As a big fan of the original film, I finally watched this version. I found it forced, miscast and nowhere near as good as the original. I thought the only interesting performance was by Bea Arthur. Lucy was woefully miscast as was most of the other characters. Her outfits were about the only saving grace.
shareLike some other less-than-successful stage-to-screen adaptations, MAME couldn't quite convey to the viewer what all the fuss was about, what made it such great entertainment on the stage and kept it running for so long.
"Somewhere along the line the world has lost all of its standards and all of its taste."
Like some other less-than-successful stage-to-screen adaptations, MAME couldn't quite convey to the viewer what all the fuss was about, what made it such great entertainment on the stage and kept it running for so long.
"Somewhere along the line the world has lost all of its standards and all of its taste."
I saw the film upon original release and agree with you. The film starts out with a musical number ("It's Today") that took a lot of effort by everyone concerned including Ms. Ball, but comes off on the screen from the editing room as very forced.
Given the fact that I am now about the same age as Ms. Ball when the film was made, I would have to give her credit for a lot of hard work. Despite having had a broken leg from a skiing accident before filming began she works hard, doing Onna White's choreography with lots of lifts, but her performance doesn't quite work. Unfortunately the voice can't carry the songs.
Liked Robert Preston.
Not crazy about the costumes. Orry-Kelly did a much better job for Ms. Russell in "Auntie Mame" - they explained the character without being distracting.
As a big fan of the original film, I finally watched this version.
Actually, MAME follows the original AUNTIE MAME script pretty closely.
"Somewhere along the line the world has lost all of its standards and all of its taste."