The Beales of Grey Gardens (2006)

Directors:

Albert Maysles
David Maysles

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Utilizing hours of unseen archival footage, The Beales is a new take on the women of Grey Gardens.

Cast

Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale	...	Herself
Edith Bouvier Beale	...	Herself
Albert Maysles	...	Himself
David Maysles	...	Himself
Jerry Torre	...	Himself
Lois Wright	...	Herself

Directed by
Albert Maysles
David Maysles

Produced by
Kim Hendrickson	....	producer
Tanja Meding	....	producer

Cinematography by
Albert Maysles

Film Editing by
Ian Markiewicz

Sound Department
David Maysles	....	sound recordist
Anne Pope	....	sound re-recording mixer

Editorial Department
Caitlin Harris	....	assistant editor
Noëlle Penraat	....	negative preparation (as Noelle Penraat)
Chris Ramey	....	on-line editor
Annie Venesky	....	assistant editor

Thanks
Max Cavanaugh	....	special thanks
Michael Chaiken	....	special thanks
Molly Fair	....	special thanks
Susan Frömke	....	special thanks (as Susan Froemke)
Liliana Greenfield-Sanders	....	special thanks (as Lily Greenfield-Sanders)
Adam Markiewicz	....	special thanks
Alison Markiewicz	....	special thanks
Muffie Meyer	....	special thanks
Jerry Torre	....	special thanks (as Gerard Joseph Torre)
Lois Wright	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Maysles Films

Distributors

• Maysles Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Diamond Time  music clearances

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Certification:

USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

East Hampton, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Maysles Films

Trivia:

Early in the film there is a conversation between Little Edie and the Maysles brothers in which they speculate on who might play the two Edies in a dramatized movie version of their lives. Little Edie says she doesn't want any actress to play her. Off screen, one of the Maysles brothers suggests Ethel Barrymore for the role of Big Edie. Ethel Barrymore was the great-aunt of actress 'Drew Barrymore', who ultimately played Little Edie in the 2009 dramatized movie Grey Gardens (2009) (TV).

Quotes:

Edith 'Big Edie' Bouvier Beale:I went to Mass up until the time I was 28 years old!
Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale:That's how she got so fat, not getting up on Sunday to go to Mass.
Edith 'Big Edie' Bouvier Beale:Oh! What a whopper!
Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale:It keeps you very thin!
Edith 'Big Edie' Bouvier Beale:I'm not going to church to keep thin! I'm going to go because I love the Lord!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding (2011)

Soundtrack:

V.M.I. March

The Beales of Grey Gardens (2006)

Certainly the easiest way to put this is if you liked GREY GARDENS, you'll like this, and if you didn't, it's not going to change your mind. A pastiche of outtakes for those who love Edith and Edie, it's a mellower selection of clips which are all pretty captivating, thanks mostly to Edie's larger than life personality. I think I could listen to her talk and ramble on all day long. This is a less revealing and focused film than its predecessor, however... the scenes are shorter on average, focusing less on the odd family dynamic and history, and more on the amusing. Still, it's a treat for fans of the Beales.

7/10