Based on the autobiography of Gypsy Rose Lee, this made-for-TV movie-previously a Broadway smash and a 1962 film-depicts the life and times of a stripper and her domineering mother.
Director: Emile Ardolino
Stars: Bette Midler, Peter Riegert, Cynthia Gibb, Christine Ebersole, Elisabeth Moss (b. '82).
Kathleen Dawson ... assistant choreographer
Peggy Holmes ... movement consultant
Diana Laurenson ... assistant choreographer
Jerome Robbins ... choreographer / choreographer: original stage production / director: original stage production
Bonnie Walker ... choreographer: Mr. Robbins' recreated by
Watched on AmazonPrime.
14 songs in the Soundtracks, all Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
Notice the director of Dirty Dancing & Sister Act noted on the poster.
I watched Gypsy (1962), 8 in mid-August (it's mid-Nov now). I feel that one is slightly better, so I'll give this one a minus.
It was delightful to have a traditional musical on my screen. More dancing would be better, especially given how many choreography credits there were. This is more of a singing musical with deliberately bad dancing because the child acts are bad, and the strippers don't dance. So the "best" dancing is by Tulsa out in the alley, which is still not exciting, because it's choreography made by a young adult, not yet a pro. The '62 film had the same issue.
Very fun to recognize EM as the young Louise. Wish she could have grown up right there to play Gypsy.
I thought BM had done this show onstage, but it doesn't list her for this on IBDb. Instead, the '89-'91 revival starred Tyne Daly and then Linda Lavin.
I thought BM had done this show onstage, but it doesn't list her for this on IBDb. Instead, the '89-'91 revival starred Tyne Daly and then Linda Lavin.
distr. CBS, dir. Ardolino; 8-
