Gypsy is a 1962 musical film made by Warner Bros., about the early life of striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. It was produced and directed by Mervyn LeRoy. The screenplay by Leonard Spigelgass was based on the stage musical Gypsy: A Musical Fable with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by Arthur Laurents, which was in turn loosely based on Lee's book Gypsy: A Memoir. The cinematography was by Harry Stradling, the costume design by Orry-Kelly, Bill Gaskin and Howard Shoup.
The film stars Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood and Karl Malden.
Bette Midler performed most of her vocals live throughout the filming of the movie (most of it was not pre-recorded then lip-synced), which is a rare find in any musical in movie form.
Emile Ardolino's last film.
Mama Rose lives to see her daughter June succeed on Broadway by way of vaudeville. When June marries and leaves, Rose turns her hope and attention to her elder, less obviously talented, daughter Louise. However, having her headlining as a stripper at Minsky's Burlesque is not what she initially has in mind. Written by Jeremy Perkins
This is the story of how a no-talented Louise Hovick rises from behind her little sister's shadow, Dainty June and vaudeville to become the 1930's burlesque queen, Gypsy Rose Lee. Written by Kelly
While the title suggest that this musical is about the famous stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, it is really about her hard-driven, determined stage mother, Mama Rose. In the beginning, Rose concentrates on her talented younger daughter, June, leaving older, less talented Louise in the cold. When June tires of being cute and runs away, Rose turns to Louise instead. Louise eventually does become "Gypsy", and Rose is left by herself, her aspirations for her kids realized, but her own show-business aspirations still unrealized. Written by Tommy Peter
