Mame
Mame
PG | 07 March 1974 (USA)
Mame Trailers

The madcap life of eccentric Mame Dennis and her bohemian, intellectual arty clique is disrupted when her deceased brother's 10-year-old son Patrick is entrusted to her care. Rather than bow to convention, Mame introduces the boy to her free-wheeling lifestyle, instilling in him her favorite credo, "Life is a banquet, and most poor sons of bitches are starving to death."

Reviews
ada the leading man is my tpye
Borgarkeri A bit overrated, but still an amazing film
Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
Roy Hart If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.
Frankster200277 This film should really be classified as a Comedy musical as that's what it is! I died laughing in so many scenes. There was perfect comedic timing by Lucille Ball, Bea Arthur, and Jane Connell. There are many serious parts but I feel that the humor dominates and makes this a lighthearted, funny musical. The songs are great and range from funny and fun to serious. If you like older comedy, definitely see this.
vincentlynch-moonoi I have a different feeling about this film -- I really like it, and can't imagine it being better.BUT, there is one huge problem: Lucille Ball couldn't sing. Period. And this is a musical. However, aside from that, Lucy was the perfect Mame. But again, if you haven't watched the film yet, be prepared for Lucy's terrible singing.But aside from the singing issue, Lucy IS perfect for Mame, and it was nice to see her on the big screen again.There are so many great segments to this movie. Mame excelling at fox hunting, leading to a stunning musical production number of the title song. In fact, the whole segment with Robert Preston is nothing short of charming. Agnes Gooch's pregnancy. The musical number between Mame and Vera demonstrating how they love/hate each other. The segment with the Upsons.The cast is pretty much perfect. Aside from Lucy, Bea Arthur is the perfect Vera. Robert Preston perfect as Beau from Georgia. Bruce Davison great as the older Patrick, although he can't outshine Kirby Furlong as the young Patrick. Jane Connell great as Miss Gooch. And Don Porter as Mr. Upson.So, for what it's worth, I think it's a terrific...except for Lucy's singing.
U.N. Owen It always amazes me how anyone can - not only 'like' this, but 'love' it. Give it 9, or, 10 stars.I 'like' this movie - for it's awfulness, as do those people who get how wrong everything is, with this.When MAME came out, I got to see it (live through it, more accurately). At ROCERFELLER CENTER (they actually showed movies, then) with my mom.Even then - as a little kid, the horror before me was apparent.Ms. Ball was too old, and, had no singing ability (if she ever had one).There was a classic skit on SCTV: 'Count Floyd's HAVE YOURSELF A SXARY LITTLE Christmas, which featured the fabulous Catherine O'Hara as Luceille Ball, signing (croaking) a 'Christmas-ised' version of 'Mame.' The off-camera singers would do 90% of the singing, then, Luceille would chime in; 'Christmas,' sounding like a dying fog-horn.THAT is the best MAME Ms. Ball was in - NOT this.The story of how this mess got made is in the terrific book,'But, Darling, I'm Your Auntie MAME.'Angela Lansbury had starred in, and MADE this musical a classic. But, the studio wonks didn't think she'd have the 'drawing power' to sell movie tickets.Lucy - at the tail-end of her TV days, still had some pull, and, yanked it away from Ms. Lansbury.The ONLY (GREAT) casting, is the inimitable Bea Arthur, as Vera Charles, and, she was recreating her Broadway role.Yes, I love the awfulness of this, but, even then, I've the common sense NOT to give it SO MANY stars.
Scott Amundsen I happened to see Angela Lansbury in the 1983 Broadway revival of the show that made her the toast of the town twenty years earlier, and when I saw her in the role, it drove home to me that the single biggest disaster in the film version is Lucille Ball.Not that there aren't other things wrong with it. The score is sloppily adapted; "Bosom Buddies" and "We Need a Little Christmas" are taken at a snail's pace, and the film really never survives the fact that the score was written for a star who could actually sing.Ball's lack of singing ability isn't the only liability here either. For starters, at sixty-three, she was much too old for the part, necessitating the use of heavy filters in all her close-ups which has the result of making it seem as if she were being photographed through tissue paper.There are a few bright moments, though. Thank God for Beatrice Arthur and Jane Connell. Both from the original Broadway cast, they bring their characters to the screen pretty much intact; in fact between them they practically steal the picture.Not that stealing the picture from Ball is a great difficulty here; even her comedic talents seem to have deserted her, and what little dancing she does consists mostly of being lifted up by a bunch of men and the occasional kick. (Lauren Bacall did the same sort of thing twice on Broadway and somehow got away with it, but those shows were written specifically for her) To coin a phrase, I love Lucy. And I do. I was a fan, and I still am. Unfortunately she took on a project that she simply did not have the talent for. And the result is a Godawful mess.