Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 2/2 - Gypsy

Last night PBS in NYC ran Gypsy (1962), an adaptation of the Broadway smash first produced in 1959, book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It is based on the memoir of “high class” stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. Laurent chose to make the mother, Rose Hovick, the central character, and she is the stereotypical stage mom and then some. The film’s producers feared the legendary Ethel Merman, star of the play, was too broad and brassy for the silver screen, so they chose Hollywood legend Rosalind Russell for the lead. She is fine, as is Karl Malden as the faithful manager, and Natalie Wood as Louise/Gypsy. Wood did her own singing, unlike in West Side Story (1961), where she was dubbed by Marnie Nixon. She danced as well. It worked because the character was not supposed to be talented. While Wood may have struggled with the finer arts, she was a wonderful actress and incredible beauty. She can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. According to Neil Gabler, host of Cinema 13, Russell, a consummate  pro who refused help, also did her own vocals but was later “aided” by dubs on the difficult parts, done post production by Lisa Kirk, who imitated her to a T. I enjoyed the film, although it pales in comparison to other adaptations of Broadway classics or the best original Hollywood musicals. It is done in such a light-hearted spirit for most of its 2:23 running time that the more dramatic confrontational scenes in the last half-hour between woman and suitor and mother and daughter don’t quite fit, despite the great abilities of the leads. I was most curious about the other sister, June, who eloped at 13 and disappeared from the movie. She became June Havoc, who had a significant career on stage and screen, and lived to 97. She was played by two actresses who gained considerable fame on TV, Morgan Brittany, real name Suzanne Cupito (a paisana?), and Ann Jillian. Gypsy Rose Lee died of lung cancer at 59. According to Wikipedia, H. L. Mencken coined the term "ecdysiast" to define Lee's work. I don't believe she ever disrobed entirely. In addition to her memoir, Lee wrote a novel, The G-String Murders, although it is believed she received a lot of help from an established author. It was adapted to the screen as Lady of Burlesque (1943), starring Barbara Stanwyck. Of course, a musical lives and dies on its songs. Gypsy has Let Me Entertain You and Everything's Coming Up Roses, the latter of which I had in my head during my morning walk, only in the voice of Ethel Merman. The film is rated 7.2 of ten at IMDb. It was directed by Mervyn LeRoy, who was at the helm of Little Caesar (1931) and several other works of note. On a scale of five, I rate Gypsy three. Here's a pic of Lee:

The weather was ideal and the floating book shop had a fourth consecutive good day. I peeled away two of the layers I was wearing. My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases. I also had a visit from Bill Brown, author of Words and Guitar, A History of Lou Reed's Music. He gave me a copy to proof before Christmas, and the weather's been so bad I hadn't had a chance to return it until today.

And now I'm off to the annual bash at Adam and Sharon's. Supe's on!
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx