Sondheim doesn't want Streisand to direct Gypsy?

[Patash]

In the new film of Gypsy, Steisand plays a very old Mama Rose, sitting down and reflecting on her life done in flashback, which is then played by a younger actress and Streisand's voice sometimes playing over the "memory" scenes.

OK, just thinking aloud here.

[JoeKv99]

I'm not trying to be obtuse- but when we speak of "the rights" to a musical being sold to the movies, we're speaking of the fruits of a whole team of creators- plus others who might "own" a part of the show. I would assume (feel free to correct me) that the rights to the show were (are still?) owned by David Merrick and Leland Hayward (well, their heirs) who produced the show. They (as producers) signed contracts with the creative team (Styne, Sondheim, Rose Hovic, Jerome Robbins) that spelled out their share of any subsequent sales or productions and any codicils those creators could come up with (Like Robbins insisting that any future production proclaim "Originally staged by Jerome Robbins").

This all gets spelled out in contracts. Now I've heard talk for years that Laurents had to "sign off" on ANY production of Gypsy done any where at any time but I always assumed that was "just talk." But I suppose- Gypsy WAS his idea and he did have some clout back then.

Sondheim, aside from being the most talented man to ever trod the boards and a certifiable genius from age 12 on, DID NOT have the clout back then. So does he really have the authority to put the kibosh on a multimillion dollar film with a word?

[JoeKv99]

PS I have read that Merrick sold his rights to Hayward during rehearsals- but his name is still listed on IBDB as "Producer"- so I guess it's time to plumb another Broadway truth....

[ggersten]

>>In the new film of Gypsy, Steisand plays a very old Mama Rose, sitting down and reflecting on her life done in flashback, which is then played by a younger actress and Streisand's voice sometimes playing over the "memory" scenes.<<

While Rose is in the police station under investigation for murder!

[Gothampc]

Sondheim is just a puppet. If you want to know who is really driving this decision, you have to look at who the puppet-master is.

Now we all know that there is one person who has more control over Sondheim than anyone else in this world. This person holds a dark, horrible secret over Sondheim's head. It's a secret that was learned one fatal night at an event that was intended to be a joyous celebration. This secret was stumbled on quite accidentally when a certain party guest, opened the wrong door and stumbled upon a secret so macabre that nobody in polite society would dare speak its name.

If you really want to know who killed Barbra's chances with the Gypsy movie, you need look no further than Angela Lansbury in the hallway with a polaroid camera.

[darquegk]

Brilliant story,Goth- truth or just delicious dish?

Sounds like a sequel to The Last Of Sheila.

[fflagg]

Let her direct and play one of the strippers.

Catherine Z Jones can play Rose and Gaga can be Louise.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Commercially speaking, Madonna as Rose and Gaga as Louise are the best team for it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I already hear the complaints about Madge's vocals, but even those of you complaining would buy tickets. Don't lie.

[CarlosAlberto]

I certainly would not...and I ain't lying.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

I thought Gaga doesn't appear in another guise other than Lady Gaga, even at home?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Commercially speaking, I don't think Madonna is a box office draw.

[Jordan Catalano]

I wish Madonna would do another musical with a really great director. I'd also like Alan Parker to do another musical ASAP.

[JoeKv99]

"Commercially speaking, I don't think Madonna is a box office draw."


Truer words have never been spoken. NEVER.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

^ Of course not, not on her own. But the combo of her and Gaga, plus their feud in the press, plus the gimmick of the "mother" and "daughter" thing... it fits. I'd even go one step further and let Streisand direct them in the roles.

[Jordan Catalano]

Please no Gaga.

[egghumor]

Madonna, Gaga, and Streisand all in the same room together, for months! Yeah, that would go well.

[Emma White]

Is it disgusting that I kind of really like the idea of Catherine Zeta-Jones as Rose?
Probably.
Honestly, I loved Natalie Wood's Louise so much, but I don't think I consider anyone to be the definitive Rose yet, so I don't hate the idea of people playing with the role. Not Madonna though. Anyone but Madonna.

[Jordan Catalano]

Really? Anyone but Madonna?

[henrikegerman]

Nobody should direct herself as Rose.

(I could add least of all Streisand and much less Streisand at this age, but that would be de trop)

[GavestonPS]

Is it disgusting that I kind of really like the idea of Catherine Zeta-Jones as Rose?

Not disgusting, but delusional unless you are imagining a non-musical version.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is not a singer! We already have one movie-musical version with a non-singer in a role written for one of the greatest singers in Broadway history. We do not need another one.

[Gothampc]

"Brilliant story,Goth- truth or just delicious dish?"

I made that up. But there is a funny rumor that one time an actress (some say Lee Remick, some say Angela Lansbury) opened the wrong door at Sondheim's house and walked into his dungeon and saw a boy hanging there in a leather harness.

[Gothampc]

I still want to see:

Angela Lansbury as Elektra

Chita Rivera as Tessie Tura

Elaine Stritch as Mazeppa

[egghumor]

IF we're going with the Madonna/Gaga/Streisand trio (and only if) then I'd like to see:

Harvey Fierstein as Mazeppa

RuPaul as Elektra

Lypsinka as Tessie Tura

[Jordan Catalano]

I want an all drag movie of GYPSY and I'm not even joking.

[JohnBoy2]

I'll take an all drag GYPSY over one starring Madonna, Gaga or Streisand.

[Emma White]

"Really? Anyone but Madonna?"

Ok, fine, not ANYONE but Madonna... but she's at the bottom of my list.

And I don't consider CZJ to be a singer but I don't consider her to be a non-singer either... does that make any sense? She was a West End performer before she became a big moooooovie star and she was actually quite good. (She was Peggy in 42nd Street at 17).

If they do a remake, I think I would really like to have some kind of interesting spin on Rose though. There are so many "AH LOOK AT ME I AM MADAME ROSE MWAHAHAHA" Roses out there, but the real Rose was not really like that. June Havoc said a while back that the only realistic Rose she's seen was Bernadette Peters. Maybe we could see a Gypsy that's more based on the real story?