Is The Lucy MAME Movie Really That Bad??- Page 4

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 1:35pm

"She was NOT a skilled comic."

One of the most skilled in our history.

[Sandy in Sable]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 1:59pm

Originally, Bea Arthur wanted to play Mame, and of course she lost the role to Lansbury. Against Lucy, Bea would have been the better Mame but alas, she was Vera. Bea made the film for me ("And a small chisel."), and I rather liked her costumes... a sophisticated skunk.

In that Mame book some have mentioned, it says that Michele Lee became the frontrunner for a newer tv movie version of Mame. Never came about, but Michele did do a one night only Mame concert at the Hollywood Bowl... she played Ito too (I wonder how *that* went over).

[philcrosby]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 2:01pm

Was that the TV version that was also rumored about for Cher?

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 2:24pm

I saw that Hollywood Bowl concert of Mame with Michelle Lee. I don't remember her playing Ito. I don't remember who played Ito, but I think I would have noticed if they cut the character.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 2:31pm

"Originally, Bea Arthur wanted to play Mame, and of course she lost the role to Lansbury."

I think later Bea and Elaine Stritch toured with Mame and each night they switched roles.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 3:35pm

When did Bea Arthur tour with MAME? I can't find any info on that anywhere.

[nealb1]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 3:57pm

When Michelle Lee did "Mame" a few years back at The Hollywood Bowl, there was a very funny moment with Ito and the telephone prop. The scene where Mr. Babcock comes to Beekman Place to take Patrick away from Mame, the phone rang.

Ito went to answer it, he picked it up, said, "Hello." And, the phone still rang. He looked full front and the entire audience of 13,000+ people laughed hysterically! Then when Lindsay says to Mame, "I'll speak to your stockbroker. Give me the phone" He added...on this phone that seems to have a mind of it's own......something like that. It was very, very funny.

Ah, the magic of live theatre.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 4:08pm

husk_charmer -- Bea Arthur nor Elaine Stritch ever toured in a production of MAME.

Sarcasm runs rampant on this board.

If something you read sounds too farfetched -- it usually is.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 4:22pm

"husk_charmer -- Bea Arthur nor Elaine Stritch ever toured in a production of MAME."

Please do your research.

"She repeated the role in London the following year, then toured in Mame in the late 1960s, playing both the title role and Vera Charles."


Stritch Bio

Updated On: 2/5/08 at 04:22 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 4:26pm

Sarcasm runs rampant on this board.


Guilty.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/5/08 at 4:27pm

I was gonna say, I knew that Stritch played Vera, a friend of mine has the playbill with her in it.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 2:19am

Stritch played Vera on the national tour, opposite Janet Blair as Mame.

Later, Stritch did a stock tour as Mame.

As far as I know, Bea Arthur never toured as either Mame or Vera. Lansbury did play Mame in San Francisco and Los Angeles with much of the original Broadway cast, but Anne Francine was her Vera there.

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 3:47am

I'm sorry, but I love the Lucille Ball version of "Mame." I do agree that Lucy lacked the vocal skills to carry the songs, but her comic timing was perfect as usual. Bea Arthur was great as Vera Charles, and Robert Preston was adorable. I don't care how many filters were used or the bad costumes they put on Bea Arthur...the movie wasn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Rosalind Russell's version wasn't a masterpiece either as far as I'm concerned, so leave Lucy alone.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 4:59am

Wow, I would have loved to see Stritch's take on both Vera and Mame. She should have been recorded playing the great starring roles she did like Ruth Sherwood and Mame. Oh well.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 7:54am

I can't really imagine her as Mame, she just seems to Vera-y to me.