I hadn't heard anything about Grey Gardens until the HBO movie came out. HBO Canada had both the 2009 and original Maysles' 1975 documentary on demand. I've lost count of how many times I've seen them both, and have PVR'd both. I can't get enough information about Big and Little Edie.
Despite the fact that it's obvious I've got too much time on my hands, is anyone else addicted like this?
i've been hooked for 2 1/2 years and still can't get enough! i've seen the doc countless times and i've read all the books. i need more, more!
have you read lois wright's book "my 13 months at gg"? she lived with the ladies all that time so she really knew how they lived. the three of them had been friends for many years outside of their living together and we get a good pic of their lives in her book.
there are other books out there too, try amazon and learn more about the ladies!
Thanks for the tips, Lilypad! I haven't read any books, but I've been to many of the websites.
Was Lois portrayed in either of the movies? Was she the one at BE's birthday party?
"Was Lois portrayed in either of the movies? Was she the one at BE's birthday party?"
yes, lois was in the doc a few times. she was the artist who showed off her paintings. yes, she was at the birthday party too, the other guest was her friend jack.
her book is fantastic, you'll have to read it. it's on amazon and sometimes ebay.
I had not heard about them until i saw a promo of Drew Barrymore in the 2009 film. I can already tell though, that I'd rather see this 1975 docu and that once I do I *will* be hooked!
Eerily enough, I've already been obsessed for years over another high society, poor-little-rich-girl named Edie-Edie Sedgwick. But hers is another story!
Would you classify that as a launch problem or a design problem?-Real Genius
"Edie Sedgwick. But hers is another story!"
Tragic story for sure.
...Grace beats Karma
"Eerily enough, I've already been obsessed for years over another high society, poor-little-rich-girl named Edie-Edie Sedgwick. "
but this edie wasn't born with a great ancestry. her grandfather claimed to be from royalty but that was a lie he made up.
Oh my god yes. I discovered the documentary a couple years ago just after the Broadway production had ended her in NYC, I'm still bummed I never got to see it. (the Broadway production) Maybe it will go back into production from renewed interest bc of the HBO film. CROSS YOUR FINGERS!!
"Hustling jalapeno dips to the apple seeds. Go on... Dismissed. Dismissed!"
the doc is available on amazon and is on ebay daily.
I have seen it and I am quite a fan of the ladies. I find them to be just odd enough to be interesting.
share
"I find them to be just odd enough to be interesting."
max,
they're very interesting! i just wish we had seen and learned more about them.
Of course they are interesting. They are eccentric but wise and although they lived in total despair, they had the fortitude to continue to have pride and class. I know they have a reputation as being a tad mental but I feel the whole world to be somewhat the same. There is a multitude of information on them for those who want to learn more although much of it has been tainted by those trying to make a buck off of their good name. I prefer to consult many sources of reference rather than depend on just a few.
share
"There is a multitude of information on them for those who want to learn more although much of it has been tainted by those trying to make a buck off of their good name. I prefer to consult many sources of reference rather than depend on just a few."
max,
what information are you referring to? do you mean the books that have been published?
Oh thanks lilypad183, but in the future I suggest you read the posting you're replying to...
"Hustling jalapeno dips to the apple seeds. Go on... Dismissed. Dismissed!"
sorry myth.
i just saw the documentary and one thing that was great about the mother and daughter was how much pride and belief they had in their opinions. in my opinion that's one of the things that made them so unique. most of the people i know just recite thier opinions but they don't really think about them or care about them. the beales genuinely did, and they were extraordianary for that. anyone else think so?
JUST ACCEPT IT!
"i just saw the documentary and one thing that was great about the mother and daughter was how much pride and belief they had in their opinions. in my opinion that's one of the things that made them so unique. most of the people i know just recite thier opinions but they don't really think about them or care about them. the beales genuinely did, and they were extraordianary for that. anyone else think so?"
kgdakota,
i totally agree with you. their love was truly admirable, they took pride in their lives and thoroughly enjoyed their relationship. they truly believed what they said and stood firm on it.
their eccentricity is unquestioned but the love, devotion and dedication to each other are something we can all imitate.
My bad lilypad... I was taking out some aggression on the wrong person. Sorry!!
"Hustling jalapeno dips to the apple seeds. Go on... Dismissed. Dismissed!"
I'm a big fan of the Maysles brothers and while I'm not addicted to it, I can understand why it has a big cult following. In addition to fans of documentary films, it appeals to outsiders, women who are intrigued by the mother-daughter relationship, and people with a fondness for camp. From what I understand, it's especially popular among filmgoers in the gay community.
sharesame here!!! great find for me...I loved both movies and now I'm getting The Beales of Grey Garden 2006, so I could see more....I'm hooked...
fantastic movie(the doc I mean)fantastic story and characters...they are almost too good to be true :)
great!!!!!!
"Ooo, she's so cold, sweetie! I'll just bet she has her period in cubes."
[deleted]
love your sig! where is it from?
"Ooo, she's so cold, sweetie! I'll just bet she has her period in cubes."
[deleted]
aladics,
if you already have both docs then you have everything there is. the 2006 is just the same, another edition.
if you want to talk gg, please pm me, i'd love to talk about it with you.
Since you are quite a fan, I'm wondering if you know where I can find the speech the producer gave at the Golden Globes (either video or transcript). I'm wondering how it was she described the original documentary when she was acknowledging it. Thanks!
I am not a Frankenstein. I'm a Fronkensteen.
For Miss_Frau_Blucher:
I'm wondering if you know where I can find the speech the producer gave at the Golden Globes (either video or transcript). I'm wondering how it was she described the original documentary when she was acknowledging it. Thanks!When GG won a Golden Globe for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Michael Sucsy, director and co-writer accepted the award. He said:
Has anyone been priveliged to see the play that was on Broadway a couple of years ago? I got the Grey Gardens Broadway soundtrack CD and the Book by Doug Wright and tried to follow it along. It was interesting. Great music for the play. Especially "Around The World".
shareI didn't see it, sadly. The timing was just a tad off IMO. If the HBO movie had come out before the play, I think it would have had a longer stay. However, I did hear recently that they are thinking about bringing the play back, but for the life of me I can't remember where I heard that.
Were you privileged to see the play? Also, you said you "tried to follow it along." How did that work out for you?
No sorry to say I didn't see the play. I am in fact a newby fan. I didn't know anything about it till I saw the HBO version. And since I have tried to devour all I could about it. If you google "grey Gardens" there is a Broadway web site with some of the songs you can listen to. It is "OK" listening to the songs and reading the book, works out pretty good. Somewhere I read they were thinking of doing the play in London. It has been several years so maybe a revival is not possible. Did the Documentary lead to the play and then to the HBO movie? In the beginning of the Doug Wright book it says how the Maysles were asked in 2000 about doing a musical. There is even part of a letter from little Edie to Al Maysles that she was thrilled by the possibility of a musical. The play finally was in 2006. Too bad she did not live to see it.
share
"In the beginning of the Doug Wright book it says how the Maysles were asked in 2000 about doing a musical. "
tody,
actually, david maysles died in 1987 so he wasn't included in the decision to do the play. he died far too early.
there were "artistic differences" involved in the closing of the play, they involved the "angels" who backed the play and the staff. there was talk for a while about moving it to london but those never materialized. funding is always a major problem.
there are ways of getting to see the play on dvd.
of course, the doc lead to everything, the doc is the real truth as the ladies were filmed. the play and the hbo movie followed the doc years later after a lot of writing and editing.
You are nitipicking again. I did not say DAVID. It was AL. Sometimes you take the fun out of Grey Gardens.
share
"In the beginning of the Doug Wright book it says how the Maysles were asked in 2000 about doing a musical. " "
tody,
don't snark at me for nitpicking, that's what you said. i didn't say it, you did." i just quoted you.
you're doing a nice job of taking the fun out of gg by misquoting yourself and others.
i don't like arguing but i like the facts to get out there.
Albert Maysles is still very involved with all things Grey Gardens. He was co-writer of the HBO movie, and there are some very nice interviews with him regarding the movie on the HBO Canada site but not on the American HBO site which I found interesting. There is also an interview with one of the producers who said they started working on the movie before the musical came out, but the movie took 6 years, so the musical did come out first. I wouldn't be surprised if Albert was asked to participate in the musical as well. If you check Youtube there's a red carpet interview with Albert and two of the movie producers. While I don't believe that everything in the movie is factual, it was based on Little Edies journals and pictures that were found, items that other family members didn't know existed. But I also believe that there are some scenes added for Hollywood purposes. I sure do wish I could get my hands on a copy of LE's journals! Now that would be interesting reading.
Lilypad is a very staunch GG fan. In fact, she helped direct me to books etc. to help me learn the truth. I am a relative newbie too, coompared to some of the others on this board. But I do believe that we are a family.
I hope that all of the other regular GG posters help welcome you to the addictive thing that is Grey Gardens!
I have to confess to a fascination with Little Edie, in particular. She's a bona fide original. I just got Talk to Her from Amazon because it has an interview with her in her later years. After seeing the new HBO film and revisiting the original documentary, I ordered The Beales of Grey Gardens 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.
shareYes, I can't believe I spent an hour and thirty five minutes of my life watching those two loons.
What is worse I have now visted several websites about the subject and even went so far as to look at the place through the eyes of Google Earth.
Seach Google Earth for 3 West End Road East Hampton and you can get a bird's eye view of the restored place.
I guess the book is next....gawd.