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| re: Why did Arthur Laurents hate the 1962 film of Gypsy? | |
| Posted by: AnObserver 07:56 am EDT 08/28/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Why did Arthur Laurents hate the 1962 film of Gypsy? - TheOtherOne 06:50 am EDT 08/28/18 | |
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| Mervyn LeRoy, who directed the movie version of Gypsy, had made some successful gangster pix at Warner Bros in the early 30s. 30 years later he had lost that exciting touch. Just before Gypsy he directed Roz in a stolid and laughable film called A Majority of One with Roz as a stereotypical Jewish mama from Brooklyn and Alec Guinness as a Japanese! So Roz trusted him on Gypsy. I think her health problems had already begun. I can see why the decision was made to combine Herbie with Uncle Jocko - it gives the male star more to do and should have tied him closer to Rose. I think the narration might have been added after a cut was shown to executives who thought points needed to be clarified. Something similar happens in the film Valley of the Dolls 5 years later. It's fun to think who might have been a better movie director on Gypsy: Charles Walters, Cukor, Donen, Robbins, etc. |
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| re: Why did Arthur Laurents hate the 1962 film of Gypsy? | |
| Posted by: Jax 11:27 am EDT 08/28/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Why did Arthur Laurents hate the 1962 film of Gypsy? - AnObserver 07:56 am EDT 08/28/18 | |
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| Because he was Arthur Laurents. End of story. As for the film, it's much better than its reputation. Russell's performance is rock solid -- better than many who followed, dont want to start arguments here -- and you simply have to accept the dubbing, which was part of the deal back then. Wood shimmers, her strip number is still a show stopper. The whole film feels big and slow and that's because Mervyn LeRoy was Warner's go to guy for Broadway shows, Majority of One, Mary, Mary. If anything, he was too faithful. But the film preserves two good performances and some fine numbers. It's worth a watch. |
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| re: Why did Arthur Laurents hate the 1962 film of Gypsy? | |
| Posted by: AnObserver 07:39 am EDT 08/29/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Why did Arthur Laurents hate the 1962 film of Gypsy? - Jax 11:27 am EDT 08/28/18 | |
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| More than two: Betty Bruce is a delight as Tessie, and Faith Dane. Bruce did it on stage with Merman and apparently they were buddies. | |
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