Mame (1974)

Director:

Gene Saks

Writers:

Patrick Dennis (novel)
Jerome Lawrence (play)

Release Date:

27 March 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Tagline:

She'll coax the blues right out of your heart!

Plot:

The musical revolves around the antics of Mame Dennis, a fun-loving, wealthy eccentric with a flare for life and a razor sharp wit...

Plot Keywords:

Aunt | Friendship Between Women | Heavily Pregnant Mother | Christmas | Aunt Nephew Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes.

Cast

Lucille Ball	...	Mame Dennis
Bea Arthur	...	Vera Charles
Robert Preston	...	Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside
Bruce Davison	...	The Older Patrick
Kirby Furlong	...	Young Patrick
Jane Connell	...	Agnes Gooch
Joyce Van Patten	...	Sally Cato
Doria Cook-Nelson	...	Gloria Upson (as Doria Cook)
Don Porter	...	Mr. Upson
Audrey Christie	...	Mrs. Upson
John McGiver	...	Mr. Babcock
Bobbie Jordan	...	Pegeen (as Bobbi Jordan)
Patrick Labyorteaux	...	Peter
Lucille Benson	...	Mother Burnside
Ruth McDevitt	...	Cousin Fan

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:A (theatrical) | UK:PG (video rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Bob Hope Airport - 2627 Hollywood Way, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

Madeline Kahn was originally cast as Agnes Gooch but was replaced right after shooting began. She was later told that when she reported for work on the set, star Lucille Ball took one look at her, realized that Kahn's curvaceous body could never be made to look like the frumpy, somewhat shapeless Agnes Gooch, and had her fired. Some sources claim that Kahn got herself fired on purpose so she could star in Blazing Saddles (1974) and still get paid, which by her contract wouldn't have happened if she'd merely quit.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Mame, Agnes, Ito, and Patrick are preparing to dine with Beau, Mame remarks, "I never thought Santa Claus would look so much like Rhett Butler." This part of the movie is set in the early Great Depression, well before Gone with the Wind (1939) or even the book (1936) was released.

Quotes:

Vera: I have an astronomical discovery for you. The man in the moon is a bitch.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Sinister Urge (#7.13)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Gooch's Song

Abysmal!

I love Lucy, but this movie is so wretchedly bad that I was squirming in embarrassment for all concerned within the first ten minutes . . . and it just got worse from there. Lucille Ball's "singing" is downright painful and the attempts to make her appear more youthful through the use of soft focus had me reaching for my reading glasses. It's bombs like this that give bombs a bad name.