Gypsy
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Movie Reviews of Gypsy
Movie Review: Campy, artificial, no improvement on the 1962 film, but still GYPSY
Summary: 3 Stars
About the best you can say for Bette Midler's performance is that she does her own singing. And even some of that is sloppy and careless. Her acting is one-note, and she kills her best comedy lines by alternately gasping or screeching them. (Say what you will about Roz Russell, she at least knew how to deliver lines.) We know that Madame Rose's kiddie troupe is getting a bit long in the tooth, but Jennifer Beck as "Dainty" June looks fully thirty years old. Cynthia Gibb is a lovely Louise/Gypsy, but Natalie Wood "aged" more credibly in the admittedly flawed by classier 1962 theatrical film adaptation. Peter Riegert is too mousy as Herbie, so much of the point of a strong man continually knuckling under to Rose's steamroller whim is lost. (When he does stand up to Rose, he seems more petulant than assertive.) Stars are wasted in bit parts, and Andrea Martin unwisely and unsuccessfully tries to be funny as Mrs. Cratchitt (who was played hilariously "straight" in the 1962 film by Jean Willes.)
The production itself looks cheesy and low budget, and the bright crayon colors don't help. Even the lamb was cuter in the earlier movie!
Still, it's an earnest attempt. And with great material like that, it's hard to go far wrong. As many others have pointed out, the adaptation is faithful to the original. But oh, why didn't somebody think to do a second film of GYPSY in the 70s while Merman was still around to do it?
Movie Review: Lousy acting: so-so singing
Summary: 1 Stars
Bette Midler has oodles of talent,we just don't get much of it here! In this version of Gypsy,Ms. Midler is either doing the show because someone told her she should,or,she did it to give Ethel Merman a run for her money! Rest easy Ethel! I did not get the feeling that her heart was in this performance. If Ego were shoes,Bette wears a size 13 in this performance,but unfortunately,she only has size 7 1/2 feet to fill them. I would disagree with some of the other comments on this version as well. I have seen Ethel Merman on BROADWAY,Rosalind Russell w/Karl Malden and Bette.
Ethel has the voice, Rosalind is the superb actress in the role,(and suprisingly talented with her rendition of the score),
but Bette is neither. I suppose it's been a long,hard road since the days of "The Rose"!?
If you're into the musical score primarily,get the CD with Ethel,(all the songs are there). If your into the best all round show,Get Rosalind Russell, Karl Malden and Natalie Wood,(who,by the way is the best Gypsy Rose Lee of any production),the only drawback to this show is the editing out of 'Together wherever we go'
If you're into throwing away your money on a lack luster performance,but just have to have everything Bette's ever done,go ahead. P.S. One more further comment on casting; It seems Midler knew she wasn't up to the project so insisted that nobody had more talent than she. Either that,or the casting director threw darts on a list of available names and went for it! If Midler's performance was disappointing, the rest of the cast's were just downright forgettable.This proves an 'ism' on stage AND film; When the show features a headliner with a bunch of nobodys,it spells Ego Grandstanding, not quality.