Grey Gardens (2009)

The lives of Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith, aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Director:

Michael Sucsy

Writers:

Michael Sucsy (teleplay), Patricia Rozema (teleplay)

Stars:

Drew Barrymore, Jessica Lange, Jeanne Tripplehorn

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 32 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Drew Barrymore	...	Little Edie
Jessica Lange	...	Big Edie
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Jackie O.
Ken Howard	...	Phelan Beale
Kenneth Welsh	...	Max Gordon
Arye Gross	...	Albert Maysles
Louis Ferreira	...	David Maysles (as Justin Louis)
Daniel Baldwin	...	Julius 'Cap' Krug
Malcolm Gets	...	George 'Gould' Strong
Louis Grise	...	Young Buddy (as Louis Grisé)
Joshua Peace	...	Adult Buddy
Neil Babcock	...	Young Phelan Jr.
Ben Carlson	...	Adult Phelan Jr.
Olivia Waldriff	...	Young Jackie
Neil Girvan	...	Concierge

Storyline

In 1973, documentary filmmaking brothers Albert Maysles and David Maysles decide to change the focus of their latest project from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to her aunt and older cousin, mother and daughter Edith Bouvier Beale - called Big Edie - and Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale, who were found living in squalor and isolation in the longtime family mansion, Grey Gardens, in East Hampton, New York. Through flashbacks starting in 1936, the path mother and daughter take from their socialite past to the time that the Mayles brothers show their completed film is shown. Big Edie's husband/Little Edie's father, Phelan Beale, controlled the family money, which included providing singing lessons to Big Edie with musician Gould Strong, with who she had more than a musical interest. Big Edie saw herself as a singer, first and foremost. Mother and father also controlled Little Edie's life, they who wanted her to stay at Grey Gardens rather than pursue her dream of becoming a professional ...

---

Plot Keywords:

new york city | singing | filmmaking | eccentric | documentary filmmaking | 

---

Taglines:

True glamour never fades

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Drew Barrymore's heavy makeup caused facial allergies.

---

Quotes

Phelan Beale: Damn Ganymede.
George 'Gould' Strong: I'm right here Phelan, I can hear you!

---

Crazy Credits

At the end of the credits, where the American Humane Society's traditional credit is displayed, Little Edie's voice adds "No animals were harmed in the making of this movie."

---

Connections

Featured in The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards (2009)

---

Soundtracks

Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
from the musical "Show Boat"
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Performed by Jessica Lange

User Reviews

I have SEEN the full unedited version of this !!

I have to say that I was as dubious about this project as anyone Else...

Some one was remaking a documentary as a drama ?!? when the documentary may be the most perfect movie I have ever seen ?!? But in all seriousness this movie takes the subject firmly in hand and KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE PARK !!! ITS Brilliant !!! First off you can tell it was written by a true lover of the original, secondly Drew and Jessica are almost indistinguishable from there real counterparts.

I cant say more with out giving stuff away but this my be the best thing I have seen in years !

As Lil Edie would say ...."Its Absolutely Terrific"

Details

Official Sites:

HBO

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 April 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Grey Gardens

Filming Locations:

Centre Island, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films, Specialty Films (II), Locomotive

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1