Skip the lucille ball version as much as i love lucy, it was a dud. But mame faltered at the national box office, joining a list of failed musicals of the period that included star. Ball is funny and grand but she also comes across as warm. Ive always been a fan of the rosalind russell film, auntie mame, and after recently watching the dreadfully subpar mame, starring lucille ball, i decided it was finally time to read the book and discover madcap mames true story for myself. Mame 1974 pgin an adaptation of the broadway musical auntie mame by jerry herman, ball plays a dynamic woman who takes it upon herself to teach a group of eccentrics how to live life to the fullest. 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. With a perfect match between character and actress, rosalind russells unforgettable performance as auntie mame is almost enough to carry the whole movie by itself. The book is often described as having been inspired by dennis reallife eccentric aunt, marion tanner, whose life and outlook. Mame 1974 official trailer lucille ball, robert preston movie hd the musical revolves around the antics of mame dennis, a funloving, wealthy.
Lucille ball film collection dance, girl, dance the big. Is the lucy mame movie really that bad message board log in. According to the book but darling, im your auntie mame. 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. The newest mame, with lucille ball in the title role wearing a different colored wig for every administration from hoovers through trumans is as determined to. The only redeeming factor in that film was the great bea arthur. With the passage of time, critics and audiences are now giving lucys performance and the flawed film its due. Apr 05, 2017 it appears that after watching russell in the nonmusical auntie mame, lucille arrived at the conclusion that she had based her characterization on lucys character in her hit tv series, i love lucy. Nov 27, 2018 i loved rosalind russells auntie mame, and also the broadway soundtrack of mame. Mame s original soundtrack album was released on warner bros.
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. In 1958 rosalind russell starred in the movie auntie mame, based on the book travels with my aunt by patrick dennis. 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. The film auntie mame is wonderful, too, and its fascinating to see such a different. For the 1974 musical film starring lucille ball, see mame film. Rosalind russell was 50 when she starred as auntie mame on broadway, and 51 when she made the film. It appears that after watching russell in the nonmusical auntie mame, lucille arrived at the conclusion that she had based her characterization on lucys character in her hit tv series, i love lucy. 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. The musical itself was based on the play auntie mame starring rosalind russell, also a film and also available from the warner archive. While obviously not the best singer, lucy brought a charisma, a sophistication and a surprising heart to this complex role.
Lucille balls mame was one of the worst flops in motion picture history. Records in the spring of 1974, timed to the release of the film. This is the eleventh video of a series that stars our favorite redhead. With lucille ball, robert preston, bea arthur, bruce davison. Lucille ball, i really miss seeing reruns of i love lucy why wont any channels show it. Mame 1974 official trailer lucille ball, robert preston movie hd the musical revolves around the antics of mame dennis, a funloving, wealthy eccentric with a flare for life and a razor sharp wit. 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. The newest mame, with lucille ball in the title role wearing a different colored wig for every administration from hoovers through trumans is as determined to please in its way as mame is in. Jerry herman would later summarize, nobody loves lucille ball more than i. Mame, starring lucille ball family friendly movies.
She felt that rosalind russell had clearly gotten some of her inspiration for her performance in the nonmusical auntie mame 1958 from miss ball s character on the tv series, i love lucy 1951. Auntie mame 1958 official trailer rosalind russell, forrest tucker. Auntie mame original, play, comedy, broadway opened in new york city oct 31, 1956 and played through jun 28, 1958. Even before lucille ball was cast in the title role, warner bros. The warner archive has just released the bluray version of mame, 1974s film version of the hit broadway show. She cant cry realistically, either, but at least thats only in one scene. Not only for the ever changing set design, which you so masterfully captured, but also for rosalind russells brilliant portrayal.
Not to be confused with a musical version of the story, that appeared on broadway in 1966, and was later made into a 1974 film mame starring lucille ball as the title character. If there was one part i would give my soul to do, its this one. Lucille ball stars in this film of the blockbuster broadway musical that tells the story of the flamboyant, unconventional and, above all, glamorous mame. Lucille ball was a famous actress during the she is best known for her role as lucy ricardo in i love lucy. Hands down, no question, the one and only auntie mame is roz russell. Auntie mame is the funniest movie to come out of the 1950s. Furlong comes to live with his auntie mame ball, who has a generous heart. This film version stars rosalind russell and was directed by morton dacosta. Arthur plays mames friend just as splendidly as she did in the broadway version, but ball in her last feature film is a lame mame. Auntie mame 1958 rosalind russell auntie mame vintage movies old movies 1960s movies movies free see movie movie tv bon film. Auntie mame by morton da costa morton da costa, rosalind. I keep a paperback copy of auntie mame on my bookshelf now, and i watch the movie every few years. I still totally love the mame version i do agree that lucille ball is not a good singer, but it doesnt matter to me, because i love the songs and the story.
On a different message board, there are a few comments about robert preston disliking lucille ball. Lucille ball takes a wonderfully eccentric turn as auntie mame in mame 1974, a pitchperfect screen adaptation of the classic broadway musical. Mame 1974 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. 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. Musically married lucille ball, starring as the lively, sophisticated auntie mame and robert preston, portraying the southern gentleman whom she marries, strike up perfect harmony in mame, the musical version of the broadway hit, to be colorcast on nbc saturday night at the movies. But by the 1970s it had fallen out of fashion and out of print and was. Jerry hermans timeless tunes for the show include its today, we need a little christmas and if he walked into my life, as well as the newforthemovie hit, loving you. This is super cheesy but fun, and lucille ball is perfect, in my opinion. Eccentric, colorful mame dennis adopts an orphan boy, exposing him to all manner of extravagant. 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 is a highly enjoyable musical, even though lucille balls vocal arent the greatest it is still fun to watch. A showcase for the spectacular talents of russell, who made the play a broadway hit. Mar 08, 1974 the newest mame, with lucille ball in the title role wearing a different colored wig for every administration from hoovers through trumans is as determined to please in its way as mame is in. I enjoyed this film slightly more than the later lucille ball musical version.
Angela lansbury and lucille ball as the razzledazzle butterfly. It was directed by gene saks, and adapted by paul zindel, and starred lucille ball in her final theatrical film performance. I love that auntie mame is played by an older woman which makes sense as patricks aunt. Is the lucy mame movie really that bad message board. I remember when we were editing the warner bros 50th anniversary albums that word. Lucille ball gives a memorable perfomance as the eccentric auntie mame, mame is an underrated musical with a great cast and production value. Mame is a highly enjoyable musical, even though lucille ball s vocal arent the greatest it is still fun to watch.
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. Interesting, if it is true, but i did not detect any negative vibes in his performance. Blurays and dvds in 1958 rosalind russell starred in the movie auntie mame, based on the book travels with my aunt by patrick dennis. Lucille ball s mame was the only fulllength version of the musical i could find at amazon. Its far funnier and frankly, far better than the lucile ball musical remake, mame, but its nowhere near as charming. Auntie mame movie tv listings and schedule tv guide. The film was remade into a broadway musical starring angela lansbury and then a feature film. Oct 17, 2016 legendary lucille ball heads an allstar cast in her final feature film appearance. Auntie mame, queens of comedy, lucille ball desi arnaz, lucy and ricky, i fall in love, my love, pure genius, color pictures, film studio. In 1974, auntie mame was remade as the filmmusical mame with lucille ball. There are several touching scenes when the family is suffering in the great depression, but just as many funny ones, i.
Lucille ball s involvement in this film began in an interesting way. Lucille ball looked noble in white gown along with gary morton after the party of the premiere of mame in 1974 yes lucy lucille ball marked her centennial birthday on saturday august at the same time sixty years after i love lucy program started to be released for tv viewers. Lucille balls mame was the epicenter of the antimusical backlash in the early 70s. This lush screen adaptation of the broadway musical hit adaptation of auntie mame has lucy take on the role made. 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.
The story of mame began as a 1955 book called auntie mame. Upon the death of wealthy chicagoan edward dennis in the late 1920s. I suppose most of the fans on this board know this already, but when preston was honored at the thalians ball 1983 i think, one of the highlights during the tributes was lucille ball in her mame costume performing the title number with stuart damon in prestons beauregard role. 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. This 1974 musical mame stars lucille ball as the eccentric and loveable mame. Mame is a 1974 technicolor musical film in panavision based on the 1966 broadway musical. 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. Lost classic auntie mame revived after 50year gap books. Auntie mame 1958 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Sadly, auntie mame went from classy to camp when lucille ball and bea arthur starred in the panned 1974 film of the musical adaptation, mame. Lucille ball coveted the role of auntie mame in the movie adaptation, though her exact role behindthescenes is unclear. I thought lucille ball was shot through linoleum for that film. Lucille ball s mame was the epicenter of the antimusical backlash in the early 70s.
Edwards will states that patrick is to be raised protestant in a traditional manner and. And that musical was the 1974 musical film adaptation of mame. Saks, and adapted by paul zindel, and starred lucille ball in her final theatrical film performance. I love that auntie mame is played by an older woman which makes sense as patricks. This book is absolutely hilarious, handsdown one of the funniest, most charming books ive ever read.
Im a fan of hers, but she should not have been cast in the movie. Ball to chase the role in the upcoming musical version, titled mame. 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. Mame 1974 starring lucille ball, bea arthur, robert preston. The story focuses on the madcap life of mame dennis ball, which is disrupted when. Jerry hermans timeless tunes for the show include its today, we need a little christmas and if he walked into. Run along to ito and tell him to bring me a light breakfast black coffee and a side car.