Review of Auntie Mame (1958) by Tom K — 18 Jul 2007
Early in her career, the late Rosalind Russell cut her teeth on upper-crust society roles, the type of woman who butter wouldn't melt in her mouth and wilt at the fresh strong wiff of an inappropriate fart.
That all changed in 1939, when she played the silly harpie Sylvia Fowler in the classic George Cukor comedy The Women.
Since then, good ole Roz was off and running with comedy!
Mind you, Rosalind turned in marvelous dramatic performances in the like of Sister Kenny, Mourning Becomes Electra, and Picnic.
But Auntie Mame will be the movie she'll be best remembered for.
I know I would love to have an aunt who grabs Life by the cojones and relishes the joys.
Every experience and adventure this existance may offer.
Russell always plays the comedy just short of over-the-top, and the warm moments with her nephew Patrick (Jan Handzlik, who seems just a bit too old to play Patrick) plays fresh, not syrupy.
Peggy Cass steals the film as Agnes Gooch, the mousey secretary who take's Mame's "Life is a banquet" philosophy just a bit too literally, with comic tragic results.
This film is Morton DaCosta's directorial debut; 1962's The Music Man would be his last.
Own it on DVD.
This review of Auntie Mame (1958) was written by Tom K on 18 Jul 2007.
Auntie Mame has generally received very positive reviews.
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