GYPSY [1962 / 2013] [Blu-ray] [Warner Archive Collection] [USA Release] Everything Comes Up Roses When You Let This Broadway Classic Entertain You!
Ringing with the showbiz success of its Jule Styne score and Stephen Sondheim lyrics, this film version of the Broadway hit “GYPSY” takes you on a grand vaudeville tour. It sweeps you up in the roller-coaster relationship of Louise Hovick [Natalie Wood] the wallflower later to blossom into sophisticated stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and her ambitious mother Rose Hovick [Rosalind Russell] who's performance won her a fifth Best Actress Golden Globe® Award. Karl Malden scores as Herbie Sommers the salesman who falls for Rose Hovick, to his exasperation. Full of terrific classic songs, such as "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "Small World" among them. ‘GYPSY’ will certainly entertain you and definitely makes you smile.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1963 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Cinematography in Color for Harry Stradling Sr. Nominated: Best Costume Design in Color for Orry-Kelly. Nominated: Best Music Adaptation or Treatment for Frank Perkins. 1963 Golden Globes: Win: Rosalind Russell for Best Actress for Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Nominated: Best Motion Picture in a Musical or Comedy. Nominated: Mervyn LeRoy for best Director. Nominated: Natalie Wood for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Nominated: Karl Malden for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Nominated: Paul Wallace for New Star Actor of the Year. Nominated: Leonard Spigelgass for the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Musical.
FILM FACT No.2: The screenplay for ‘GYPSY’ was by Leonard Spigelgass is based on the book of the 1959 stage musical Gypsy: A Musical Fable by Arthur Laurents, which was adapted from the 1957 autobiography “Gypsy: A Memoir by Gypsy Rose Lee.” Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics for songs composed by Jule Styne. The film was remade for television in 1993. "Together Wherever We Go" was deleted prior to the film's release, although it was included on the soundtrack album, and "You'll Never Get Away From Me" was abbreviated to a solo for Gypsy Rose Lee following the initial run. Marni Nixon had dubbed Natalie Wood's singing voice in West Side Story the previous year, but Natalie Wood did her own singing in ‘GYPSY.’ While Natalie Wood recorded a separate version of "Little Lamb" for the soundtrack album, in the film she sang the song "live" on the set. Other songs performed live were "Mr. Goldstone, I Love You" and the reprise of "Small World," both sung by Rosalind Russell.
Cast: Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, Paul Wallace, Betty Bruce, Parley Baer, Harry Shannon, Morgan Brittany (“Baby” June), Ann Jillian (“Dainty” June), Diane Pace (“Baby” Louise), Faith Dane (Mazeppa), Roxanne Arlen (Electra), Jean Willes, George Petrie, Ben Lessy, Guy Raymond, Louis Quinn, Trudi Ames (uncredited), Renee Aubry (Hollywood Blonde) (uncredited), Walter Bacon (uncredited), Josette Banzet (uncredited), John Barton (uncredited), Jack Benny (uncredited), Arthur Berkeley (uncredited), Gail Bonney (uncredited), Chet Brandenburg (uncredited), Bella Bruck (uncredited), Steve Carruthers (uncredited), Shirley Chandler (Hollywood Blonde) (uncredited), Dick Cherney (uncredited), Dina Claire (uncredited), Mike Cody (uncredited), Paul Cristo (uncredited), Oliver Cross (uncredited), Fred Curt (Specialty Dancer “The Cow”) (uncredited), Russell Custer (uncredited), Jules Davis (uncredited), Marcel De la Brosse (uncredited), William Fawcett (uncredited), Dick Foster (uncredited), Eddie Foster (uncredited), Raoul Freeman (uncredited), Ben Frommer (uncredited), Kenneth Gibson (uncredited), Bobby Gilbert (uncredited), H.W. Gim (uncredited), Herschel Graham (uncredited), Ralph Hart (uncredited), James Hibbard (uncredited), Teri Hope (Hollywood Blonde) (uncredited), Jimmie Horan (uncredited), Thomas E. Jackson (uncredited), Michael Jeffers (uncredited), Dee Ann Johnston (Hollywood Blonde) (uncredited), Frances Karath (Hollywood Blonde) (uncredited), Harvey Karels (uncredited), Kenner G. Kemp (uncredited), Lisa Kirk (Rose Hovick singing voice) (uncredited), Harvey Korman (uncredited), Joseph La Cava (uncredited), Richard LaMarr (uncredited), Carl M. Leviness (uncredited), Dawn Little Sky (uncredited), Danny Lockin (uncredited), King Lockwood (uncredited), Robert Lyons (uncredited), Jeff Malloy (uncredited), John Marlin (uncredited), John Marlin (uncredited), Paula Martin (Hollywood Blonde) (uncredited), Mathew McCue (uncredited), William Meader (uncredited), Bert Michaels (Yonkers) (uncredited), Harold Miller (uncredited), James Millhollin (Mr. Beckman) (uncredited), John Moloney (Comic) (uncredited), Mike Morelli (uncredited), Sol Murgi (uncredited), George Nardelli (uncredited), Cubby O'Brien (Boy Juggler) (uncredited), William H. O'Brien (uncredited), Renee Paul (uncredited), John Pedrini (uncredited), Adelina Pedroza (uncredited), Jeff Pevney (uncredited), Robert Piper (Specialty Dancer “ The Cow”) (uncredited), Ray Pourchot (uncredited), Beulah Quo (uncredited), Fred Rapport (uncredited), Waclaw Rekwart (uncredited), Robert Richards (Ventriloquist) (uncredited), Lois Roberts (uncredited), Cleo Ronson (uncredited), Clark Ross (uncredited), Pearl Shear (uncredited), Hazel Shermet (uncredited), Norman Stevans (uncredited), Jule Styne (Conductor) (uncredited), Frank Sully (uncredited), Hal Taggart (uncredited), Julie Thompson (uncredited), Ian Tucker (uncredited), Ian Tucker (Announcer at Minsky's voice) (uncredited), Bo Wagner (uncredited), Rusty Wescoatt (uncredited), Harry Wilson (uncredited), Dick Winslow (Burlesque House Orchestra Leader) Clint Young (Western Union Man) (uncredited) and (John Zimeas)
Director: Marvyn LeRoy
Producer: Mervyn LeRoy
Screenplay: Leonard Spigelgass
Composers: Jule Styne (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics)
Cinematography: Harry Stradling Sr., A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 (Technirama)
Audio: English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
Subtitles: English SDH
Running Time: 143 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Warner Archive Collection
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: ‘GYPSY’ [1962] is based upon the successful Broadway musical that was directed and choreographed by the brilliant Jerome Robbins ‘West Side Story,’ and as a film it takes some of the same strides that were taken in making the Broadway version. In staying true to the Broadway roots, this cinematic version creates another success; one of the most compelling musicals released in cinemas throughout the entire 1960's. The musical in both play and film form, is partly a dramatization based upon the real-life memoir of strip-tease performer Gypsy Rose Lee. Natalie Wood was the only choice to play Gypsy Rose Lee, though her slender figure wasn't quite suitable for the statuesque burlesque queen. And since Gypsy Rose Lee character's songs weren't as demanding, Natalie Wood got to do most of her own singing. Only the high notes were dubbed. As had happened with ‘West Side Story’ the year before, Marni Nixon was used to match Natalie Wood's vocal quality.
The story focuses on Rose Hovick [Rosalind Russell]; a mother who is determined to find the success she never had in her life for her daughters. She trains and manages her daughters in working vaudeville tours. The path to success seems to be working for them for a while. It doesn't last forever, of course. The kid-friendly and sweetly-natured shows put on by her two children and some boys who became recruited for these performances become significantly less fashionable, and as they became older it became more difficult to get stage-presence approval for childish roles in vaudeville in the first place. Things began to crumble apart in the show-biz world that the characters lived and breathed. Rose Hovick was always determined to have the stage success last, however, and is not willing to forfeit her quest to find fame for her daughters.
Her younger daughter “Baby” June [Morgan Brittany] leaves the family behind and marries one of the older boys who performed in the vaudeville shows with her, and “Dainty” June [Ann Jillian] leaves only one single note to express feelings of sadness and love to her mother Rose Hovick who wanted to branch out and leave all of Rose Hovick's managed vaudeville acts behind and become a "real" actress. Rose Hovick is heartbroken and doesn't give up on the vaudeville act. She still has the help of her partner Herbie Sommers [Karl Malden], whom she still hopes to marry one day. She also has her older daughter to turn to. Rose Hovick's daughter Louise Hovick [Natalie Wood] can carry the show on and make the "dream" stay.
The dream has fallen, only Rose Hovick wants for the act to continue on and both Louise Hovick and Herbie Sommers seem’s to want a normal life outside of performance arts. Herbie Sommers has a candy business that has better odds of continuing as far as being a financial success for the three of them, and mainly because vaudeville is no longer the popular act it once was for them to carry on. Yet Rose Hovick is determined to not let things end this way.
It isn't long before almost no options are left, as Louise Hovick becomes the star of the "Hollywood Blondes" show and they thought it wass supposed to be a light-hearted show, but it turns out that the last place they could find to hire them was a burlesque. Rose Hovick initially rejects the prospect of any of them being there and wants them to imminently leave. Herbie Sommers agrees. Yet Louise decides that there are few options left for them to earn some money and she agrees to stay. They perform with the burlesque and eventually Louise Hovick becomes "Gypsy Rose Lee," a star of strip-tease.
The film offers a complicated and fascinating glimpse into what a relationship can be between mother and daughter. It's a complex relationship that Rose Hovick and Louise Hovick have. On the one hand, Rose Hovick clearly wanted success and fame for herself and as a part of her life-story. However, she clearly also wanted great things for her children. Rose wanted them to succeed and to find an impressive life that Rose Hovick felt she never had. Delving further, one might say the events are the result of Rose Hovick feeling as though she never had the care or attention of her own mother and it really boils down to her wanting to be there for her children in a way she may have felt was missing from her own relationship with her mother. The irony is that she ultimately begins distancing herself from her daughters and from understanding and recognising true needs.
Characterisations in the film ‘GYPSY’ are absolutely authentic and touch on real human issues with magnificent gusto but the setting and flow of the story is traditional Hollywood fare. The dramatization of this story isn't really concerned, or so it seems, with focusing on telling audiences Gypsy Rose Lee's story in a way that is fully authentic. Instead, the film plays somewhat similar to one of its key songs by saying, "Let Me Entertain You!" C'est la vie.
Broadway found a huge success with “GYPSY” and the film version by Mervyn LeRoy was certainly no slouch either in terms of acclaim and memorability. The music for the film is undeniably great, and the lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, who also worked with the original choreographer Jerome Robbins on `West Side Story,' are some of the best in his career and somehow they manage to remain just a glimpse of the perfection in `West Side Story.' This ultimately served as a triumphant signal of what would come from the famed lyricist. It's amazing to see how much talent was on display in this classic musical. So much talent is displayed in this film's creation.
I was slightly let-down by noticing some out-of-synch dubbing on the singing, which was how ‘GYPSY’ was ultimately made and has always, looked. It's something you can find with many musicals. Some parts of the performances were dubbed over by different singers. This was especially noticeable during some scenes with Rosalind Russell. However, her undeniably significant performance still shines through and ultimately steals the show. As beautiful, talented, and charming as Natalie Wood is it is most certainly Russell who makes this a genuinely classic musical that focuses on the ups and downs of attempting to find truly "glamorous" success in show business and the sad illusion of the quest for fame as any meaningful thing at the end of the day.
Filmed with great effort and style that was needed to stay true to Jerome Robbins vision while allowing for a new version to flourish from the director Mervyn LeRoy of the film, ‘GYPSY’ remains a satisfying blend of the highly theatrical and the cinematic wonderment found in musicals. The film has some elements that truly stand out as genuinely terrific from start to finish: the performances from all three leads are exceptional, of course, and the staging by the director feels like it's a blend between the cinematic and theatrical. I sometimes find that works best for the films.
To me, ‘GYPSY’ is to my mind the totally perfect film, and the film is beautifully shot, features excellent music, and contains an assortment of quality performances. The story that is told remains both compelling and character driven to the point where any qualms with the film don't over-shine how good everything ultimately remains as a classic example of a well-done Hollywood musical. It's glamorous and totally entertaining.
* * * * *
Blu-ray Image Quality – ‘GYPSY’ looks totally remarkable in 1080p High Definition image presentation. The 2.40:1 aspect ratio transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio. The film was released with beautiful 35mm prints and this transfer is undoubtedly the best that ‘GYPSY’ has looked since its original release in cinema. Colours pop everywhere in this transfer. The print is very clean and almost entirely free of any distractions. I wasn't expecting perfection from this transfer, but what I found was almost exactly that. It absolutely seems to be one of the best transfers for any classic film release on the Blu-ray format for a very long time.
Blu-ray Video Quality – The 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track sounds much better than I expected it to, but it isn't a total winner or an example of perfection. It absolutely works wonders with the beautiful transfer, but there are some downsides. The dialogue is not as loud as the score music and as a whole this is definitely a sound mix that shows some age and is less refined in terms of the technology used today. The sound materials could have probably used a good overhaul. However, the film still sounds good on Blu-ray and it certainly sounds like a perfect mix.
* * * * *
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Features: 2 Outtake Musical Numbers: According to IMDb, these two songs were deleted shortly after the film's initial release. Long thought lost, they were restored from an early release print provided by a private collector; hence the substantially weaker quality, which are as follows:
Wherever We Go [1962] [1080p] [2.20:1] [2:39] The inherent staginess of this number, which has physical comedy routines spelled out in the lyrics, probably brought the film to a dead stop. This is a duet number.
You Couldn't Get Away From Me [1962] [1080p] [2.40:1 / 2.20:1] [3:37] This is the complete version of the song, including both the portion retained in the film and the part that was cut out. The change in aspect ratio as well as audio and visual quality clearly marks the edit.
Theatrical Trailer [1962] [1080p] [2.40:1] [3:36] The Original Theatrical Trailer focuses heavily on Natalie Wood and the character of Gypsy Rose Lee. Of course, like the Gypsy Rose Lee's dances, it's mostly a naughty tantalising tease.
Finally, this Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray release is amazing and if it's any indication of what film fans can expect, the quality of these Blu-ray releases is the only way forward, and everyone who considers themselves a big film fan, especially like me, is in for a real treat with these amazing presentations. The transfer is stunning to behold and the audio quality is good overall. Any fans out there of ‘GYPSY’ looking for the best way to own this musical will be thrilled with the significant upgrade. Over half a century ago, the creators of ‘GYPSY’ etched an indelible portrait of the corrosive effects of a lifelong addiction from stage mothers wanting their child to be the ultimate star, and especially when the desired fame never arrives. The concluding song of ‘GYPSY’ entitled "Rose's Turn," is a real tour de force of bitterness, especially for Rose Hovick [Rosalind Russell] as she contemplates the star she could have been, or so she imagines. The scene can be very moving, infuriating, horrifying and very grotesque indeed, all of the above at once when played by a great actress like Rosalind Russell, who is a firm favourite actress for mine. The Warner Archive Collection is an exciting turn of events for fans of the many great films that are currently unavailable from Warner Bros. on Blu-ray. All in all this has always been a massive favourite film for me and I cannot get tired of watching, as it has all the magical ingredients that on Hollywood can produce and so it is now a great honour to add this to my Blu-ray Collection and if ever you feel the blues, put this film on and your worried will disappear 100% and will make you feel the world is your oyster. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
