Gypsy: A Musical Fable - Film and TV Versions

Film and TV Versions

Rosalind Russell, Karl Malden, and Natalie Wood starred in the 1962 Warner Bros. film adaptation of the musical. Russell won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her portrayal of Rose.

Gypsy was also adapted as 1993 television movie with Bette Midler playing Rose. Cynthia Gibb portrayed Louise and Jennifer Beck portrayed Dainty June. Bette Midler won the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV; Michael Rafter won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Direction. This production was a rare example of a film/TV project in which some of the songs are sung live, and not Lip synced to a prerecorded track.

In January 2011 the New York Post reported that Barbra Streisand is in negotiations to produce, direct and star in a new film version of Gypsy. In an interview with the New York Post, Arthur Laurents said: "We've talked about it a lot, and she knows what she's doing. She has my approval." He said that he would not write the screenplay. In a clarifying statement and report, the New York Times wrote that Streisand would star, but would not produce or direct. Streisand's spokesperson confirmed that "there have been conversations".

However, Frank Rizzo of courant.com reported on March 12, 2011 that the film with Streisand "is not going to happen, according to playwright-director Arthur Laurents, one of the rights holders to the work." But now that is contradicted by an August 2011 report by USATODAY that the plans for a film adaptation of Gypsy are still intact. "Before writer and director Arthur Laurents died at age 93 last May, there had been much talk about a movie version of 'Gypsy' starring Streisand as Rose. 'We just have to find our team and a writer,' said Streisand. 'It's too bad, because I was looking forward to working with Arthur,' who directed Streisand in her Broadway debut. 'I had seen him a few months before that, and he seemed so strong and healthy.'"

In March 2012, reports stated that Universal Pictures is pressing on with the new film. Streisand is still attached to produce and play Rose, with Joel Silver co-producing and Julian Fellowes scripting.