Wait for Your Laugh (2017)

These filmmakers will go places. What a remarkable film. Created in the closing chapter of Rose Marie's life, the Wises unobtrusively mine the memories and memorabilia of this remarkable performer. A singer, a comedian, an actor on radio, stage and screen, Rose Marie's career pretty much covered every aspect of 20th Century entertainment. The film also has the intrigue of the mob, the hilarity of her comedy roles, the tragedy of her husband's death, the pathos of her struggle to keep working as she ages. She is the one who got Morey Amsterdam on the Dick Van Dyke Show. She is the one who launched Tim Conway's career. The movie is obviously about Rose Marie, but also about so much more-how well do we live our lives? How do we reflect back on them from the perspective of old age? How do we cope with struggle and success? Rose Marie believed in her talent. She was a person who forged her own path and followed her gut. I am so glad she did. She deserved far more accolades than she ever got in life. This film is a gorgeously made tribute.Also, be sure to watch the extras.

It's a tragedy that in the age of KUWTK and its ilk that few reading this will know about whom this film revolves. Rose Marie was a national treasure, and I'm grateful these filmmakers took the time to tell her story.

I was a bit familiar with Rose Marie from Hollywood Squares and Dick Van Dyke reruns. But she had a much longer and very interesting career. She started very young singing on stage and on the radio. The Mob took an interest in her ("as a daughter, not a girlfriend" she says) so she knew Al Capone as a child. As an adult she was part of the opening line-up for the Flamingo Hotel (with Xavier Cougat and Jimmy Durante) so she knew Bugsy Seigel. The film covers he career with commentary from Rose herself, many co-stars and friends. Her husband died relatively young leaving her as a single working mother. There are many enjoyable stories told - and I'm sure there are many more that didn't make it, especially about Las Vegas in it's first booming years. I enjoyed this film very much.

As well as lovers of the Dick Van Dyke Show--we see the whole cast in color film taken on the set during rehearsals. And if you're interested in how Las Vegas became the neon capital of the world, you'll like the early 8 millimeter color footage of the opening of the Flamingo Hotel, and Rose Marie tells of her relationship with Bugsy Siegel and other mob guys. A well-made documentary that covers her whole nine decade career, including her 20 year marriage to trumpeter Bobby Guy.