There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

I saw Tyne Daly in the 1991 Broadway revival of this classic and timeless musical. Tyne was fantastic so I hesitated to see the television movie with Bette Midler. Every actress has interpreted Mama Rose in their own way. Bette Midler won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance. This television adaptation is faithful to the musical production. I don't recall any outdoor scenes here and that's the only flaw. Bette Midler soars in the role. Cynthia Gibb is marvelous as Louise who becomes Gypsy Rose Lee. Peter Riegert was perfect as Herbie. It has a terrific supporting cast including Tony Shaloub, Michael Jeter, Ed Asner, Christine Ebersole and Andrea Martin. The director was the late Emile Ardolino (Dirty Dancing) and this film is dedicated in his memory. Bette Midler should have played this role on Broadway as well. She is electrifying and horrifying as the ultimate stage mother. Thankfully this version of Gypsy is on DVD and will be preserved forever as the faithful version to the musical.

Outstanding interpretation of Bette Midler as domineering mother Rose Hovick marks this excellent 1993 production.Surprisingly, Midler won the Golden Globe Award for best actress and it was certainly well-deserved. She is bossy, sincere and forever endearing in the part. She belts out the songs, not exactly in the tradition of Ethel Merman, but with her own style-she reached new heights herself. Her facial contortions are excellent. At times, in her face, I saw her characters in "Hocus Pocus," and when she sings "Everything is coming up roses," at the train station, I thought I was seeing Gloria Swanson of "Sunset Boulevard" memory.Peter Riegert was most suitable in the role of her manager, the guy she loved dearly, but couldn't marry due to her stubborn belief that the careers of her girls came first.The woman who played Louise, who is eventually drawn into the burlesque world, reminded me of the late Natalie Wood. Ironically, Wood played her part in the memorable 1962 film with the late Roz Russell.A marvelous, endearing show with great performances by all concerned.

The film was disappointing. I saw it on Broadway with Bernadette Peters and she was outstanding. Maybe as she, herself graps on to the end of her musical career, her condtion of desperatation lands her in role that she flaunts, re-invents and triumps as her own. Bette's singing is always belted, always flat and lacking to show her ability as an actress. To be entertaining, this performance was dying for a stronger lead and a stronger cast, so that the others would be memorable in Bette's absence. Another criticism: she smiles directly into the camera every time she start singing! I know it is musical theater, but please leave some grace sociale-- Middler cannot perform like Liza or Streisand might in a retrospective tour - out of character and out of context.

Honestly I think Bette Midler was not the person to play this role. Her voice isn't right to portray a part like Mama Rose. Mama Rose has to have a forceful voice and powerful. Don't get me wrong, Bette Midler is a wonderful actress and amazing singer. It's just some people are right for certain roles and others aren't. Mrs. Midler acted to part extremely well and showed a side of Mama we've never seen before and thats the reason for her Golden Globe award acceptance.Before even taking upon myself to seeing this version, I took a trip to New York and attend a performance of the 2004 revival starring Bernie Peters and Tammy Blanchard. The entire show was amazing to perfection. Astounding performances form Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Blanchard, caring the show every step of the way.In comparison to the supporting casts in the T.V movie version, Mrs. Cynthia Gibbs (in the title role) gave an equally good performance and sang the part very well as well as Jennifer Rae Beck (Dainty June).*** out of ****