MovieChat Forums > Grey Gardens (1975) Discussion > Did they have a lot of savings?

Did they have a lot of savings?


How could they afford food, power (I guess, no water), and property taxes?

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Nevermind. I read that The mother had a trust that provided for her.

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In the "sequel", during an important scene the Maysles foolishly left on the cutting room floor originally, Little Edie explained that her brother was paying the property taxes. (Said scene also explains how the hole in the wall in the upstairs hallway got bigger during the shoot.) Mother dearest's trust fund apparently could not even cover that.

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Oh okay, I see, because I too was wondering this (how were they getting their money). I didn't see this film, but saw when they were interviewed on 60 Minutes (I think it was). I was thinking about it today because Grey Gardens has gone up for sale.

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They lived on 300 dollars a month.

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No one could live on 300.00 a month. Did they spend that all on ice cream? Give me a break.

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During the 40s and 50s it would have been, but by the 60s and 70s, but the buying power would decline over time. this led to the Beales's fall into into squaller. The total trust fund was only 65,000 dollars and keep in mind, 300 dollars a month is like 4000 today.

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Thank you. I stand corrected.

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On Wikipedia it was said Little Edie lived in the house for a few years after Big Edie's death, then Montreal, then in Florida, then briefly with relatives in California, then back to Florida where she died. How was she able to afford all of the moving around and renting apartments on $400 or $500 a month?

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Movie royalties 😅

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