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THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES I HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME. LISA MINELLI IS GREAT IN THIS.

If you are a fan of Nalatie Wood, Rosalind Russel and even Karl Marlden, then you won't want to ever NOT see this movie! Natalie Wood transforms magically from a plain-"Jane" into a full blown glamorous beautiful woman in "Gypsy!" And Rosalind Russell is the consummate over imposing stage mother who has show business coursing through her veins with a vengeance!

The story of the infamous Gypsy Rose Lee is a well written and performed musical delight about a young girl coming into her own, after being in the shadow of her all-too-perfect sister that mommy had put her stakes in.

When Gypsy (Natalie Wood) finally comes into her own, she blossoms on the burlesque stage with glamour, taste and an ever alluring mystery, showing that a lady never has to show it all to be sexy, and that is just what Gypsy does!

I highly recommend this movie for the all around entertainment value showing how good the classics truly are!!!

This movie is as amazing as I remembered. Watched with a friend who also enjoyed it. Rosalind Russell was captivating as the overbearing but always concerned ultimate "stage mom". Natalie Wood was engaging as the child turned quickly into an adult Gypsy Rose Lee. I highly recommend this DVD to anyone old enough to remember these amazing actresses. The music is terrific and the actresses that play the supporting roles as the "other" strippers are hilarious. Not to be missed!

The concept behind the musical Gypsy is very unique. An overbearing stage mother concentrates on one daughter and then shifts her attention to her second daughter who becomes a world famous stripper and the lover of film producer Otto Preminger. The Otto Preminger part of her life is not in the film but I thought I would add it since the musical is based on an actual historic entertainment personality, Gypsy Rose Lee.

The film is dominated by the exceptional portrayal of Mama Rose by Rosalind Russell. The acting is superb as we see Russell create a character that is driven to ambitious goals and uses her children to meet her own ego needs. Yet, she can be vulnerable and she sometimes is sensitive to the needs of others, but not often. Such ambitions as displayed by Mama Rose cripple the soul and destroy human relationships. Mama Rose at several points in the film complains that eventually everyone leaves her. However, the viewer quickly catches on that sooner or later everyone in her life must escape the clutches of Mama Rose to begin to find their own life path and dignity. Rosalind Russell is absolutely super in this role. Her tone of voice, her body language, her every move and sentence perfectly conveys a woman who is part monster and part mother.
Natalie Wood is very good as Gypsy, especially in the early tom-boy scenes where Gypsy, called Louise in the first half of the film, is content to play second fiddle to her talented sister, played by Ann Jillian. The songs are typical Broadway musical fare with the exception of "Every Things Coming Up Roses", which is a complete show stopper of a musical number. Russell's delivery of this number perfectly matches her spirit which pushes on repeatedly against failure after failure. The musical numbers by Russell were done with a unique strategy of combining the voices of Russell with professional singer Lisa Kirk. The blending is perfect and sounds flawless. Russell creates a Mama Rose that is street wise and formidable. Karl Malden is very good as the man who courts her for years and never breaks through the shell she has created. He loves her for what she is and she is constantly striving to become something else, thus she never really trusts anyone crazy enough to love her just as she is.
Overall, this is a good film, entertaining with a knockout performance by Russell.

Rosalind Russell stars as Rose Hovik, the ferocious stage mother of two daughters in the age of vaudeville. Her youngest daughter, June, was a talented singer and dancer from an early age while the older girl, Louise, was rather clumsy. Rose dragged the kids around the country for performances in the rapidly dwindling vaudeville theatres with the help of friend and manager Herbie (Karl Malden). When June grew frustrated with the act and left, Louise became the star and, quite by accident, the queen of burlesque.

Rosalind Russell is a force to be reckoned with as the brash, indomitable Rose. She sings many memorable songs and runs the gamut from slapstick humor to heartbreaking tragedy. Karl Malden is wonderfully sympathetic as Herbie, the man who loves Rose. Natalie Wood is lovely as the adult Louise who, as Gypsy Rose Lee, became a famous stripper and sometimes actress.

The sets are often stagy but there are terrific performances and spirited, singable songs. It's raucous and glamorous; highly recommended.