Angela Lansbury will always be "Mame Dennis." Roz Russell will always be "Auntie Mame." Lucy will always be somebody who coveted being Mame but simply wasn't up to the task.
(I do think her version of "If He Walked Into My Life" is quite emotional and lovely, though.)
There were rumors that Lucy provided most of the financing herself, hoping for a movie comeback that never happened. No idea how true that is, but it may explain why Angela Lansbury was never asked. The movie got horrible reviews when it first came out, and reportedly it was no fun behind the scenes: later Lucy would say, "making Mame was as much fun as watching your house burn down." Her voice wasn't up to it; she had to record one note at a time in a studio.
@Vagrarian Lucy didn't finance the film. Warner wanted a big name...and Lucy was a BIG name. I'm not sure why they didn't dub her voice though. However, Lucy was very proud of the film as a whole...and she never truly got over the horrible reviews she received (and the fact that most criticized her age more than anything else).
@ithl123 Well, that's interesting. It is known that Bea Arthur always said it was a disaster and this movie made Jerry Herman decide that he would no longer allow his shows to be filmed without his direct participation/approval. I have to say that I felt Lucy was just too old for the role at the time, no matter how proud she was or how hurt; my personal feeling is that she wasn't right for it.
@Vagrarian Bea and Jerry probably felt the role should have went to Angela...and perhaps it should have, but the powers that be wanted Lucy. Check out the Merv Griffin interview (it's on youtube) and you will see just how happy and proud of the film Lucy was (It's also documented in various Lucy Bios) I feel the only oversight on the film is not dubbing Lucy's singing voice. Lucy's singing voice had been dubbed for years in films prior to Mame.
Lucy was the only one of our time to play the role she still had the little child in her at her age. She was and is the biggest star of all time if anyone else played the role would not have been half as good she the best
Excuse me please to any & ALL couch critics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This movie was fun & happenstance that regardless if you attempted to view as more that classic fun??? You are true Classic Movie dimwitts NOT just Lucille Ball or any other actress's performances
I don't mind Lucy's voice, she reminds me of my glamorous Auntie who also smoked and drank tons of Gin! So for me it works great, my Auntie sounded like a drag queen as well when she burst into song!..... LOVE IT!
The opening credits are designed to be representative of the silent era of movies.Those early movies were shot and projected at 16 frames per second. When sound arrived in the late twenties the speed became 24 frames per second. Consequently any silent films projected on the new sound projectors were shown at 24 fps giving them that fast motion, jerky look. This fast, jerky look then became associated with the old time movies of the twenties, which is where the story begins.
I think folks have always been to harsh about this film, . . . . . I think it's pretty good, . . . . and Lucille Ball did a great job, . ... . she was in her 60's I believe when she filmed it, . . .. it follows the stage musical fairly closely, . . .. ..I watched it recently with a bunch of teenagers and they loved it! I give it FOUR STARS!
WOW! why is the speed so screwed up? lucy is terrible in this part...too bad...she looks like she tried very hard but she just did not seem suited for this part. roz will always outshine any other mame.
I remember seeking this when I was 7 after seeing Roz Russell's a few weeks before. At the time I remember thinking that Lucy's Mame was someone you'd be afraid of, while Roz Russells was just a fun person.
She only got the role because of her TV fame. It's almost criminal that the woman who originated the role on Broadway (Angela Lansbury) wasn't used. But obviously Warner Bros went with the bigger "name", thinking Lucy's TV popularity would bring in the audiences. Didn't happen. They "stayed away" in droves, as the saying goes. Lucy was gifted comic talent but could NOT sing & was too old for the role when this was filmed. No wonder if flopped horribly at the box office. Sad..
@JubalCalif Lucy actually could sing fairly nicely up until the 60s when all smoking finally got to her voice, and could still be ok at times after, though it was still never amazing per se, but in the 50s when she was allowed to sing in her normal voice, it wasn't so bad.
You make a VERY good point! I should have mentioned in my comment that I meant she didnt' have much of a singing voice at the time she appeared in "Mame". As you pointed out, her voice had gotten tremendously deeper by the 60's....and I agree it was probably mostly due to her (sadly) heavy smoking. THANKS for an insightful & articulate comment. May ALL your wishes & dreams come true in the New Year!!! :-)
@JubalCalif Would have loved to see Angela Lansbury in this. Even Roz Russell knew she wasn't right for a musical version, but she's be better in this than Lucy.
I love this movie and just adore Lucille Ball RIP Lucy You are truly missed. Thank you for posting this movie I have been looking for it for a long time now.
I think "It's Today" is MUCH BETTER at this more appropriate tempo compared to the Broadway production. And I mean compared to the video with Angela in 1983 here on YouTube.
Anything with Lucille Ball is amazing!
beautiful4jesus 1 week ago
Best MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!
tHANKZ!!
juanitoelchico 2 weeks ago
Angela Lansbury will always be "Mame Dennis." Roz Russell will always be "Auntie Mame." Lucy will always be somebody who coveted being Mame but simply wasn't up to the task.
(I do think her version of "If He Walked Into My Life" is quite emotional and lovely, though.)
Rudy61287 2 weeks ago
There were rumors that Lucy provided most of the financing herself, hoping for a movie comeback that never happened. No idea how true that is, but it may explain why Angela Lansbury was never asked. The movie got horrible reviews when it first came out, and reportedly it was no fun behind the scenes: later Lucy would say, "making Mame was as much fun as watching your house burn down." Her voice wasn't up to it; she had to record one note at a time in a studio.
Vagrarian 1 month ago
@Vagrarian Lucy didn't finance the film. Warner wanted a big name...and Lucy was a BIG name. I'm not sure why they didn't dub her voice though. However, Lucy was very proud of the film as a whole...and she never truly got over the horrible reviews she received (and the fact that most criticized her age more than anything else).
ithl123 2 weeks ago
@ithl123 Well, that's interesting. It is known that Bea Arthur always said it was a disaster and this movie made Jerry Herman decide that he would no longer allow his shows to be filmed without his direct participation/approval. I have to say that I felt Lucy was just too old for the role at the time, no matter how proud she was or how hurt; my personal feeling is that she wasn't right for it.
Vagrarian 2 weeks ago
@Vagrarian Bea and Jerry probably felt the role should have went to Angela...and perhaps it should have, but the powers that be wanted Lucy. Check out the Merv Griffin interview (it's on youtube) and you will see just how happy and proud of the film Lucy was (It's also documented in various Lucy Bios) I feel the only oversight on the film is not dubbing Lucy's singing voice. Lucy's singing voice had been dubbed for years in films prior to Mame.
ithl123 2 weeks ago
i love lucy, but that voice, oy vey! couldnt they have dubbed in a voice that was more attractive to hear than fingernails down the blackboard
dminrunyon 2 months ago
I may be in the minority but I think speeding up the songs actually improved the film.
Gnillob802 4 months ago 4
Lucy was the only one of our time to play the role she still had the little child in her at her age. She was and is the biggest star of all time if anyone else played the role would not have been half as good she the best
lordmaldad 4 months ago
UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH tough to watch this
donpkra 4 months ago
ill say something'......lucy was GORGEOUS AND FABULOUS here!!!!!
danteskippy 5 months ago
Excuse me please to any & ALL couch critics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This movie was fun & happenstance that regardless if you attempted to view as more that classic fun??? You are true Classic Movie dimwitts NOT just Lucille Ball or any other actress's performances
NascarTigger13 5 months ago
I don't mind Lucy's voice, she reminds me of my glamorous Auntie who also smoked and drank tons of Gin! So for me it works great, my Auntie sounded like a drag queen as well when she burst into song!..... LOVE IT!
sitgeshorn 6 months ago
My favourite film of all time. Seen it about 30 times..and still love it!!!!
sitgeshorn 6 months ago
LUCY THE SINGING DALEK.
serialhound 6 months ago
terribly miscast for this role but its all about market value and box office draw rather than ability !!! what a shame !
donpkra 6 months ago
Lucille Ball was great, but the role in the musical belonged to Angela Lansbury and they made a big mistake not choosing her for the role of Mame.
CaliCaliente00 6 months ago
Happy 100th Lucille! You're greatly missed!
IBegToDiffer622 6 months ago
Gene Saks was formerly married to Bea Arthur.
MrMenyc 7 months ago
The opening credits are designed to be representative of the silent era of movies.Those early movies were shot and projected at 16 frames per second. When sound arrived in the late twenties the speed became 24 frames per second. Consequently any silent films projected on the new sound projectors were shown at 24 fps giving them that fast motion, jerky look. This fast, jerky look then became associated with the old time movies of the twenties, which is where the story begins.
Roco43 7 months ago
beyond bad...
VTMCompany 8 months ago
I think folks have always been to harsh about this film, . . . . . I think it's pretty good, . . . . and Lucille Ball did a great job, . ... . she was in her 60's I believe when she filmed it, . . .. it follows the stage musical fairly closely, . . .. ..I watched it recently with a bunch of teenagers and they loved it! I give it FOUR STARS!
blevideo 8 months ago
I do see what you mean. There is something missing in her performance. It's a good performance but Lucy keeps getting in the way.
Handiman544 9 months ago
ya so lucille ball cant sing but other than that i think she is perfect for the part
2012leandra 9 months ago
WOW! why is the speed so screwed up? lucy is terrible in this part...too bad...she looks like she tried very hard but she just did not seem suited for this part. roz will always outshine any other mame.
bduhe219 9 months ago
@bduhe219 Songs are sped up due to copyright of WMG, otherwise the film would be taken down again
DuBarryWasALady 9 months ago
@bduhe219 DIe in a fire.
rolentloss 6 months ago
I think it's better speeded up!
romcopper 10 months ago
I remember seeking this when I was 7 after seeing Roz Russell's a few weeks before. At the time I remember thinking that Lucy's Mame was someone you'd be afraid of, while Roz Russells was just a fun person.
ra86226 10 months ago
@DuBarryWasALady omg why would someone load with with the music at the wrong speed that is just dumb
ajkb1988 1 year ago
Oh my God, Why the hell would they cast Lucille Ball as Mame? Would you hire a carpet cleaner to fix your dishwasher? This woman can't sing
SpazChat 1 year ago
@SpazChat
She only got the role because of her TV fame. It's almost criminal that the woman who originated the role on Broadway (Angela Lansbury) wasn't used. But obviously Warner Bros went with the bigger "name", thinking Lucy's TV popularity would bring in the audiences. Didn't happen. They "stayed away" in droves, as the saying goes. Lucy was gifted comic talent but could NOT sing & was too old for the role when this was filmed. No wonder if flopped horribly at the box office. Sad..
JubalCalif 1 year ago
@JubalCalif Lucy actually could sing fairly nicely up until the 60s when all smoking finally got to her voice, and could still be ok at times after, though it was still never amazing per se, but in the 50s when she was allowed to sing in her normal voice, it wasn't so bad.
DuBarryWasALady 1 year ago
@DuBarryWasALady
You make a VERY good point! I should have mentioned in my comment that I meant she didnt' have much of a singing voice at the time she appeared in "Mame". As you pointed out, her voice had gotten tremendously deeper by the 60's....and I agree it was probably mostly due to her (sadly) heavy smoking. THANKS for an insightful & articulate comment. May ALL your wishes & dreams come true in the New Year!!! :-)
JubalCalif 1 year ago
Not really!!!
Warner didn't trust Angela Lansbury to carry such an expensive film after "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" flopped!!!
But of course Ms. Ball wasn't a very profitable choice either!!!
koln1996 1 year ago 2
@JubalCalif Would have loved to see Angela Lansbury in this. Even Roz Russell knew she wasn't right for a musical version, but she's be better in this than Lucy.
ra86226 10 months ago
@ra86226
I certainly second that motion !!!
:-)
JubalCalif 10 months ago
@SpazChat lucille ball sing pretty well even though whe was not in the broadway version of it.
ajkb1988 1 year ago
I love this movie and just adore Lucille Ball RIP Lucy You are truly missed. Thank you for posting this movie I have been looking for it for a long time now.
ronssexybikerbae 1 year ago
I think "It's Today" is MUCH BETTER at this more appropriate tempo compared to the Broadway production. And I mean compared to the video with Angela in 1983 here on YouTube.
cfronck 1 year ago
I just love these kinda of songs and dance and I'm just 19, and never been in that time! :P
hotsweetyboy 1 year ago 2
Wonderful to see this! Hope the dvd is available to all !
120Water 1 year ago 2
You're awesome for putting this movie up!
DorisDayFanatic 1 year ago 2
PLEASE DON´T EVER TAKE AWAY FROM US FANS THIS PICTURE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!
juanitoelchico 1 year ago 2
Why do the opening credits move so fast?
The '20s montage is the best part of the movie, and it's not enjoyable played at a faster speed.
bewitchedfanpgh 1 year ago 2
@bewitchedfanpgh If the songs were played normal WMG would remove the movie again ;)
DuBarryWasALady 1 year ago 3