama's Turn." The movies fine script really gives Bette something to work with in term of character development and she succeeds. The supporting cast is strong enough to stand up against Bette, which is saying a lot. The actress playing the title character really evolves throughought the show from a meek tom-boy to a successful stripper. She handles not only both ends of the spectrum, but everything in between as well. The music, of course, is wonderful, and it's giving good showing in this production. _Gypsy_ is a wonderful show, and its a good thing someone came along to preserve it the way it should be done.

Bette Midler is an outstanding triumph in this made-for-TV movie. Unlike the 1962 film with Rosalind Russell, Midler plays the part with quite a bit more depth and with a much darker undertone. Russell was still riding high from her Aunite Mame success and tried to recapture the madcap Mame character in her version. Midler ignores all other portrayals and brings a definite sense of drama to the part of Mama Rose, something the part of the scrounging, pushy, overwrought character needs. The comedy is definitely there, but even it is undetoned with drama. Midler's pop culture voice may be a little unsuited, but it does keep the film lighter and airier than it otherwise would have been. It also emphasizes the success story of Gypsy Rose Lee. Her story was a tragedy, and the success in itself was tragic. Midler also brings so much more to the demented, delusional, nervous breakdown of Mama Rose at the end of the film, heightened by her show-stopping rendition of Rose's Turn. Midler's performance almost makes you feel sorry for Mama Rose, but at the same time accomplishes the intended action, making you very wary of her.

Cynthia Gibbs also portrays Gypsy better than most. She makes the part come alive with drama of her own. Peter Riegert as the long-suffering Herbie is on a par with Midler, an accomplishment in itself.

This film is a definite success despite its anit-Cinderella storyline. Gypsy says something fairly hard to take. Every child eventually has to be responsible for their parents-that you outgrow your parents, and eventually they become your children.

While no production of Gypsy will ever equal Ethel Merman's performance, as it was tailor-made for her, this one comes close. Midler takes the show and runs with it, giving Mama Rose a rather different portrayal than usual, but one that is much loved and wanted. If you watched the 1962 film and didn't quite get all the undertones, this film bursts them open and makes them clear.

Well, I was a bit skeptical of this when I first sat down to watch it. Although I was a big fan of Stephen Sondheim and Jerome Robbins, all I knew about this was that it had "Everything's Coming Up Roses", a song I had found to be all-too-optimistic-and-cheerful. However, when watching, I soon learned that the song is usually sung in a completely different context than its original. This is a marvelous version, far superior to the 1962 film. Bette captures the nightmarish, melodramatic personality of Mama Rose perfectly, and Cynthia Gibb is a wonderfully innocent - though later very much grown-up - Louise. Be warned - if all you know from Gypsy is "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "Small World", you're in for a big surprise. Gypsy is a brilliantly dark story about a mother who pushes one daughter into showbusiness while at the same time ignoring the other, pushing one to the point of running off, and then forcing the other into stripping. This is an incredible play, and the film equals it (at least!).

After seeing GYPSY on Broadway twice in the past year,I decided to watch both the Russell and Midler versions back to back in one evening.Not only was the Midler version far superior to the Russel one(though at moments there were glimmers in that one),but frankly I enjoyed it more than even the Peters rendition(which I enjoyed immensely) live in NYC!All three ladies mentioned are wonderful yet entirely different Madame Roses.What really clicked for me in this 1993 production was the supporting cast namely Cynthia Gibb as Louise and the ever consistently brilliant Christine Ebersole as Tessie Tura.Both performers were at the top IMO.This show is great material for super actors and this movie version,totally faithful to the original stage play( that is refreshing!)fires on all cylindars.The ride is jaunty and hilarious.Peter Riegert's timid Herbie is all the better when he finally unleashes on Rose."Finally" I said,"he got some nerve!" Bette Midler is as marvelous as she always is.She was made for this role.I would be hard pressed to find another reason to remake this show again.This was as good as it gets.BROADWAY IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME.

What can I say? Bette Midler is totally superb in the role of Mama Rose!
She is fantastic! Even though this was a television special, Ms Midler out performed, and out sang Tyne Daly, had more passion that Ethel Merman,
and came neck to neck with Angela Lansbury in acting and singing departments. Great DVD!

Gypsy was a popular stage show with Ethel Merman with music by Jule Styne & Stephen Sondheim. From Everything is Comin Up Roses to Let Me Entertain You this show has many great songs. Filmed by Warner Bros with Rosalind Russell as Mama Rose & Natalie Wood as her daughter Rose who became Gypsy Rose Lee, this TV version(1993) is highly entertaining and runs the 150mins of the Warner film. Bette Midler plays her part well in a story that is very reminiscent of an era that was once in US live theatre. The opening credits depicts stills of performers in stills from this long gone era. I have the original Laserdisc of this TV version from its original issue and I was pleased to be able to get the DVD into my collection. It will be regularly run for my enjoyment. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to collectors of stage musical material.

I enjoyed this production very much, however I do have some quibbles. Seeing the show in it's entirety onstage allows a certain momentum to be built up among the actors and the material. This film, while complete, seems to plod along from number to number with no emotional drive or flow. Midler has a great voice, and certainly LOOKS the part, but her "pop" singing style creeps through a bit to much for my taste. Also, the production design by Jackson DiGovia is greatly flawed. The film is BEAUTIFUL throughout. Problem: you never get a sense of the scrounging nature of Madame Rose. She may be clean, and she may project an attitude of superiority--but she lives in a VERY poor situation. There's no contrast to her, or the kids, in comparison to the world they inhabit.

This is a great musical with an impressive cast. A hilarious addition is Michael Moore as LA, and the show is stopped with Bette Midler and also Jennifer Rae Beck stuns all as June.

Though a remake..it is still refreshingly new. i noticed the same in the dialogue....but bette midler did it with such a flair. the child stars were talented...and well-cast...and the whole show was genuinely enjoyable. the cast all had powerful and great vocals...adding enjoyment to the musical numbers, especially "If Mama was married" I could watch this over and over...and i am.