"I do with Bette, but almost too much, and Bette is so big in her acting choices here"
The Midler film had a limited theatrical release in the UK. It works much better on a big screen - which is a problem, given that it was made for television.
Around the time of Bette's "Gypsy," she was part of a charity tribute in New York to Merman with Stritch and several other singers. Midler was not awful, but Stritch was much better. Yes, I am aware that Stritch knew Merman, but it was still a surprise.
