Lucille Ball talks about Mame — Page 2

"besides Griffin coming off as Ms. Sycophant 1974:

He was practically sitting in her lap.

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MAME has a bigger problem.

Everyone talks about Ball's age and singing -- but they are minor annoyances; the chilly interpretation is not in sync with the material, or the character's worldview. It's one thing to play Mame as a sophisticate who doesn't suffer fools. Yet Ball played her as something Mame never can be: a cynic. She employed her own wry, mildly irritated Ball personna and ended up like some perpetually grouchy, rich granny.

When she tried to downshift and play sweet with the child or worse still, romance with Preston, she gave us that half-open mouth, gulp, frozen smile, another gulp thing that really is cloying to watch. Canned, phony, and a last resort when she couldn't summon up something genuine. (The heart melting responses she gave Ricki Ricardo after he forgave her for setting the kitchen on fire or crashing show girl auditions.) She was frankly at sea finding the Mame character -- without help from anyone -- so the songs end up the least of the sins committed.

Mame's zest for life must be absolute, underneath the line readings, in her eyes. Ball looked world-weary and even mildly bored by life, not in love with living. It didn't work, and dubbed or kicking her heels over he head, it would've still been a sour take on a character who's underlying optimism -- not the phony kind, the innate sort in the DNA -- must permeate every action.

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She might've been a damned good Madame Armfeldt in NIGHT MUSIC. The haughtiness, the look, everything would've worked.

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I've tried to like the movie version of MAME. I just can't stomach it. It's awful. I don't care if Bea Arthur and Jane Connell reprised their original Broadway roles, so did most of the cast of RENT. Arthur and Connell couldn't save the film if they tried. The kid (whathisname) is annoying. I had it in my hand on day at Border's contemplating the purchase. I held it while browsing around and then I just couldn't bring myself to make that purchase...it's not even bad in a good way like say, VALLEY OF THE DOLLS....it just stinks all around.

"Mame" and the "Hello, Dolly!" are my 2 favorite films. I first saw "Mame" back in 1974, when it premiered here in Hollywood at The Cinerama Dome. I was 8 years old at the time, and to see "Lucy" up on the big screen singing and dancing was such an amazing experience for me.

Reruns of "I Love Lucy" used to be on channel 11 at 7pm and I would always stay up and watch them. So, to see Lucy in a film was heaven on earth.

Of course, now that I'm somewhat older.........ha, ha....I realize that Lucy wasn't, perhaps, the best choice for the film. But, I don't care. Whenever I see it, it takes me to a magical place and makes me feel good. The direction of the film is slow in some parts, her timing isn't what it used to be. But, none the less. I'll defend it to my dying day.

The same with "Hello, Dolly!" Barbra never looked or sounded better. When she's on the screen, she completely dominates the scene. You can't take your eyes off of her. And, I mean that I a good way...to all the naysayers out there. Crawford probably wasn't the best choice for Cornelius.

I wish that the dvd version of "Mame" had more extras on it. When "Mame" would air on tv, the salty dialouge was dubbed over, so comparisons to the tv version and the theatrical version would have been fun to see. TONS of publicity and interviews were done with "Mame." None of that is on the dvd. When "Mame" had it's Hollywood Premiere, Merv Griffin did an entire episode on the premiere. That's not on the dvd, either.

Updated On: 1/30/08 at 05:29 PM

Yes, they are my all time faves.

You are absolutely right, whenever Angela gets asked why she never did the film version of "Mame," she answers very elegantly, "Because, I was never asked."

And, as we all know movies are based on who will sell tickets, who will make the most money.

I hear you loud and clear on that. Since the film studios are using their own money to make a film, they should decide who should star in their own films. And, since Lucy put a big chunk of her own money in the film, she got it. It's so rare that a person who orginates a role on Broadway, can redo it on the big screen. It happens, but not that often.

Another reason why I love "Mame" so much, is because the life size oil portrait of Mame Dennis that hangs at the top of her staircase in the film, I own. I bought it at an auction 14 years ago here in Los Angeles.

The owner of painting was a dancer in the film, and he got it after the film wrapped in 1973. He past away in 1993, his sister didn't want it, I found out about it and had the opportunity to buy it for $1,000. At the time I couldn't afford it, as Streisand had just announced that she was doing New Year's Eve & New Year's Day at the brand new MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, and I had just bought tickets to both shows.

Fast forward to February 1994, and the sister got in contact with me again, offering $1,000. I had to think about it, and by the time I got back to her, an auction company had come in and taken all the remaining furniture pieces, including the painting - my time had past, it was too late. The auction company had no idea what it was. The opening bid was $20 and I got it for $200.

Christies Auction company recently appraised it for $13,000. It's hanging in my foyer, and it's quite the conversation piece!

Updated On: 1/30/08 at 06:17 PM

I Love Lucy but not her Mame.

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