Barbra Streisands Pläne, das Musical “Gypsy” zu verfilmen und selbst die Rolle der Rose zu übernehmen, sind schließlich, nach einer ersten Zusage von Rechteinhaber Arthur Laurents, doch gescheitert. Die Show von Stephen Sondheim (Texte), Jule Styne (Musik) und Arthur Laurents (Buch) wurde 1959 am Broadway uraufgeführt und 1962 mit Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood und Karl Malden in den Hauptrollen verfilmt.

Arthur Laurents über die Gründe, warum er Streisands Wunsch schließlich doch nicht erfüllen wird: Stephen Sondheim stellte ihm die Frage, warum er seine Einwilligung gegeben habe. Laurents:

He said, ‘What is the point of it?’ And I said, ‘They have this terrible version with Rosalind Russell wearing those black and white shoes.’ And then Sondheim told me something that he got from the British — and it’s wonderful. He said, ‘You want a record because the theater is ephemeral. But that’s wrong. The theater’s greatest essence is that it is ephemeral. You don’t need a record. The fact that it’s ephemeral means you can have different productions, different Roses on into infinity.’
“So I don’t want it now. I don’t want a definitive record. I want it to stay alive.
“I think [Streisand] is disappointed. She wanted very much to do it. That would have been a good exit for her career. Tom Hopper [”The King’s Speech”] wanted to direct it. I think he’s wonderful.

Link
- Blogs.courant.com: Streisand/”Gypsy” Film Project a No-Go, Says Arthur Laurents
- broadwayworld.com: Arthur Laurents Says That Barbra Streisand GYPSY Film is OFF