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 4 wins & 6 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:

aunt nephew relationship | guardian | nonconformity | mountain climbing | experimental school | 

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Taglines:

All Set to Convulse America All Over Again!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Russian Hindi

Release Date:

27 December 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ma tante

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$2,240,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$23,300,000

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

A sidecar is a cocktail consisting of cognac, triple sec, and lemon juice.

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Goofs

When Mame enters the Marie Antoinette bedroom saying "Vera, I am about to be attacked by the Knickerbocker Bank," the veil is pinned to the left side of Vera's head. A second later, it is on the right side.

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Quotes

Vera Charles: [brightly, eyeing the bar] Spirits!

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Connections

Referenced in High School Musical 2 (2007)

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Soundtracks

O Come, All Ye Faithful
(ca 1743) (uncredited)
(aka "Adeste Fidelis")
Music attributed to John Reading (16xx)
Latin lyrics by John Francis Wade (ca 1743)
English lyrics by Frederick Oakeley (1841)
Played and sung at Macy's department store

User Reviews

Mame is Alive

St. Iranaeous said it: "The glory of God is man fully alive."

Auntie Mame in her own way lives this life. This may not appear to be a deep movie. But, Mame lives a life that as Agnes Gooch says "I see what she's been living. And I see what I've been missing." She doesn't miss a moment. She's a caricature for so many of the things that go wrong with "growing up" and becoming "mature and responsible". At the end of the day Mame shows the possibilities of a life led to the full. Of a life that is truly vital and alive. This is a movie everyone who wants to leave this world without leaving money on the table should watch and take to heart. Mame is childlike, fun, and living without fear of what others think. This is on my top 10 list.