Turner airs "the best damn musical!" this evening. Can't wait. It is possibly my all-time favorite film (as anyone who follows this site surely already knows). Two items on my wish list, however.
First, I hope that Robert (or Ben, or whoever introduces "Gypsy" tonight) doesn’t remind us for the 1,438th time that the role of Madam Rose was written for Ethel Merman. (We know already. Besides, Roz rules.) And, two, that the character isn't referred to - for the 1,439th time - as "Mama Rose." She isn't called that in either the play or the film (as author Arthur Laurents kept reminding people). She's called Rose, Madam Rose and Mama.
But never Mama Rose. Never. That said, bring on Caroline!
Curtain up! Light the lights!
ReplyDelete"Sing out, Louise!"
ReplyDeleteJust seeing this, I can hear the fabulous "Gypsy" overture. It gives me goosebumps every time.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I remember a Boston Pops concert when John Williams was the conductor. The orchestra played a series of familiar classical pieces - the usual suspects - each introduced by Williams. At one point, he announced: "And now The Gypsy Overture by Styne." I thought - wow - that overture really is classic. It's great that Mervyn LeRoy retained it for his film and that Styne himself conducted on screen. Truly, a memorable movie moment.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Every time someone mentions that the role was written for Ethel Merman, it diminishes Rosalind Russell's first-class performance. Besides, as I know it, it wasn't the character that was written for Merman but the music, the songs.
ReplyDeleteMerman was not a movie box-office draw when the film was made/released and, despite her many talents, she was not particularly known as a great or even good actress. Russell was a world-class actress and, although Lisa Kirk was brought it to handle the more vigorous Mermanesque songs, Roz nailed it.
ReplyDeleteWe'll honey, guess I know what you're doing tonight!
ReplyDeleteI especially enjoyed reading Susan's note at the end of the column. Hate to admit it, but I missed this screening of Gypsy. This movie was also beloved by my mother, whom you may have met. She admired Rose's spirit and determination even if she didn't truly appreciate her daughter's career choice or success. You will be surprised that I only learned in the past few months that Baby June was June Havoc.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sharon. Actually, it was her mother who pushed Louise/Gypsy into stripping - as a way to stay in show business. What’s disgusting is, in a later scene, Rose has the balls to criticize Gypsy as “a cheap stripper.” So much for a mother’s love!
ReplyDeleteThe movie holds up because of the poignancy of Rose’s life. I think her jealousy and possible anxiety about being left behind brought on her outburst putting Rose down. The song, “My Turn,” revealed her lost dreams. Very many Hollywood films portrayed moms as endlessly patient and self-sacrificing, so that Madame Rose seems quite monstrous in comparison. Loving, proud and helpful mothers is real for many of us. But for women of ambition, the joys of motherhood, even if it results in successful adult children, leaves a bitter taste.
ReplyDeleteOne doesn’t admire Rose, but one can understand her angst. She had a very hard life and the straits she was in happened at a time when poverty could – and did – kill. It was not unusual for a woman faced with raising children alone to give the kids away to anyone who would take on the responsibility of feeding and rearing them. Life was very, very hard for those in that situation, even if they were alone due to widowhood or abandonment. Rose was determined to keep her family intact and she eventually grew to live through them. Rosalyn Russell captured all the light and dark of the situation and the woman. I seriously cannot imagine Ethel Merman coming close to her performance.
The most revealing scene in “Gypsy” for me (as far as defining Rose’s narcissism) is the confrontation she has with Miss Cratchet, the secretary of Mr. T.T. Granzinger. Rose is offended that he only wants June (not the act) and that he wants her to play the Variety downtown, which Rose thinks is beneath June. Anyway, at one point, she scream at Cratchet that Granzinger is “a hick” who “doesn’t know what a mother means to a daughter.” Note she doesn’t say, “what a daughter means to a mother.” It’s all about her. She cares little about June (or Louise), only about living through her. And, yes, Russell remains the definitive Rose, finding both humor and horror in the character. I saw Merman in the show (when I was a kid) and all that I remember is that she stepped outside the show to sing the songs to the audience.
ReplyDelete