Bloom’s Off the Rose

Would that Arthur Laurents had stuck to his guns when he said, “Not for all the money in the world will we let them make another film version of ‘Gypsy’ ” (“They’re Coming Up Roses,” by David J. Fox, Dec. 5).

The idea that this new version with Bette Midler should stand as “a permanent record of their show as it was intended” is a grievous insult to the show and its creators. Having seen the stage productions with Angela Lansbury and Tyne Daly, I can only say that this TV version was inferior to those theatrical experiences in every way.

“Gypsy” is so tightly conceived as a theatrical work that it can never work on film, and I can only hope that this filming won’t discourage further stage productions (and since they originally wanted Judy Garland in the 1962 movie, why not let Jim Bailey have a go at it, playing Rose as Judy?).

RICK SANDFORD

Los Angeles

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As I recall from multiple viewings, “Together, Wherever We Go” was included in the original 1962 release of the film “Gypsy.”

Although subsequently cut from reissues (and missing from the currently available video version), this number may be gathering dust in some film can somewhere. The audio is still in existence on the original soundtrack (Warner Bros. Records 1480), although who is singing on it could provoke an interesting debate.

Insofar as the authors selling the film rights thinking Garland would star, Craig Zadan in his book “Sondheim & Co.” quotes Jack Klugman as saying that film director Mervyn LeRoy “visited the show quite often” and “promised that he wouldn’t do the picture without (Ethel Merman).”

Personally, I think it’s too bad that Audrey Hepburn didn’t play Mama Rose. Then maybe Julie Andrews would have had a better chance at starring in the film version of “My Fair Lady.”

DAVID KING

Cucamonga

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I have long felt that the public has not always liked the casting of certain stars in filmed musicals, such as Rosalind Russell in “Gypsy,” Audrey Hepburn in “My Fair Lady,” Lucille Ball in “Mame” and Barbra Streisand in “Hello, Dolly!” Please don’t get me wrong--I love all these stars. Streisand could not be better vocally for “Dolly,” but she was too young at the time for the part.

“Gypsy,” on the other hand, does look like a part that was made for Midler. The show was terrific.

Let’s hope that in the future, producers cast the right people in the right roles. And please don’t try to outdo the original musicals. I think that’s what really turns the public off. We want to see them as we remembered them.

JOHNNY DANIELS

Glendora