Whos read auntie mame and the followup around the world with auntie mame by patrick dennis. She is the very personification of a trouper in those riding scenes even given the fact that stuntwoman audrey scott was her riding double. I remember the first time i saw rosalind russell give that dynamic, memorable performance as auntie mame. Three years later, thousands of fans celebrated her. According to the book but darling, im your auntie mame. The name of it is auntie mame and it should be causing much turbulence in this. She felt that rosalind russell had clearly gotten some of her inspiration for her performance in the nonmusical auntie mame 1958 from miss balls character on the tv series, i love lucy 1951. The upsons are shocked when vera points out that mame s book will be the raciest of the year, but are even more scandalized when they learn that agnes is unwed.
It is what it is a blissfully easytoread, unapologetically american social comedy, with enough perfectly timed, backhanded slaps at social snobbery, racism and antisemitism to redeem it from total silliness. Auntie mame is a 1958 american technicolor comedy film based on the 1955 novel of the same name by patrick dennis and its theatrical adaptation by jerome lawrence and robert edwin lee. I probably read the book when i was about 15 and loved it. Auntie mame by morton da costa morton da costa, rosalind.
Freespirited mame takes the boy on irreverent escapades through the bohemian 1920s, the ravages of the great depression, the tribulations of her many loves and her plea for social justice. Auntie mame, the book, is not just an inspiration but a hilarious, serious, sarcastic, bombastic, exceptional, tremendous and loving look at the life of one of those people you wish you had a chance to know personally. It was made into a play, a broadway and a hollywood musical, and a fabulous movie starring rosalind russell. Auntie mame was his most successful, making him a millionaire and a celebrity in new york. Tanner said that his book was based on his aunt, a reallife bon vivant and eccentric named marion tanner. The beginning of auntie mame struck me as excessively goofy. Lawrence and lee wrote the play for her, but she wanted them to close it down completely when she left to make the statement that there was no other mame but roz. Patrick dennis, author of the book and auntie mames fictional nephew, is a pseudonym for author edward everett tanner, iii. Auntie mame charles buschs specialty of playing classy ladies with a twist makes him an inspired choice to take on an iconic role in gay culture. Mame denniss eccentric, bohemian lifestyle is interrupted when her late brothers son is entrusted to her care. American comedy hit back in print in britain after european success dalya alberge. The loco in her parentis an eccentric, a free spirit and an unflaggingly openminded heroine, mame dennis taught more.
Lifes a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death. Auntie mame quizzes there are 28 questions on this topic. I guess it started out with entries to the readers digest. Auntie mame was based on the novel of the same name by edward everett tanner 3d, who wrote under the pen name patrick dennis the same name as mames nephew in the play. May 21, 2012 obtaining the book should not be difficult, as copies are readily available from a number of booksellers and libraries. Also, i find a lot of stylistic similarity between mame and the music man, also a warners technirama production directed by original broadway director. But i soon warmed to it, largely because of rosalind russells vivacious performance. Run along to ito and tell him to bring me a light breakfast black coffee and a side car. I read dennis book and i have to stress that anyone who loves this film but who has not read the book should read it. The wonderful staircase in auntie mame s beekman place apartment was a standing set at warner brothers used in over 14 films between 1948 and the early 1960s. Charles busch, author of the tale of the allergists wife and vampire lesbians of sodom auntie mame is the american alice in wonderland. In the 1950s there was a famous stage version and still more famous film version, both starring the illustrious rosalind russell.
A lost classic turned down by 19 publishers before becoming one of the bestselling american books. Book reflects on overlooked role of aunts the complete book of aunts covers everything from aunts in literature and film, to remembrances from nieces and nephews who had unusual relationships with. Jul 27, 2016 tilda swinton is remaking auntie mame, darling. In chronological vignettes, the narrator also named patrick recalls his adventures growing up under the wing of his madcap aunt, mame dennis. Here youve been taking my dictations for weeks and you havent gotten the message of my book. With an introduction by paul rudnick and a swank new cover, auntie mame is back in print, the classic novel that introduced the world to americas most madcap, funloving, and irresistible aunt. Patrick dennis, the author of the original book, was bisexual and married to a woman, but well known in the greenwich village gay scene. A classic musical based on the novel auntie mame by patrick dennis and the play auntie mame by jerome lawrence and robert e. Lost classic auntie mame revived after 50year gap books the.
Its far funnier and frankly, far better than the lucile ball musical remake, mame, but its nowhere near as charming. Mame is an unconventional individualist socialite from the roaring 20s. Buy a cheap copy of around the world with auntie mame book by patrick dennis. Jan 19, 2016 mame is one of the iconic figures of american literature and the novel was one of the bestselling books of the twentieth century. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. An irreverent escapade 1955 was one of the bestselling american books of the 20th century. Auntie mame, a novel by patrick dennisvanguard press. In 1955, auntie mame spent 112 weeks on the new york times bestseller list, but that was only her first act. You truly do not want to miss out on some of the worlds best writing. Click here to sign up to the irish times book club. If there was one part i would give my soul to do, its this one. Originally titled my best girl, it is based on the 1955 novel auntie mame by patrick dennis and a 1956 broadway play, by lawrence and lee, that starred rosalind russell. This 1958 film version permits rosalind russell to recreate her stage role as mame dennis, the flamboyant, devilmaycare aunt of. Auntie mame original, play, comedy, broadway opened in new york city oct 31, 1956 and played through jun 28, 1958.
And now patrick denniss dazzling novel auntie mameis back in print on this side of the. Why auntie mame has resonated with generations of gay men. I suspect the episodic framework of the novel is due to mr dennis satirizing the format and content of readers digest magazine, which was composed of short, upbeat pieces about safely conventional people and social mores. It was made into a play, a broadway as well as a hollywood musical, and a fabulous movie starring rosalind russell. Im currently reading auntie mamewhat a riotous romp. Lucille balls involvement in this film began in an interesting way. Mame is one of the iconic figures of american literature and the novel was one of the bestselling books of the twentieth century. Jul 24, 2010 lost classic auntie mame revived after 50year gap this article is more than 9 years old. Aug 18, 2016 originally created by novelist patrick dennis in 1955, the story of auntie mame has resonated with generations of gay men and a new film adaptation starring tilda swinton may be on its way. Tanner was no longer telling interviewers that his aunt marion was the model for auntie mame, whose wacky adventures were chroncicled in the book.
Auntie mame is a 1955 novel by patrick dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, patrick, growing up as the ward of the sister of his dead father. Patrick dennis famous auntie mame has so many incarnations that it can be hard to keep track. Auntie mame began as a novel by patrick dennis aka ed fitzgerald, then was adapted into a longrunning broadway play by jerome lawrence and robert e. With a wit as sharp as a vodka stinger and a heart as free as her spirit, auntie mame burst onto the literary scene in 1955and today remains one of the most unforgettable characters in contemporary fiction. Mame dennis is a fictional character in the book, auntie mame by author patrick dennis, whos real name was edward everett tanner iii. Auntie mame was a handsome, sparkling, scatterbrained and warmhearted lady who brightened the american landscape from 1928 to the immediate past by her whimsical this fabulously successful hit hardly needs introduction. Marion tanner, known as model for mame the new york times.
I dont know quite where she came from, but auntie mame appeared one day in a stack of old paperback books i. One, dated july 14, 1929, features such random terms as. Well, ill never get away with that as a proper book report. His golf clubs and my old books and toys were sent off to a charity. I have always loved the movie auntie mame with rosalind russell and i have the soundtrack from the musical with angela landsbury. Risque is a word not often used today, but it applies in full force to auntie mame the book and the character.
This film version stars rosalind russell and was directed by morton dacosta. There has been quite a discussion in another thread about stereo tracks for auntie mame. Auntie mame was a handsome, sparkling, scatterbrained and warmhearted lady who brightened the american landscape from 1928 to the immediate past by her whimsical besides being the source for one of americas most popular musicals, auntie mame set a standard for broadway comedy thats been sought after ever since. Auntie mame is a witty, hilarious and charming skewering of all that was conventional and pretentious in american life from the 1920s until the 1950s. Edward everett tanner iii 18 may 1921 6 november 1976, known by the pseudonym patrick dennis, was an american author. A team of editors takes feedback from our visitors to keep trivia as up to date and as accurate as possible. That was all over by the time she hit mourning becomes electra which was a good ten years before auntie mame.
Fans hold earnest discussions as to the propriety of the southern scenes there was a whole thread going on all that chat about the southern part of mame and if we could now still do it. An irreverent escapade is a 1955 novel by american author patrick dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, patrick, growing up as the ward of the sister of his dead father, his aunt mame dennis. Flamboyance, indulgence, and hilarious adventure are entertainingly amalgamated into patrick denniss much beloved rare book, auntie mame. July 30, 2008 an eccentric, a free spirit and an unflaggingly openminded heroine, mame dennis taught more. Through all of her adventures, mame s true loyalty lies with patrick, and his with her and together, they remind everyone that life is a banquet, and most poor sonsofbitches are starving to death. This book by patrick dennis is about his auntie mame.
Rosalind russell is auntie mame and there is no doubt in my mind that she being cast in the role was a perfect choice. If it feels good and doesnt harm anyone, go for it. Every page sparkles with wit, style andthough mame would cringe at the thoughthigh moral purpose. Perhaps its mame s flamboyant life is a banquet attitude, perhaps its her clothes, perhaps its her perseverance in the face of adversity. Read the full synopsis of auntie mame, 1958, directed by morton dacosta, with rosalind russell, forrest tucker, coral browne, at turner classic movies. Tanner was no longer telling interviewers that his aunt marion was the model for auntie mame, whose wacky adventures were chroncicled in the book that was on bestseller lists. Auntie mame was based on the novel of the same name by edward everett tanner 3d, who wrote under the pen name patrick dennis the same name as mame s nephew in the play. Lost classic auntie mame revived after 50year gap books. Auntie mame by jerome lawrence goodreads share book. An irreverent escapade is one of my favorite books. From play, to film, to broadway musical, auntie mame is a madcap joyride for audiences of all ages. An irreverent escapade by patrick dennis goodreads.
Young patrick dennis, orphaned at the age of 9, is sent to live with his. Sign in or create your guardian account to join the discussion. Rosalind russell in auntie mame auntie mame has lots of memorable lines, including the famous, life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death. However, patricks father has designated an executor to his will to protect the boy from absorbing too much of mame s rather unconventional perspective. The original 1958 auntie mame was a comedy book and film, but not a musical untill the 1966 broadway play, mame. Mame 1974 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Auntie mame is the most refreshingly wonderful loving brilliant articulate woman who still sees the world as a place to be explored and who marvels in her own unique way and its wonders. Conflict ensues when the executor of his fathers estate objects to the aunts lifestyle. Lets hope patrick dennis is finally recognized for what he is. Through the eyes of her young nephew, patrick, the boisterous and wildly eccentric figure mame is sketched. Then norah took the pictures of my mother and auntie mame out of their frames and cut them. Not quite a bad girl but deliciously naughty and so very much fun. Auntie mame received so much success after it was written in fact, that patrick dennis wrote a sequel to the novel, around the world with auntie mame in.
Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital. An eccentric, a free spirit and an unflaggingly openminded heroine, mame dennis taught more than one protege including nprs bob. Movies ac this category is for questions and answers related to auntie mame, as asked by users of. Around the world with auntie mame book by patrick dennis. An irreverent escapade and millions of other books are available for instant access. Auntie mame is a unique literary achievementa brilliant novel disguised as a lightweight piece of fluff. I reread and study auntie mame like a hilarious, glamorous bible where, among other wise lessons, one learns that true sophistication and innocence are two halves of the same glittering coin. Theyre a series of chapters, each one with a different adventure. Hurricanes may be out of season, but one blew into the music hall yesterday, along with the christmas stage show. The loco in her parentis an eccentric, a free spirit and an unflaggingly openminded heroine, mame dennis taught more than one protege including nprs bob mondello. Auntie mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the new york times bestseller list for 112 weeks. Mame is a 1974 technicolor musical film in panavision based on the 1966 broadway musical of the same name itself based on the 1958 film auntie mame and the 1955 novel auntie mame by patrick dennis. The book is often described as having been inspired by dennis reallife eccentric aunt, marion tanner. Auntie mame is the funniest movie to come out of the 1950s.
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