MovieChat Forums > Grey Gardens (1975) Discussion > Little Edie's Just Haunting....

Little Edie's Just Haunting....

posted 14 years ago by telders
8 replies | jump to latest

Have you seen the companion documentary, The Beales of Grey Gardens? Little Edie sings more on this. Several months ago I watched it and heard her sing Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year. I posted this on the other site:
After seeing the new HBO film and revisiting the original documentary, I ordered this one from Netflix...and was blown away by the new footage with Edie's creative "revolutionary" costumes. When she sang a few bars of one of the most poignant songs ever written, "Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year," my eyes filled with tears. I'm wondering if she remained in love with that "married man" all her life. I think this song may be a nod to that long ago relationship. If you've never heard this WWII song, it's on You Tube. One particularly good version is by the popular singer of the early '50s, Joni James. Just haunting...just like Little Edie.

[–] Carolcan42 14 years ago

I don't think Edie was sad, she could say sad things about her life but forget it in minutes.Edie also had a very productive life after she sold GG. She traveled, met interesting people including celebs.Don't feel to sorry for her.

...Grace beats Karma

[–] lilypad183 14 years ago

"Don't feel to sorry for her."

carolcan,
i never felt sorry for either of the edies. they made choices to live as they did just as we all make choices.

little edie didn't have to stay at gg, she could have left anytime, it was her choice to stay and live the way she did.

i sincerely doubt she was in love with anyone other than herself. i think she made up all those engagements and love affairs. she had a flair for the dramatic, she talked about those men just as part of the doc. to impress others.
i really like her but i don't believe a whole lot of what she said.

[–] therealaragorn 13 years ago

I'm writing this after so far only watching the first twelve minutes. What I've found striking is that it seems little Edie is performing. She's put on her "costume" and the way she is acting seems somewhat theatrical. She knows the cameras are on her and she is performing.

Big Edie is just being herself.

[–] lilypad183 13 years ago

"She knows the cameras are on her and she is performing."

there,
of course she's performing. the doc was her big break to get on the cameras and she was making the most of it.

no one acts the way they usually act when they know the camera is on them, just watch kids when the camera goes on!

[–] Arlith 13 years ago

Hmm I don't know, lily...

Little Edie was absolutely stunning when she was young. Incredibly beautiful, so I wouldn't be surprised if she was chased by some of the most powerful men of her time.

"It's so simple a six year old could figure it out."
"Quick! Someone get a six year old!

[–] fiveforme 14 years ago

To telders: I'm wondering if she remained in love with that "married man" all her life.

I've often wondered the same thing. I agree with Lily, I think she had a tendency to 'embellish' the truth, but I think her love of her "married man" was genuine. At any rate, that's what I want to believe. Carolcan, I think LE did have a great life after she left GG. I enjoyed reading her letters to Walter Newkirk. She really seemed to enjoy so much of her post GG life. It's such a shame that we don't have the same kind of proof about her childhood and her life at GG. While I thoroughly enjoyed the HBO movie, much of it is also speculation. IMO, the only sad thing about the Edies is that we don't know more.

[–] workingonzen 14 years ago

I can't get through this. The non stop bickering makes my head hurt. Also, it's strange to me that no one seems to think LE didn't have a mental disorder like BP.
And Jackie may not have liked them, but it seems pretty ridiculous to let them live like that when she had so many millions.
I might try the fictional version since listening to them bicker is not my idea of a good time.

[–] lilypad183 14 years ago

"And Jackie may not have liked them, but it seems pretty ridiculous to let them live like that when she had so many millions."

sacramento,
no one "let" the ladies live the way they did, it was their choice.

while jackie had plenty of money, she was very stingy. she talked onassis into paying for the repairs at gg, she didn't spend a cent. do you think she would have supported them forever?

big edie's sons wanted their mother out of gg and she refused to sell the house and leave. i wouldn't have made that decision myself but that was up to her.

are you qualified to diagnose someone you never met?