Auntie Mame (1958)

An orphan goes to live with his free-spirited aunt. Conflict ensues when the executor of his father's estate objects to the aunt's lifestyle.

Director:

Morton DaCosta

Writers:

Betty Comden (screenplay), Adolph Green (screenplay),

Stars:

Rosalind Russell, Forrest Tucker, Coral Browne

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rosalind Russell	...	Mame Dennis
Forrest Tucker	...	Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside
Coral Browne	...	Vera Charles
Fred Clark	...	Dwight Babcock
Roger Smith	...	Patrick Dennis - Older
Patric Knowles	...	Lindsay Woolsey
Peggy Cass	...	Agnes Gooch
Jan Handzlik	...	Patrick Dennis - Younger
Joanna Barnes	...	Gloria Upson
Pippa Scott	...	Pegeen Ryan
Lee Patrick	...	Doris Upson
Willard Waterman	...	Claude Upson
Robin Hughes	...	Brian O'Bannion
Connie Gilchrist	...	Norah Muldoon
Yuki Shimoda	...	Ito

Storyline

Mame is an unconventional individualist socialite from the roaring 20's. When her brother dies, she is forced to raise her nephew Patrick. However, Patrick's father has designated an executor to his will to protect the boy from absorbing too much of Mame's rather unconventional perspective. Patrick and Mame become devoted to each other in spite of this restriction, and together journey through Patrick's childhood and the great depression, amidst some rather zaney adventures.

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Plot Keywords:

nephew | socialite | guardian | orphan | love | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 December 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die tolle Tante

Filming Locations:

Stage 11, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,240,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

143 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rosalind Russell broke her ankle in the first take of the scene where she comes flying down the stairs in the gown with the capri pants - shooting had to be delayed until she recovered.

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Goofs

In the final scene, Mame reads a telegram and the written telegram is filmed as it is being read. They mention the date, "June 31st". There are only 30 days in June. This is intentional. When Patrick shows up to Mame's at the beginning, Mame says that he wasn't supposed to arrive until September 31st and is then informed there are only 30 days in September.

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Quotes

Patrick Dennis: [walking with Mame after Mame's remarkable sidesaddle horseback ride during a fox hunt] Can I ask you just one question? How did you stay on that horse?
Auntie Mame: It was just like New Haven with the bracelets. I got stuck, but at the other end.

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Connections

Featured in The Lady in Question Is Charles Busch (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Old Folks at Home (Swanee River)"
(1851) (uncredited)
Written by Stephen Foster
In the score at Beauregard's Plantation

User Reviews

Welcome to life's banquet!

Rosalind Russel in the role of a lifetime. Auntie Mame leads her beloved nephew on a roller-coaster ride from riches to rags back to riches, always teaching the boy to "live life to the fullest". The story begins just prior to the great stock market crash of 1929 and spins into present day (1958).

There are delightful moments with colorful characters, most noteworthy "Miss Gooch", an unwed mother and thus an outcast of respectable society. There are several touching scenes when the family is suffering in the great depression, but just as many funny ones, i. e. where Auntie Mame puts some biggoted snobs in their place.

I enjoyed this film slightly more than the later Lucille Ball musical version. Although Rosalind Russel is quite flamboyant, Lucille Ball is completely "over the top" and thus less credible. I recommend the 1958 original over the remake, although both are wonderful entertainment.