NATALIE WOOD: WEB SITE: GYPSY (1962)

GYPSY (1962) Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, Ann Jillian, Paul Walace, Jean Willes, Harry Shannon, Morgan Brittny, Jack Benny. Director: Mervyn LeRoy. I have LOVED this musical for about seven years... and seen both Roz & Bette's versions... now, I know most people prefer Bette... but I don't. I mean... I've read reviews where people said "Forget the '62 version... go rent Bette's!" Maybe I'm crazy... I mean, I adore Bette Midler to death, but I think Roz did a better job of actually PLAYING the part. Sure, she may not have the vocal talents of Midler and Merman... but who does?! She's more of what I imagined the real Rose Hovick to be... and she's just so... I don't know. The way she delivered her lines... it was perfection. She also made me feel just a tad sorry for Rose... now I never saw Ethel Merman play the part, but Bette never made me feel sorry for Rose. Roz does. And that's a great talent whenever you can play a part where you have people hating and yet, at the same time, feeling sorry for the character. She was absolutely brilliant in the part and I don't see how people cannot recognize this! I also enjoyed Karl Malden in the role of Herbie better than Peter Reigert (I believe that was his name). He brought such life to the role. And although Cynthia Gibb did a good job of playing Louise... Natalie Wood... I mean, who can top THAT? Natalie Wood was GREAT!!!! She was perfect as the sort of quiet, shy child that grew up into a glamorous queen of the striptease. Diane Pace who played Louise as a child did a FINE job too! Cute little girl. And then... Morgan Brittany (who is billed as Suzanne Cupito) and Ann Jillian as Baby and Dainty June... how awesome is that?! Who knew that Ann Jillian could SING? I sure didn't. Paul Wallace was awesome as Tulsa... lots of talent. It's a GREAT movie, even if it WAS a bit altered from the Broadway play... but hey, the play was a bit altered from the true life story so... what does it matter?! A GREAT MOVIE, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!

CRITICA EN EL PERIÓDICO "ABC DE SEVILLA" (30-6-1973)

Comedia biográfica musical, ambientada en los años veinte, en Estados Unidos. Se nos cuenta la historia de una famosa artista de vaudeville: Gypsy Rose Lee. Doña Gypsy se propone hacer de sus dos hijas June y Louise, dos auténticas estrellas de la revista teatral. Y la buena señora no para en medios para conseguir el fin propuesto. Presenta las niñas Bay June y Baby Louise en una función infantil de promoción de futuros valores. Allí conocen a Herbie Sommers, hombre introducido en los medios teatrales y posterior apoderado de la compañía juvenil de variedades. De un lado para otro, visitan varias ciudades, actuando siempre la hermana June como artista principal y su hermana Louise de segundona... Pasan los años y las niñas crecen; la voz cambiada es ya un problema, y el señor Herbie Sommer se enamora de la madre de las chavalas y más, puntos suspensivos, hasta llegar a un "The End" en el que felizmente madre e hija Louise comen perdices cada una por su lado; pero, eso sí, después de que Natalie Wood ha triunfado en el music-hall (en general). El realizador, Le Roy, nacido en 1900, empezó bien, con peliculas como "Soy un fugitivo" (1932), "Hampa dorada", "El mago de Oz", "El puente de Waterloo" y otras; pero el vil metal y otros atractivos, ya se sabe que corrompen, y tiró por el camino... que va a la ermita, y le salieron productos como este, con tufillo camp, ligeramente hortera y con muchos colorines. Un error grave, es la elección de Natalie Wood para el papel que exigía un carácter más frívolo que el de la señora Wood. en fin una cinta que hará las delicias de muchos mayores y jóvenes nostálgicos.-A. F. M.