| re: Why did Arthur Laurents hate the 1962 film of Gypsy? | |
| Posted by: bicoastal 01:48 pm EDT 08/28/18 | |
| In reply to: Why did Arthur Laurents hate the 1962 film of Gypsy? - Chazwaza 03:24 am EDT 08/28/18 | |
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| At a charity function some years back I was able to talk to Sondheim for a few minutes, and I asked him why the creative team hated this movie so much. It took some pushing but he did admit that no one liked Roz Russell's performance because she was too "elegant". He said Rose was a tough, scrappy type and lamented that Russell didn't play that. I didn't ask if they all wanted Merman, but in a way I'm glad she didn't do the movie. She was way too big for the screen and probably wouldn't have made the movie better (see "Call Me Madam" for example). And I love me some Merman. As for Laurents, he certainly revered his own work! I actually like the screen version of West Side Story better than the stage--I think the choices made were absolutely right for a film vs. a play. But as original author, Laurents has a right to his opinion and it's hard to argue that the stage version is any less than it should be. I do think the stage version of Gypsy is probably the best book ever for a musical, it's so tight and it runs very deep. The movie isn't better in that regard, although much of the original, including structure, is preserved. Natalie Wood's performance is just perfect, IMHO, it breaks my heart every time I watch her in "All I Need Is the Girl". She did the movie on the condition that she not be dubbed after she felt she was cheated out of the vocals on WSS (which, of course, she couldn't possibly do justice to). Roz's performance of "Everything's Coming Up Roses" is amazing, even if she is dubbed. Less so for "Rose's Turn". As for the Bette Midler version, I can hardly watch it. It feels hammy and pushes too hard, and Cynthia Gibb is the weakest Louise I've ever seen. I know that director Emile Ardolino was quite sick during the making and did not guide with a firm hand; he died before the movie aired. Based on the poster's note below, I want to watch "Rose's Turn" and see how that plays. BTW, Barbara Harris was cast as one of the strippers (I think it was Tessie, but I can't remember for sure) but apparently was not in a head space that allowed her to stay on the film and so was replaced. |
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