Gypsy (1993 film)

Gypsy
Promotional poster
Genre
  • Biography
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Musical
Based onGypsy: A Musical Fable
1959 stage musical
by Arthur Laurents
Screenplay byArthur Laurents
Directed byEmile Ardolino
StarringBette Midler
Peter Riegert
Cynthia Gibb
Music byJule Styne (Score)
Stephen Sondheim (Lyrics)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersBonnie Bruckheimer
Robert Halmi Sr.
Neil Meron
Craig Zadan
ProducersEmile Ardolino
Cindy Gilmore
Bob Weber
Production locationsOrpheum Theater
Palace Theater
State Theatre
CinematographyRalf Bode
EditorsWilliam H. Reynolds
L. James Langlois
Running time153 minutes[1]
Production companiesStoryline Entertainment
All Girl Productions
RHI Entertainment
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseDecember 12, 1993 (1993-12-12)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Gypsy is a 1993 American made-for-television biographical musical comedy-drama film directed by Emile Ardolino. The teleplay by Arthur Laurents is an adaptation of his book of the 1959 stage musical Gypsy, which was based on the 1957 autobiography Gypsy: A Memoir by Gypsy Rose Lee.[2]

Gypsy Rose Lee's son, Erik Lee Preminger, was instrumental in getting the film in production and was the main source for research. He had tried to get the musical filmed with Bette Midler, who had always wanted to play Rose,[3] in the principal role 10 years earlier, but it required the approval of five entities to obtain the rights. One of the obstacles had been Arthur Laurents himself, who wrote the book for the musical based on Lee's memoirs. He had hated the 1962 film version and was initially opposed to a remake.[4] "Not for all the money in the world will we let them make another film version of Gypsy," he had said.[2]

The film was originally broadcast by CBS on December 12, 1993, and then released in theaters in foreign markets. It has been released on home video multiple times.

Director Ardolino died of AIDS three weeks before the film was broadcast.[5]

  1. ^ Gypsy (1993) at IMDb
  2. ^ a b "They're Coming Up Roses: Bette Midler headlines a new movie version of 'Gypsy,' a rare exact replication of a Broadway show. Therein lies a tale of tenacity, good timing and star power that Mama Rose herself would have appreciated". Los Angeles Times. December 5, 1993. p. 2. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  3. ^ "Midler Fulfills Dream of Playing Mama Rose" (December 5, 1993) Altoona Mirror, p. E1
  4. ^ Marilyn Beck (13 Mar 1993) "Preminger Gives Bare Facts for Film on Stripper Mom", Orange County Register, p. K02
  5. ^ "Obituary: Emile Ardolino" (4 Dec 1993) The Independent, London, UK