Glad to see it with the terrific movement; on the CD of this Encores! production, without the visuals, her performance doesn't register nearly so strongly. (Still it's an indispensible album, as it uses the original orchestrations and includes Joey's cut number "I'm Talking to my Pal".)
Of course, one of the great coincidences (or was it an inside joke?) of this song is that it openly mocked Gypsy Rose Lee in a show that originally starred her sister, June Havoc (aka, Baby June).
Not so. In the original 1940 script, as well as the 1952 revival, "Zip" is sung by reporter Melba Snyder (Jean Castro in 1940, Elaine Stritch in 1952). In 1940, June Havoc played Gladys Bumps. Recent "revised" (i.e. with entirely new book) productions have eliminated the character of Melba and given the song to Gladys.@@moo639
@@moo639 No, in the original 1940 production (as well as the 1952 revival) this song was NOT sung by Gladys Bumps, the role that June Havoc played, but by reporter Melba Snyder (Jean Castro, in the original cast, Elaine Stritch in the revival). In the drastically revised/reconceived recent version(s) with a new book by Richard Greenburg, it was turned into a nightclub number sung by Gladys.
Stritch really owned song in the 1950s revival. It's very dated and if you weren't around back in 1930s when the play was first produced you probably need to search every reference. But it's worth it and the song and it's context make more sense.
It would fun to update the stuff that's too 'current' to the time ("Will David Mamet ever write a great play?".....?) Some of the references are 'timeless', but 'Rooney' for sure isn't; and when it comes to new names for "Who the hell is..." I wouldn't have a clue.
@@bookerjones8123--Tempest Storm, Sally Rand, Blaze Starr, and Lili St. Cyr were the queens of the strip tease up until the 1970s. However, with the sexual revolution, teasing in a stripping act became, well, unnecessary since on-stage nudity ("Oh, Calcutta" and "Hair") as well as on film (yes there are movies from the early days of cinema featuring nudity, but they were not nearly as ubiquitous as the obligatory sex scenes today) and on social media. Having said that, places like the Spearmint Rhino in Las Vegas still feature the strip tease but--so far as I could find--none of the current strippers have achieved the fame/notoriety of the ladies of past generations.
@@onemercilessming1342 Like I said, I can't think of anyone. The only 'famous' person who works in strip clubs (I guess) is Stormy Daniels, and working her in just feels...not right. Love this number in any case.
@@bookerjones8123--I am forever grateful that my parents encouraged my interest in Broadway musicals. They've evolved a bit since the earlier days, but cultural literacy ought to be a requirement in our public schools. Alas, it is not.
@@paulstud I'm guessing they mean the fact that Sondheim was gay. The problems the main character in Company was facing are also the problems of a middle aged gay male.
The issue with this comment is that in the stage version of Pal Joey the character is utterly different. In the movie, it's being sung by an actual stripper, in the stage version it's being sung by a reporter impersonating Gypsy Rose Lee. Rita is playing a stripper so naturally she's better at actually stripping in a sensual way than a reporter.
She does this song perfectly. She mines it for all its worth. If Rogers and Hart saw it, I suspect they'd say "she nailed it."
You are so right.
I kept waiting for Stritch to burst in - "half hour, check with Merman"
Christopher Bush roflol
Brilliant! Reference to the dazzling world of the great Ms. Elaine!
This comment really made my day
What is a stritch?
"And you wonder why I drank!"
She’s such a beauty and wonderfully talented woman!
Best version of this song ever. Bebe has it.
Bebe is a living legend.
So she says
@@stuartlee6622 Do you want to argue with her?
@@coreycox2345 She used to be a schleppa', now she's Miss Mazeppa.
Love this
Oh my, oh my, oh my....keep them coming please!
Glad to see it with the terrific movement; on the CD of this Encores! production, without the visuals, her performance doesn't register nearly so strongly. (Still it's an indispensible album, as it uses the original orchestrations and includes Joey's cut number "I'm Talking to my Pal".)
This is amazing I love it
Of course, one of the great coincidences (or was it an inside joke?) of this song is that it openly mocked Gypsy Rose Lee in a show that originally starred her sister, June Havoc (aka, Baby June).
Not only "starred her sister June," is was June who sang this song!
Not in PAL JOEY. June Havoc played Gladys Bumps. The character who sings "Zip" is Melba Snyder. @@moo639
Not so. In the original 1940 script, as well as the 1952 revival, "Zip" is sung by reporter Melba Snyder (Jean Castro in 1940, Elaine Stritch in 1952). In 1940, June Havoc played Gladys Bumps. Recent "revised" (i.e. with entirely new book) productions have eliminated the character of Melba and given the song to Gladys.@@moo639
@@moo639 No, in the original 1940 production (as well as the 1952 revival) this song was NOT sung by Gladys Bumps, the role that June Havoc played, but by reporter Melba Snyder (Jean Castro, in the original cast, Elaine Stritch in the revival). In the drastically revised/reconceived recent version(s) with a new book by Richard Greenburg, it was turned into a nightclub number sung by Gladys.
Exquisite.
Loved this! Do you have more clips of Mrs. Neuwirth??
just fabulous!
You cant compare Pal Joey to Company its like comparing apples to oranges Sondheim is a genius so thats it
A Goddess
Stritch really owned song in the 1950s revival. It's very dated and if you weren't around back in 1930s when the play was first produced you probably need to search every reference. But it's worth it and the song and it's context make more sense.
It would fun to update the stuff that's too 'current' to the time ("Will David Mamet ever write a great play?".....?) Some of the references are 'timeless', but 'Rooney' for sure isn't; and when it comes to new names for "Who the hell is..." I wouldn't have a clue.
@@bookerjones8123--Tempest Storm, Sally Rand, Blaze Starr, and Lili St. Cyr were the queens of the strip tease up until the 1970s. However, with the sexual revolution, teasing in a stripping act became, well, unnecessary since on-stage nudity ("Oh, Calcutta" and "Hair") as well as on film (yes there are movies from the early days of cinema featuring nudity, but they were not nearly as ubiquitous as the obligatory sex scenes today) and on social media. Having said that, places like the Spearmint Rhino in Las Vegas still feature the strip tease but--so far as I could find--none of the current strippers have achieved the fame/notoriety of the ladies of past generations.
@@onemercilessming1342 Like I said, I can't think of anyone. The only 'famous' person who works in strip clubs (I guess) is Stormy Daniels, and working her in just feels...not right.
Love this number in any case.
@@bookerjones8123--I am forever grateful that my parents encouraged my interest in Broadway musicals. They've evolved a bit since the earlier days, but cultural literacy ought to be a requirement in our public schools. Alas, it is not.
@Booker
......do the research
😎😎😎
It would be nice if I could distinguish the words she's singing.
That look at the end ; 'yeah I'm that hot'
Rodgers, Hart, and O'Hara's PAL JOEY is the most adult musical ever written. FAR superior to the sexually
evasive COMPANY, despite Sondheim's score.
I'll bite. What's "sexually evasive" about COMPANY?
@@paulstud I'm guessing they mean the fact that Sondheim was gay. The problems the main character in Company was facing are also the problems of a middle aged gay male.
I love her, but not so much doing this. Rita Hayworth did it best.
Rita Hayworth acted the part terrifically but the singing was dubbed in.
@@9dovesyes but her dancing and sexual energy made the performance.
Rita Hayworth was electrifying. And I I love Bebe too but somethings’ s not working here for me.
The issue with this comment is that in the stage version of Pal Joey the character is utterly different. In the movie, it's being sung by an actual stripper, in the stage version it's being sung by a reporter impersonating Gypsy Rose Lee. Rita is playing a stripper so naturally she's better at actually stripping in a sensual way than a reporter.
This plods along, with no fun or buoyancy...like a metronome.
My zipper is on 🔥 fire !
Not close to RITA HEYWORTH IN THE MOVIE.
Terrible. Point is that she removes NOTHING. That is funny ~!!.