Mame-the movie: Is it really that bad? Is Lucy that bad? — Page 2

You mean .... Was that YOU!?!?!!?

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LMAO @ Matt_G!

i agree the movie version of "mame" is terrible. "i love lucy" but not in this. lansbury was superior in every way shape and form. it's telling that rhino handmade pressed a limited edition of 2500 copies of the original soundtrack recording to "mame" on cd last year...and in less than a year it was sold out and is now again out of print. i wonder how many of reaaally think the singing is that bad...LOL
Mame - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Updated On: 10/4/04 at 10:58 PM

Many of the folks have mentioned the wonderful book about all the productions of (Auntie)Mame, and I just want to add in my two cents to say it is much fun. Now to the movie. I remember going into see it in Boston in 1974, back when movies opened in Boston rather than throughout the burbs. I loved Lucy and had the Lansbury cast recording. Even at my young age I knew I was seeing a real stinker. There were so many things wrong. Beyond that Lucy was about 25 years too old. The only scene that she was remotely effective in was the montage of silly jobs Mame had. Preston and Arthur got out with their dignity, but the rest of the production was awful. Would have been fun to see Madeline Kahn as Gooch.
I can't think of anyone today who could bring what Angela Lansbury brought to the role.

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Nice to see you posting again, darling. You have been missed.

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Lucy was miscast, in my opinion, because she lacks class. Mame is a LADY and I never thought of Lucille Ball as having too much class. Oh, and it wasn't the smoking that ruined her singing voice, because she really could never sing to begin with.

We were talking about the revival/film and I thought, although she would never do it, that Meryl Streep would make a fantastic Vera. Anyone else want to see that?

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I agree with Sueleen, I would love to see La Streep as Vera. It has been far too long since we got to see her ham it up in a comedy. Two of my favorite Streep perfs. are "She-Devil" and "Death Becomes Her." And if Cher is still attached as Mame, it could re-team the former "Silkwood" stars.

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The posting which says Lucille Ball was not classy is totally inaccurate. It is one thing to pan a performance but to speak as if you knew someone personally and use character assassination is totally out of line. I had the pleasure of knowing Lucy and she was always a tough but first class lady. Offstage, she was a model of how a star should behave in public. Today, there is no such thing as bad publicity. Lucy worked hard to keep her image on the highest level despite some tough going in her personal life.

Lou, I did not mean to bash Lucy's true self, but her onscreen persona lacked a certain "class" that I think is required of Mame. I truly love her, but this was a case of miscasting that doomed this picture. I'm sorry you misunderstood or that I was not clear. Lucille Ball is a goddess, she is just not Mame Dennis.

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