Lucille ball stars in this film of the blockbuster broadway musical that tells the. Lucille balls mame was the epicenter of the antimusical backlash in the early 70s. Lucille ball coveted the role of auntie mame in the movie adaptation, though her exact role behindthescenes is unclear. Socialclimbing executor dwight babcock fred clark does his best to raise patrick as a stuffy american aristocrat, but mame battles babcock to allow the boy to be as freespirited as she is. Reviewing mame, lucille balls lateinlife stab at starring in an enormous movie musical, gives me the opportunity to pull out one of my favorite sat words. The 1958 movie auntie mame is considered a classic, and its a kick to watch for the constantly changing, overthetop sets and costumes it was based on a popular stage play starring the fabulous rosalind russell, who reprised her role in the film. Too much emphasis, i think, has been placed on lucille ball s age auntie mame isnt necessarily any age. Rosalind russell was 50 when she starred as auntie mame on broadway, and 51 when she made the film. Robert preston as beauregard jackson pickett burnside. The goal of almost every film is to make you forget you are watching a movie. Lucille ball, robert preston, beatrice arthur, et al. Mar 08, 1974 mame puts on new but familiar face lucille ball. Its better if you dont compare it with the earlier auntie mame which has more of. In 1974, auntie mame was remade as the filmmusical mame with lucille ball.
Suffice it to say, the show has been imortalized for the cinema by the great lucille ball and robert preston. To evaluate a movie like mame it has to be seen in widescreen panavision on a large hd screen with high quality audio. An irreverent escapade is a 1955 novel by american author patrick dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, patrick, growing up as the ward of the sister of his dead father, his aunt mame dennis the book is often described as having been inspired by dennis reallife eccentric aunt, marion tanner, whose life and outlook mirrored those of mame, but dennis denied the. Its better if you dont compare it with the earlier auntie mame which has more of the story but none of the delightful songs. Rosalind russells nonmusical auntie mame perhaps too much so. Sometimes you see a movie and you know that the actor or actress in it was born to play that part. Yearning to watch auntie mame in the comfort of your own home. The plot is nearly identical, and ball gives a serviceable performance in the title role although it wouldve been a joy to have seen angela lansbury, while the musical numbers are wellwritten and complement the plot quite. While obviously not the best singer, lucy brought a charisma, a sophistication and a surprising heart to this complex role. Indeed, the musical of mame seemed to run forever, more than 1,500 performances in new york while a west end production with ginger rogers did very well also, running some 14 months. It was directed by gene saks, and adapted by paul zindel, and starred lucille ball in her final theatrical film performance. Lucille balls age factored in my enjoyment of mame only insomuch.
Nov 27, 2018 i loved rosalind russells auntie mame, and also the broadway soundtrack of mame. It opens in 1928 when her young nephew patrick arrives at her doorstep as an orphan, in need of a guardian. Auntie mame perhaps too much so, since i think that film is hilarious. The film of auntie mame was nominated for five other academy awards, including. A truly terrible movie, with every idea brought to it a bad one, but not in a way that could make it a valley of the dolls or mommie dearest. This is a very special movie and watching bea arthur and lucille ball together is a real hoot. The musical itself was based on the play auntie mame starring rosalind russell, also a film and also available from the warner archive. Tilda swinton in hip remake of auntie mame gets us thinking. Lucille ball in mame may not have been oscar worthy but certainly russell in her portrayal, was not either.
This determinedly eccentric beekman place hostess, who was first introduced to us by patrick dennis in his 1955 novel. Lucille ball gives a memorable perfomance as the eccentric auntie mame, mame is an underrated musical with a great cast and production value. This lush screen adaptation of the broadway musical hit adaptation of auntie mame has lucy take on the role made famous by rosalind russell, the eccentric mame who believes that life is a banquet. Mame 1974 official trailer lucille ball, robert preston movie hd. Legendary lucille ball heads an allstar cast in her final feature film appearance. It appears that after watching russell in the nonmusical auntie mame, lucille arrived at the. Shes also the aunt of young patrick, who arrives in the middle of one of her crazy parties. Mame is a highly enjoyable musical, even though lucille balls vocal arent the greatest it is still fun to watch. In 1928, nineyearold patrick dennis kirby furlong comes to live with his auntie mame ball, who has a generous heart, believes life should be a party and collects fascinating friends.
Sep 06, 2015 auntie mame and 1950s femininity duration. Lucille ball stars in this film of the blockbuster broadway musical that tells the story of the flamboyant, unconventional and, above all, glamorous mame. Mame, starring lucille ball family friendly movies. Sep 01, 2016 musical numbers performed in lucy movies. On paper, this movie had hit written all over it with mames broadway director gene saks on board along with bea arthur saks wife and jane connell reprising their stage roles. Edwards will states that patrick is to be raised protestant in a traditional manner and. Original soundtrack from the motion picture mame is the soundtrack from the 1974 warner bros. Mame puts on new but familiar facelucille ball the new. With the passage of time, critics and audiences are now giving lucys performance and the flawed film its due. Mame is a 1974 technicolor musical film in panavision based on the 1966 broadway musical of the same name itself based on the 1958 film auntie mame and the 1955 novel auntie mame by patrick dennis. I wasnt surprised to learn that lucille ball bankrolled this movie adaptation of the broadway musical mame that explains her miscasting. Lucille balls mame was one of the worst flops in motion picture. Lucilles breathing was such that she was barely able to complete a.
Lucille ball film collection dance, girl, dance the big. This film version stars rosalind russell and was directed by morton dacosta. Auntie mame is a 1958 american technicolor comedy film based on the 1955 novel of the same name by patrick dennis and its theatrical adaptation by jerome lawrence and robert edwin lee. This determinedly eccentric beekman place hostess, who was first. It was directed by gene saks, and adapted by paul zindel, and starred lucille ball in her final theatrical film. The book is often described as having been inspired by dennis reallife eccentric aunt, marion tanner, whose life and outlook. With lucille ball, robert preston, bea arthur, bruce davison. Lucille ball to play mame in the movie the new york times. Mame is the film version of the hit broadway musical by jerry herman and stars lucille ball as auntie mame, a full oflife, ruledefying woman. This lush screen adaptation of the broadway musical hit adaptation of auntie mame has lucy take on the role made. Interesting, if it is true, but i did not detect any negative vibes in his performance. Auntie mame 1958 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
The auntie mame remake starring tilda swinton comes closer to being a reality. She was a liberated woman before the rest of the world knew that women needed to be liberated. Id never heard that before, and ive read a lot of material over the years about the making of this movie. Auntie mame 1958, adapting a stage hit from another great writing team jerome lawrence and robert e. Mame is a highly enjoyable musical, even though lucille ball s vocal arent the greatest it is still fun to watch. Furlong comes to live with his auntie mame ball, who has a generous heart. On another note, i actually disliked the movie auntie mame and felt russells acting was way over the top, silly and annoying. I have loved the movie auntie mame with rosalind russell ever since the first time i. But the movie will be remembered chiefly as the somewhat heartrending folly of a great yet misguided star. Clark gable in gone with the wind bette davis in all about eve barbra streisand in hello, dolly rosalind russell in auntie mame i love russell and the parts she played. Cast as the title character in this second movie adaptation of a patrick dennis book and jerry herman musical the first, auntie mame was in 1958, lucille ball plays an independently wealthy. Lucille ball has been signed to play the title role in the movie auntie mame, it was confirmed by warner bros. The album features music and lyrics by jerry herman and retains all but one song, thats how young i feel, from the original broadway musical and adds a new song, loving you.
An irreverent escapade is a 1955 novel by american author patrick dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, patrick, growing up as the ward of the sister of his dead father, his aunt mame dennis. Auntie mame is the funniest movie to come out of the 1950s. Oct 26, 1972 lucille ball has been signed to play the title role in the movie auntie mame, it was confirmed by warner bros. She was a liberated woman before the rest of the world knew that women needed. Mame, mama movie, lucille ball movies, 1974 musicals. Too much emphasis, i think, has been placed on lucille balls age auntie mame isnt necessarily any age. Auntie mame 1958 official trailer rosalind russell. I loved rosalind russells auntie mame, and also the broadway soundtrack of mame. Auntie mame 1958 stream and watch online moviefone. On a different message board, there are a few comments about robert preston disliking lucille ball. This is the eleventh video of a series that stars our favorite redhead. Mame is a character so full of life she gives the impression of never sitting still. Mame 1974 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Mame is a 1974 technicolor musical film in panavision based on the 1966 broadway musical.
Reviewing mame, lucille ball s lateinlife stab at starring in an enormous movie musical, gives me the opportunity to pull out one of my favorite sat words. Lucille balls mame was the only full length version of the musical i could find at amazon. She cant cry realistically, either, but at least thats only in one scene. Find out where to watch, buy, and rent auntie mame online on moviefone. Angela lansbury, was overlooked in favor of television and film legend lucille ball. Upon the death of wealthy chicagoan edward dennis in the late 1920s, his nineyearold son patrick dennis becomes the ward of their only living relative, edwards equallywealthy newyorkresiding sister, mame dennis. Oct 17, 2016 legendary lucille ball heads an allstar cast in her final feature film appearance.
Its far funnier and frankly, far better than the lucile ball musical remake, mame, but its nowhere near as charming. If you enjoyed rosalind russells 1958 nonmusical auntie mame, you will probably enjoy lucille balls turn as the titular character in this 1974 musical adaptation. Not to be confused with the pathetically lackluster musical version starring lucille ball 1974, simply entitled mame. Lucille ball s mame was the epicenter of the antimusical backlash in the early 70s.
Oct 17, 2016 this lush screen adaptation of the broadway musical hit adaptation of auntie mame has lucy take on the role made famous by rosalind russell, the eccentric mame who believes that life is a banquet. Lucille ball was 63, which i agree was a little too old, but it wouldnt have been quite so absurd if she hadnt drawn attention to. Mame dennis says, life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death. I have loved the movie auntie mame with rosalind russell ever since the first time i saw it. Mame 1974 starring lucille ball, bea arthur, robert preston. With wit, style and a seasoned cast to dished out humour and heart with gusto, auntie mame is a full course meal of entertainment magic and is a 1958 technicolor comedy film based on the 1955 novel of the same name by patrick dennis. I still think rosalind russell is the best auntie mame. Lucille ball stars in this film of the blockbuster. This lush screen adaptation of the broadway musical hit auntie mame continues the story of the eccentric mame who believes that life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death. Is the lucy mame movie really that bad message board.
Lucille ball, bewildered and discouraged by her failure, returned to television work but never again attempted a feature film. Great memorable quotes and script exchanges from the auntie mame movie on. Apr 05, 2017 on another note, i actually disliked the movie auntie mame and felt russells acting was way over the top, silly and annoying. The plot is nearly identical, and ball gives a serviceable performance in the title role although it wouldve been a joy to have seen angela lansbury, while the musical.
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