Mame on DVD- Page 2

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/10/07 at 1:09pm

JohnBoy2...yes, the clip of Angela singing TMM on The Oscars the year it was nominated is BRILLIANT!!!! I believe it was 1 or 2 years after she left "Mame" on Broadway. Angela was at the peak of her beauty and her talent. One of the reasons she did the telecast, was to show the world...and the studio heads sitting in the audience that night, that she was fully capable of doing the film version of "Mame." Of course, it never happened.

I have "Mame" on audio cassette from a tv broadcast of it from the early 80's....long before vcrs were a household item. It's "cleaned up" a bit for the tv airing. Mame doesn't say "sons of bitches." She says "poor soles." Also, Vera doesn't say, "I have an astromonical discovery for you. The man in the moon is a bitch." She says, "I told you you didn't have any talent when we were in the chorus together."

Vera's "Thank God I never put anything aside" is cut.

The dvd comes out on June 19th.....CAN'T WAIT!!! I love, love, love, love, love this movie!

[Glebb]

Posted: 6/10/07 at 7:21pm

It really is quite brilliant.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 3:18pm

Didn't Here's Lucy do a Mame tie-in? I seem to recall Lucy and "the kids" running into a wigged-for-Mame Lucy. Lots of potential for extras.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 3:20pm

Same as the "Dolly" DVD. There were a lot of screen tests, premiere coverage, etc that could have been added but we got none of that. I'm still waiting for a "special edition" of that film.

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 3:40pm

Jimnysf...couldn't agree more with you on HD. It should be out on a double dvd "special edition." I saw the film a few years back in Hollywood. Jerry Herman did a Q&A after the screening. He said it was the first time that he had seen the film, in a theatre, since it premiered in 1969. It was a restored print....the color was extraordinary.

Again, all 20th Century Fox had to do, was dig a little deeper into their vaults to find HD stuff for the dvd. But, when you've got people in charge of video/dvd who don't have any common sense when it comes to releasing "extras," that's what will happen.


Yes, "Here's Lucy" had "Mamesque" episode.
Updated On: 6/23/07 at 03:40 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 6:47pm

I haven't gotten my Mame yet (it's on order) but I did watch Night Music a couple of weeks ago.
I now see why everyone hates it. The move had absolutely no pulse. Was Liz sleepwalking? Gingold was the only redeeming factor.

Updated On: 6/23/07 at 06:47 PM

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/24/07 at 12:53am

I've never seen "A Little Night Music." From what I understand from all the postings on the dvd, it's not a restored print or anything. That's too bad. That's sort of the whole point with dvd to get it clear and sharp.

The "Mame" dvd is clear and sharp.....sharpest I've ever seen it look.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:00am

I saw that thread too and while it's not the best transfer, it's not that bad. It looked fairly clean to me. And I tend to be pretty critical of picture quality.
if you're a completist I wouldn't let that stop you from getting it.
If you're just curious, I really can't reccomend it. But only b/c it's just not very good, bot b/c of the picture.

[jondouglas]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 3:27pm

I picked up MAME on dvd this weekend at Best Buy near me. It was the first time that I saw it and it wasn't so awful that everyone says it is. Kirby Furlong as younger Patrick was pretty bland, though. It's as if they were filming it like the musical......with long pauses between the lines where the laughs should be. That does slow it down a bit......only in parts, though.

Lucille Ball never looked better and the production design/costumes are quite lavish. I think I remember reading another post on here that someone thought the movie looked "cheap," even with it's big budget.

Bea Arthur is fantastic as venom mouthed Vera. Too bad her part was so small since it's so much larger in the stage musical.

Posted: 11/26/07 at 3:50pm

Lucille Ball never looked better? Covered in chocolate or dripping with grape juice she looked better than in this film where she is not only filmed through gauze, burlap and at last linoleum but is made to wear some of the worst outfits in history.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 3:54pm

I just watched this again last week and still can't believe how bad Lucy is.

[jondouglas]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 4:02pm

What I meant by never looked better was her costumes.....not the obvious soft lens on her. Her costumes are very beautiful....especially her red outfit that she wears in the begining of the film, and the outfit she wears when she meets her future in-laws.

Theatrediva, Lucy was miscast, wouldn't say she was "bad." Given what she was capable of doing at that point in her life, she did the best she could.....

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 4:20pm

I actually think the real problem is the terrible direction.

[jondouglas]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 4:28pm

doodlenyc......agreed. The pacing and timing of certain scenes was very slow.

[Glebb]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 8:34pm

I love the review that said: "If the south were to rise again it would be to lynch Lucy!"

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 8:41pm

In my house, this version of MAME is known as I HATE LUCY.

[D2]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 8:53pm

It really is a rather unfortunate film. Although I do love Bea Arthur. She brightens everything up every time she comes on screen.

[nealb1]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 9:23pm

Yes, Bea Arthur is very, very good in the film. She was nominated for a Golden Globe as was Lucille Ball.

Have to agree that it's a shame that the role of Vera is so small in the movie. My favorite scene of hers is when she goes back into her dressing room and slaps her dresser.......who slaps her back.......with Vera bursting into tears!

[Glebb]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 9:38pm

It's bad, bad, bad and I adore it.

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 10:17pm

Oh Glebby dear - I admire your stamina. I've tried and tried to watch this film but I just can't get past about 15 minutes. Then it has to go. I would never waste money or time on a DVD.

I'm going on record with PJ - I'm a closet "Can-Can" fan. As much as I'm unable to watch "Mame", I'm incapable of letting Can-Can go by without watching it. I absolutely love Sinatra, Chevalier, Jourdan, and the wonderful Shirley MacLaine and Juliet Prowse.

[Glebb]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 10:30pm

It's bad/brilliant!
Who could resist Lucy as Mame as Santa with a Lucy-Santa mask?

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 10:32pm

me?
Updated On: 11/26/07 at 10:32 PM

[nealb1]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 11:54pm

Have to admit, though...........that Santa mask that she wears is rather odd looking.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:23am

I've ALWAYS wondered WHY they put that thing on her face!

I mean, what was the director thinking?! Here, she's trying to cheer everyone up and then she covers her face for most of the number.

The only thing I could think was, it was a way to have her NOT sing, and let everyone else carry the tune.

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 12:45am

"Oh my God! Someone's been sleeping in my dress!"

"I have an astronomical discovery for you. The man in the moon is a bitch!"

Classic Bea Arthur...the best. Sorry, but I love Lucy too. I just don't like Lucy singing... Ricky was right to keep her out of the act all of those years..ha ha