 Coincidentally, Russell had just starred in the film version of the Leonard Spigelgass play "A Majority of One" at Warner Bros., which Brisson had produced, and all parties came together to make "Gypsy", with Russell starring, LeRoy directing, and Spigelgass writing the highly faithful adaptation of the Arthur Laurents stage book.Although Russell had starred and sung in the 1953 stage musical "Wonderful Town" and the 1955 film "The Girl Rush", the "Gypsy" score was beyond her.Her own gravelly singing voice was artfully blended with that of contralto Lisa Kirk.