Auntie Mame (Warner Bros.) (1958) ****Decade: '50siMDB
Director: Morton DaCosta Cast: Rosalind Russell, Forrest Tucker, Coral Browne
Auntie Mame is an episodic comedy/drama about an amazing lady called Mame, played with gusto by Rosalind Russell. Mame is an eccentric, free-spirited woman who lives life with pure gusto and has a heart of gold. She takes in her orphaned nephew Patrick and the story is partly told from his point of view.
It's a rather old-fashioned story but very entertaining nevertheless, with a full-on performance by Rosalind Russell, an actress people don't really seem to remember much anymore. The supporting cast is terrific too, and it's quite amusing to see what made Mame so shocking and avant-garde to people around here (oh my god, modern art! etc.) The Christmas episode is very heartwarming and really showcases why Patrick adores this wacky aunt of his so much, without getting too sugary.
(Don't confuse Auntie Mame with musical called Mame, based on the same story, starring Lucille Ball. Avoid that one at all costs!)
Posted by bc on December 12, 2005 03:29 PM