1958 - Auntie Mame

I've been sitting here for quite a while trying to think of something to write about for this intro. I've had a couple of ideas but, after writing a sentence or two, decided they weren't all that interesting. Of course, writing about how I couldn't find anything interesting to write about is undoubtedly even less interesting than if I'd just written about the uninteresting thing, but I'm finished now and I couldn't be bothered rewriting it again. I guess I need to do more interesting things so that I can write about them.

Anyhoo, our review of the nominees from the 1958 Best Picture race continues with...


Auntie Mame
Director:
Morton DaCosta
Screenplay:
Betty Comden & Adolph Green
(based on the novel by Patrick Dennis and the stage adaptation by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee)
Starring:
Rosalind Russell, Forrest Tucker, Coral Browne, Fred Clark, Roger Smith, Patric Knowles, Peggy Cass, Jan Handzlik, Joanna Barnes, Pippa Scott
Academy Awards:
6 nominations
0 wins

Mame Dennis (Russell) is a vivacious socialite in 1920s New York, famed for her bustling parties. When her brother dies, Mame becomes the guardian of his only son Patrick (Handzlik & later Smith). But as a safeguard against Mame's penchant for excess, her brother assigns trustee Dwight Babcock (Clark) to ensure Patrick is raised conservatively. Mame and Patrick quickly become enamoured with each other but after the stock market crash of 1929, Mame loses almost everything. Forced to find work, she applies every effort to secure a decent life for Patrick, while attempting to foster in him a love of adventure.

Classic Hollywood extravagance is on display in Auntie Mame. The characters are bright and bubbly, the clothes are fancy and the sets are lavish (albeit unnaturalistically stylised). Even the lighting gets in on the action. At the end of almost every scene, the stage lights are completely dimmed except for a single spotlight illuminating Mame's face, which I can only assume is intended to symbolise her constant need to be the centre of attention.

As if to match the title character's own flightiness, the story itself moves around a lot, almost as if it were a series of anecdotes told to us by an outside observer. Despite some farcical elements, it has the feel of a real-life biography, which at first glance, seems to be confirmed by the fact that the author of the source novel is one Patrick Dennis, which is the same name as Mame's nephew in the film. It turns out, however, that's merely a pseudonym for Edward Everett Tanner, and while Tanner had an eccentric aunt, he repeatedly denied that Auntie Mame was based on her.

Rosalind Russell (pictured) delivers an accomplished performance in the titular role, showcasing her comedic ebullience while also finding moments to pull at our heartstrings. In fact, the entire cast all prove to be well versed in broad comic timing, providing plenty of double takes and light slapstick. Peggy Cass, in particular, stands out with her delightfully hilarious portrayal of the mousy Miss Gooch. Both Russell and Cass originated these roles on Broadway and both received Oscar nominations (for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively) to pair with their Tony nominations two years prior. (Cass won the Tony, but not the Oscar. Russell lost both.) Along with those two acting nods, the film was also cited for Best Picture, as well as three deserving craft nominations: Color Art Direction, Color Cinematography and Film Editing. But just like fellow nominee Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, it failed to win a single Oscar from its six nominations.