| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Auntie Mame (1958) |
| Director | Morton DaCosta |
| Writer | Betty Comden, Adolph Green — based on the novel by Patrick Dennis and the play by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee |
| Lead Actor | Rosalind Russell |
| Cast | Rosalind Russell, Forrest Tucker, Coral Browne, Fred Clark, Roger Smith, Peggy Cass, Patric Knowles, Joanna Barnes, Pippa Scott, Lee Patrick |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama |
| Release Date | December 27, 1958 (USA) |
| Duration | 2h 23m (143 minutes) |
| Budget | Approx. $2.5 million USD |
| Box Office | $23 million USD (worldwide) |
| Language | English |
| IMDb Rating | 8.0/10 |
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Certain movies rely almost entirely on the strength of the main character such as The Big Lebowski. There’s a story there somewhere, but it’s not as important as the study of The Dude as a character. We could follow him around on any given day and we’ve got ourselves a movie.
The same is true of Rosalind Russell’s portrayal of “Auntie” Mame Dennis. There is a story, but it’s inconsequential. What matters here is Mame, clearly a part that Russell was born to play.
We’re introduced to the hard-drinkin’ sass-talkin’ socialite by way of her nephew, Patrick, whom she adopts after his father’s death. Patrick is a naïve, short-pants-wearing, wide-eyed poindexter of a kid, played so close to perfection that you really want to throttle his throat everytime he opens his mouth to speak. (It’s a wonder this effeminate prettyboy grew up later in the movie to meet and fall for an actual woman!)
But it’s Mame whom we learn to love. Even at two and a half hours, with no end in sight, Mame captivates as she oozes charm. Having lost her fortunes in the Great Depression, Mame decides to go out and “Live!” by finding employment, and on more than one occasion, love.
The movie’s acts are finished with the actors holding their positions, as if on stage, while the lights employ a physical fadeout on their faces. It’s a bit jarring, but feels very homey, and contributes to the movie’s playlike feel.
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