Celebrated as one of the best Broadway musicals of all time, the 1959 tale of Rose—the ultimate stage mother who pushed her daughters June and Louise onto the vaudeville circuit (and eventually saw Louise transformed into stripper Gypsy Rose Lee)—has attracted many of the grandest dames of Broadway. Ethel Merman originated the role, and it was later famously assumed by Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley, and Patti LuPone, among others. At the suggestion of Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the lyrics for Jule Styne's unforgettable score (Arthur Laurents penned the book), British actress Imelda Staunton signed on for this 2015 revival from London's West End. The competition on disc is not especially strong—the 1962 movie starring Rosalind Russell is lugubrious, and the 1993 telefilm with Bette Midler is at best a valiant effort. This version is hardly flawless—the staging looks a little tacky, the orchestra is a mite tinny, and the supporting cast is merely adequate. But Staunton performs with such intensity that she sets the screen afire, although some might find her Rose so abrasive that it is nearly impossible to believe that other characters could have much affection for her. Still, you cannot take your eyes off Staunton, who makes this a truly memorable revival of a great Broadway musical. Presented in DTS-HD stereo, this is recommended. (F. Swietek)
Gypsy
(2015) 142 min. DVD: $22.98, Blu-ray: $29.99. Shout! Factory (avail. from most distributors). Volume 32, Issue 1
Gypsy
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