My second choice for this month, Jessica's selection, is a movie I love. I want to be Auntie Mame.
I love strong female characters, the ones that are independent and are going to do what they want to do as opposed to what society thinks they should do. She's a single, never married woman who travels and has a lavish career and social life in the arts. She's so cultured and open to ideas and people. A bold move for a 60s movie.
Sure, it takes her some time to figure out a balance between keeping her life and raising a kid, but I think she did okay. She's not going to be your typical stay at home mom, and I respected that.
Like Lizzy Bennett, I look up to characters like this. Not so much the people who beat to their own drum, but the ones who drum the beat that is right for them.
This movie is wonderful in and of itself, but it also holds a special place in my heart because of how I first came to know of it.
During the Summer of 1990, Lisa and I stayed with our Aunt Pat in Edinburg while our mom went to Austin in search of a house. That was a pretty craptacular time in my life, since we had to leave New Jersey in the middle of the school year, due to our parents' divorce. I did not like living in the Valley; talk about culture shock! But even though I was a pretty big weirdo, especially by Valley standards, Aunt Pat didn't judge me. In fact, she went out of her way to spend a lot of time with me.
Anyway, one day she asked if I had ever seen "Auntie Mame" and once she heard that no, I hadn't, she marched right to the video rental place and picked it up so we could watch it together. That's one of my fondest memories, during a time when I wasn't experiencing a whole lot of happiness.
So, the movie! Rosalind Russell was so amazing! She obviously (hee hee!) had a great time bringing that character to life. And as for the character, yeah, she is definitely someone to aspire to. And not just because she has such a lust for life, but because she was so quickly able to embrace her guardianship of Patrick--i.e. she had a great big ol' heart (which was evidenced in other ways as well, not just in the case for her nephew).
So, favorite scenes? I loooove when she meets the family of fiance Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside! I was awfully sorry that he had to go and fall off that mountain! And any scene with Agnes Gooch cracked me up, especially after she gets pregnant. Lisa, you mentioned that the portrayal of Mame's lifestyle was a bold move for the time (a bit earlier than the 60s, though), and that's what I always think about Agnes' storyline and how she got knocked up.
There is a musical version, called "Mame!" that stars Lucille Ball and Bea Arthur. I accidentally saw it thinking it was the original with RR. Nnnnnnope! I hated it! But I don't know if that's because it truly was lame, or if I was just unable to get past that fact that it wasn't Rosalind. Sorry Lucille, you didn't cut it!
I, also, need to watch this movie again. The scene that stuck out to me the most was when, early on in the guardianship, I believe, she has that party with tons of people from the theater and the art gallery, just a room full of very colorful people. Her nephew comes in, totally shocked by what he sees, and Auntie acts like it's no big deal.
The world is filled with tons of people, and the sooner you get used to it, the sooner you can enjoy the array of experiences that includes these people.
Aunt Pat, Aunt Jane, and Aunt Marie were some amazing women when we first moved down to the valley. I always felt welcomed and part of the family with them. I remember the big sleep over night at Aunt Pat and Uncle Bill's when we watched Gone with the Wind (first and only time I've seen it), or the many nights we would play Uno.
My second choice for this month, Jessica's selection, is a movie I love. I want to be Auntie Mame.
ReplyDeleteI love strong female characters, the ones that are independent and are going to do what they want to do as opposed to what society thinks they should do. She's a single, never married woman who travels and has a lavish career and social life in the arts. She's so cultured and open to ideas and people. A bold move for a 60s movie.
Sure, it takes her some time to figure out a balance between keeping her life and raising a kid, but I think she did okay. She's not going to be your typical stay at home mom, and I respected that.
Like Lizzy Bennett, I look up to characters like this. Not so much the people who beat to their own drum, but the ones who drum the beat that is right for them.
This movie is wonderful in and of itself, but it also holds a special place in my heart because of how I first came to know of it.
ReplyDeleteDuring the Summer of 1990, Lisa and I stayed with our Aunt Pat in Edinburg while our mom went to Austin in search of a house. That was a pretty craptacular time in my life, since we had to leave New Jersey in the middle of the school year, due to our parents' divorce. I did not like living in the Valley; talk about culture shock! But even though I was a pretty big weirdo, especially by Valley standards, Aunt Pat didn't judge me. In fact, she went out of her way to spend a lot of time with me.
Anyway, one day she asked if I had ever seen "Auntie Mame" and once she heard that no, I hadn't, she marched right to the video rental place and picked it up so we could watch it together. That's one of my fondest memories, during a time when I wasn't experiencing a whole lot of happiness.
So, the movie! Rosalind Russell was so amazing! She obviously (hee hee!) had a great time bringing that character to life. And as for the character, yeah, she is definitely someone to aspire to. And not just because she has such a lust for life, but because she was so quickly able to embrace her guardianship of Patrick--i.e. she had a great big ol' heart (which was evidenced in other ways as well, not just in the case for her nephew).
So, favorite scenes? I loooove when she meets the family of fiance Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside! I was awfully sorry that he had to go and fall off that mountain! And any scene with Agnes Gooch cracked me up, especially after she gets pregnant. Lisa, you mentioned that the portrayal of Mame's lifestyle was a bold move for the time (a bit earlier than the 60s, though), and that's what I always think about Agnes' storyline and how she got knocked up.
There is a musical version, called "Mame!" that stars Lucille Ball and Bea Arthur. I accidentally saw it thinking it was the original with RR. Nnnnnnope! I hated it! But I don't know if that's because it truly was lame, or if I was just unable to get past that fact that it wasn't Rosalind. Sorry Lucille, you didn't cut it!
I really need to watch this movie again.
Ugh. At the end of the 4th paragraph, I meant to say "not just in the case OF her nephew"
ReplyDeleteP.S. Lisa, I love the last line of your post. Well said!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you!
ReplyDeleteI, also, need to watch this movie again. The scene that stuck out to me the most was when, early on in the guardianship, I believe, she has that party with tons of people from the theater and the art gallery, just a room full of very colorful people. Her nephew comes in, totally shocked by what he sees, and Auntie acts like it's no big deal.
The world is filled with tons of people, and the sooner you get used to it, the sooner you can enjoy the array of experiences that includes these people.
Aunt Pat, Aunt Jane, and Aunt Marie were some amazing women when we first moved down to the valley. I always felt welcomed and part of the family with them. I remember the big sleep over night at Aunt Pat and Uncle Bill's when we watched Gone with the Wind (first and only time I've seen it), or the many nights we would play Uno.