Auntie Mame
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Movie Reviews of Auntie Mame
Movie Review: Life's A Banquet--and Auntie Mame Invites You To It
Summary: 5 Stars
The Patrick Dennis novel was a runaway bestseller--and it was soon followed by a stage version starring Rosalind Russell, who was born to play the madcap Mame in this story of an eccentric, fast-living society woman of the 1920s who "inherits" her nephew when her brother died. Determined to "open doors" for her adoring nephew, Mame exposes to him everything from bootleg gin to oddball characters--all the while doing battle with her nephew's ultra-conservative trustee, who is equally determined that the boy's life remain free of "certain influences."This is a knockout show, and Rosalind Russell delivers a knockout performance in it--easily her finest comedy performance since 1939's THE WOMEN. She is extremely well supported by the sadly under-acknowledged Coral Brown in the role of Vera Charles, an actress who passes out in Mame's apartment with considerable regularity, and Forrest Tucker as the Southern gentleman who becomes her knight in shining honor; the supporting cast, which includes Fred Clark, Peggy Cass (particularly memorable as Agnes Gooch, Jan Handzlik, Roger Smith, and Joanna Barnes is equally flawless.
The infamous "production code" was still somewhat in force when AUNTIE MAME was filmed, and consequently several of the play's most famous lines had to be re-written--but this scarcely gets in the way of Russell and company, and director DaCosta offers a brilliant compromise between the art of cinema and the "set piece" nature of the stage show. The production values are rich, the score is memorable, and everything about the show is a tremendous amount of fun; by the time it ends, you'll wish that Auntie Mame was yours.
Although there were a few minutes when I felt the film had been slightly cropped, the DVD version offers a visually stunning print of the film in its original ratio, and the sound is quite good as well. The few extras are nothing to speak of--but frankly, it hardly matters: this is one film you'll be glad to have on DVD, for you're likely to wear out a VHS in short order. If you need a good laugh, especially one with a slightly satricial edge, you'll adore AUNTIE MAME from start to finish. One of my favorite films, and strongly recommended.
Movie Review: A Classy Classic--Finally On DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
Everybody needs an aunt like Auntie Mame. A relative to open doors, open minds, and teach you to "Live, live, live!" I've seen this movie countless times, and I must say it's one of the wittiest and most sophisticated comedies ever made, but does not demand anything from the viewer other than to sit back and enjoy (and be prepared to laugh a lot!). I get repeated enjoyment with each viewing; this movie just never seems to grow stale. Finally, with the DVD release, I have been able to see this wonderful film in widescreen, instead of the cropped pan-n-scan VHS version I'd become accustomed to. And I was not disappointed--there's more "Mame" to love. The color seems to leap from the screen, and the mono soundtrack is sufficient to please all but the most serious of audiophiles. The enormously talented Rosalind Russell could have carried this movie on her back if she had to, but her supporting cast matches her mastery in every scene. From the precocious lad who plays Little Patrick, wise beyond his years and and an expert martini-maker, to the magnificent Peggy Cass as "unwed" mother-to-be Agnes Gooch, to the incomparable Joanna Barnes as "top-drawer" Gloria Upson (you may recognize her as the conniving Vicki from both the original and remake of Disney's "The Parent Trap"), and on and on...what a flawless cast! The only complaint I can make about "Auntie Mame" is that it's a little over-long, and the action drags a bit during the fox hunt scenes, but picks up again soon enough. The very last scenes are the best, the absolute high-point being being Gloria's graphic description of a ping-pong tournament that ended in tragedy. "It was just ghaaaaahhhssstly!" Don't waste your time on the truly horrible Lucille Ball musical remake, "Mame", made long after Miss Ball's talent seems to have evaporated (not even the wonderful Beatrice Arthur could save that disaster). This one is the best! If you have any doubt about this, just check out the trailers for both films which are provided on the DVD: Which version would you want to see? Oh, and for those "readers" out there (a dying breed, I know),--check out the book, by Patrick Dennis. It's even better than the movie!Movie Review: Simply put, One of the Best Movies Ever Made!
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was 22, my movie experiences consisted of current comedies (Animal House, Blues Bros., etc.), science-fiction, action, and horror. Old movies held no interest for me whatsoever (and I'm still kinda iffy on them). My partner sat me down and said "Listen! There's a movie coming on in a few minutes on PBS that I insist you watch! It's one of the best movies ever made, and nobody should go through life without having seen it at least once!" Sensing he was serious, I sat down and proceeded to watch "Auntie Mame" starring Rosalyn Russell and Coral Brown. At that time, that was probably one of the greatest things anyone had ever done for me. Auntie Mame tells the story of a boy (Patrick Dennis) who was raised by his rather bohemian and eccentric aunt (Mame Dennis). It is pure, magical, madcap comedy at its best! The movie runs long, and when it's finished, you wish it was even longer. The story starts in the 1920's, just before the stock market crash. Patrick is orphaned by his ultra-conservative father and goes to live with his eccentric aunt, Mame Dennis. The catch? The Knickerbocker Bank is the boy's trustee and they're ultra conservative too! Rosalyn Russell is simply wonderful as Mame Dennis, the eccentric, liberal, bohemian auntie who raises Patrick. Coral Brown is her equally liberal, "not afraid to say anything" actress friend. In this movie, we watch Patrick grow from a young boy into a man under his aunt's care, surviving the depression, custody of Patrick by the ultra-conservative Knickerbocker Bank ("They're so conservative they don't pay any interest at all!"), a hilarious meeting with a misguided-Patrick's future in-laws, the fall and rise of Mame Dennis, and finally Patrick's new family (complete with son whom Auntie Mame instantly starts to influence in her own delightful and unique way). There's drama, heart-touching moments, and a ton of humor. Do yourself a favor and get this movie. It's one the best ever made!Movie Review: Remarkable Rosalind Makes a Mahvelous Mame!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
My absolute favorite film of all time - and finally in DVD format!!! Could life get any better?!It's a great joy to at last be able to view Auntie Mame's trailers, and the picture quality provided by DVD is a great improvement over VHS. But enough of the technical stuff - let's get on to the film!
I don't know quite where to start in singing the praises of Auntie Mame - the humor, the message, the music, the costumes (oh, God - such wonderful costumes - Orry Kelly's best), everything - timeless in its charm. Rosalind Russell is just amazing - her portrayal of this legendary character is perfection itself. And her supporting actors are just marvelous, as well - Coral Browne as Vera Charles is tremendous. And whoever says that the role of Ito is an embarrassment takes life too seriously. The film flows beautifully, and makes one wonder, "why does this ever have to end?" One can easily see that the film is based on Patrick Dennis' stage play, complete with fade-outs, but that doesn't take anything away from it. Rather, I feel it adds to the charm.
If you haven't seen Auntie Mame, please do so. If you haven't seen it in awhile, have another look. And if you've just seen it recently, isn't it worth another viewing? This film is just that good - timeless humor and touching soul. My only question is...why on earth did they have to go and create that monstrosity with Lucille Ball? It brings down the integrity of this film, a real crime.
Please consider purchasing this DVD, even if you already have the film on VHS. The special features are really great, and the picture quality is improved immensely. Also, if you haven't read the book, definitely give it a chance. I think it's even better than the film - there's so much to it that just couldn't fit into the film.
Movie Review: Best lines censored!
Summary: 5 Stars
"Auntie Mame" is a truly wonderful comedy and has been one of my favorites since I first read the book. I was lucky enough to have seen the Broadway original play with Rosalind Russell and Peggy Cass. Unfortunately at the time the film was made, two of the funniest jokes were watered down because two terms could not be used in films at that time. 1: When Patrick tells Mame what his father thought of her, she says: "That bas----!(She says the full word) (Patrick starts to write the word on his pad of words he does not understand and Mame takes the pad and pencil and says, as she writes) "The word is B.A.S.T.-- (spells it out)and it means your late father."
2: Her catch phrase is a bit stronger than in the film. It is: "Life is a banquet and most poor sons of b------ are starving to death." When Michael (her grand nephew) says this line in the last scene, it makes much more sense when his mother covers his mouth rather than the laundered "stinker" in the film. The original line is also used in the stage musical "Mame".
I purposely did not spell the words out so as to not offend any readers, but in today's films, these words would be used in a PG film.They are funny as changed in the film, but lose a bit of the edge from the stage version.
"Life Is A Banquet" is the title of Miss Russell's autobiography.
There are two other changes that the Production Code required at the time. Mother Burnside does not sneeze all the time, but give out with mighty bleches always demanding her soda tablets. The biggest change was that there was no wedding for Gooch with O'Bannion demanding partial royalties from Mame's book.
But the film and Miss Russell are wonderful even with the tamer vocabluary and changed situations.