2h 23min | Biography, Comedy, Drama | 1 November 1962 | Color, WS
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Stars: Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood, Karl Malden.
Jerome Robbins ... based upon the stage play choreographed by / based upon the stage play directed by
Robert Tucker ... choreographer
16 songs in the Soundtracks by Jule Stein and Stephen Sondheim.
I've always loved this film. The songs (both music and lyrics), the acting, the pacing, the story.
Let Me Entertain You seems like one of those songs that must have always been imported from burlesque, but it's written for the show.
Fascinating that they managed to write "bad" songs to fit the story, yet they're great songs.
Interesting balance between Gypsy and Rose in this film. Is Rose the real star, despite the title?
Also fascinating that Robbins choreographed the stage version. After doing the great athletic West Side Story, how do come down to bad kid acts and strippers? There's not even a big ensemble number here.
I followed Gypsy Rose Lee ever since seeing this on TV whenever that was (60's?). She had a daytime talk show for a while, also in the 60's. I'm not sure which I would have seen first. And while going through this quest I paid extra attention when she was onscreen or behind it (author).
I enjoyed this again today.
Mervyn LeRoy Prod., distr. Warner, dir. LeRoy; 8
