Return to Grey Gardens

[BettyBarncoat]

The film maker says it himself - and most accurately, the women had fulfilled lives more so than most of the neighbors. I think I agree with him.

[LBraunhaus]

What a crime.

[WGBudd801]

what the hell did they do to the front porch? It has lost some of the nice architechtural details (the rounded arches at the tops of the columns) I prefer the way it was and think the portrayal in the film of how they envisioned it originally is MUCH more tasteful than how the current owners has muddled it up- at least they saved it I guess-

[thesearemy2cats]

Thanks! Wow so great!

[squeapler]

I'm a bit uncomfortable with this given that the Maysles got so much attention and probably, over the years, revenue from this documentary and yet didn't cut the Beales in on a share of the profits. I know the Beales were paid a flat fee for their participation that was pretty generous, and it's likely that the documentary was not expected to get all the attention that it later did, but it does feel like those women were exploited. Even if they didn't FEEL exploited and liked the attention.

[figgy709]

@squeapler

the documentary came out in 1975, but wasn't popular until 2009 when the movie was made. The Maysles didnt make any money until 2009, and both Edie's were already dead.

[4021971]

Never get bored with this movie. It is so real and so heart breaking. These two women were lovely and I only wish that I'd known them.

[girl4camera]

I totally agree that broken dreams etc caused their so called 'strange ways' ... it's sad

[SLACKER614]

this house will live forever..in film and in restoration...its a historic landmark that should be made available for future generations...

[AQUAMARINETMI]

what happened to little Edie's brothers?

[2cdmitchell]

And why would anyone think it's going overboard to say you wish you could have met these women? Why? These women lived in their own world and seem content with their lives. Everyone is so judgmental-

That's not surprising. Why say anything at all- why am I not surprised by such comments?

[2cdmitchell]

What an amazing story. I just watched clips of the original documentary-what a spectacular job Barrymoore and Lange did in their portrayal.

This is very intriguing- not sure why people would negatively comment - this is an amazing story. Truly amazing- I grew up close to East Hampton and always drove through and admired the homes of the people living there. How sad on so many levels... It seems though they were oblivious to it- and that is a good thing.

[thebjm1967]

i really wish they would have kept that back sun deck. i think it is so beautiful!

[free2drm]

It was like A&E's Hoarders

[Kroovy68]

@free2drm Was trying to give you thumbs up but pressed the wrong button.sorry.

[free2drm]

I love that documentary. Big Edie and Little Edie were such characters. Bless them

[XLNT37]

To me it seems like it is "Big Edie" who destroyed her daughter by arguing against "Little Edie" every time she wanted to leave the house. And she didnt have the right state of mind to go against her mother.

[onatsuki]

why he not asking the women: if you got energy to dance , why you don't throw the garbage?

[ultimatevintage]

Grey Gardens was reality TV 30 years before it was invented. Quite outstanding and enduring, The film is an honest and intimate biopic. full credit the Maysles brothers.

[JudgeJulieLit]

@ultimatevintage Actually, reality tv may have originated in the 1970s, with the PBS-tv (in USA) series "The Loud Family" -- too the first ever show to have tv cameras come into a family's home and film them over time (episodically, as now) just living their lives. To great publicity and controversy -- in the Loud family, during the series the young-man son Lance Loud was a first famous US gay to "come out" . . . and to the world, not just to his parents. And by series end, the parents split.

[wordsport]

Just imagine Ty with his bull horn in front of all the people..... Move that bus, move that bus, move that bus. Then it would reveal a totally new home. I wonder how much the new owners spent to restore the place (in the 1980's).... it must have been an amazing amount.

[wordsport]

If this were going on today, I wonder if Ty Pennington and his army would come to the rescue. But then, wouldn't they want to do a total tear down? I doubt ABC's Extreme Makover would pay to renovte Gray Gardens to it's former splendor.

[ritter89]

@wordsport What's pathetic is that I can actually imagine that happening. They'd come in and cheapen everything by making it all modernized and gaudy, destroying all it's character and history, like they do to all the houses they "make over".

[JudgeJulieLit]

@wordsport Very likely Ty's crew would do a total tear down. So I'm glad that Ben and Sally Bradlee had the money and good taste and sense of history and sensitivity to local architecture to restore it to its pristine look (mostly).

[LinFungZhou]

@JudgeJulieLit

It wasn't their sense of history that kept that house up, it was the sale agreement that forbid the razing the house.

[wordsport]

The press embarrased Jackie O to give the house a clean up to minimal standards to allow them to stay. The roof was pached, the boiler heat was fixed, ect. I hear the son/ brother reluctantly paid the property taxes up to date.

But the ladies were content to live they way they did... They didn't do drugs or drink. It was everyone else who was not content with their lifestyle..

[kneecoal777]

@wordsport Actually the sons and Little Edie's brothers refused to pay the taxes and utilities after a certain point. Even in the winter! Jackie picked up the whole tab after the raid.

It should be considered a miracle how an elderly woman survived so long in such conditions.

[simplenametag]

@kneecoal777 The reason the son's didn't pay is because they were trying to force their sister and mother out of the house so they could move them into something more livable. Big Edie refused to leave and little Edie wouldn't leave if her mother was still alone in the house.

[wordsport]

In a way Jackie O and their family were helping by NOT helping.... so the Big and Little Edie could be forced out from this delapated huge house they couldn't afford.

They should have lived in a much smaller, affordable place. But then there would be no material for this interesting story.

[sezums]

So alluring, just want to cry it feels quite sad they decorated and restored it :( but yet again wonderful they didn't knock it down. It's such a romantic story and a lesson to everyone really.

[Tonsgard]

I love those women! Edie has always been so beautiful, even when she was older. And her size was always great,too. I'm so glad Albert Maysles did this.

[ScrittiSparkle]

loved the documenterey,i saw it many years ago aswell as recent,and im so sorry that they both died,such lovely people of character,cant help but shed a tear or two,bless them both.

[kraftymomma1979]

Little Edie was my favorite. She had such an unfettered enthusiasm for life. I'm sure they're glad their house was saved and restored.

[yanine666]

wow im so glad the place is still standing and back to it's former glory the two edie's would be happy ,and so am i that this facinating place still stand's

[kmg6888]

This has become an obsession to me as well.  WHY!?!?!?!

[katerateadate]

@kmg6888 Me too! I donno. It's so interesting!

[johneunson]

this can become an obsession. i have watched the doc. over and over, and now i found this. i must see the movie. thanks for posting this and any other gems you might have.

[1955rosebud]

I love this... I am just obsessed with these women. I can watch this over and over

[Windflower63]

Amazing!... I love the Maysles and the two Edith Beales! - Enjoyed. Thank you for the video :)

[7370801]

How can you say that the Maysles Brothers knew it would lead to a movie deal. The movie deal happened over two decades after this documentary.

[RocktheStageNYC]

exactly- Grey Gardens was a lost documentary for many years after it was made. It was sort of a "cult" film and VERY hard to get a hold of in the 80's.

The Maysles made little or no money from it after it was made. It took a fan of the film who was also a producer to resurrect it in 2001.

[MsDorom]

They are still a source of fascination, Maisells knew they would be, cashed in on their misfortune and so did everyone else, "The American Way", exploit others for profit.

We all relate to them in some way, it could happen to anyone, a fall from grace.

[JudgeJulieLit]

@MsDorom No fall from grace (the Edies were gracious to the end) -- rather, a fall from fortune, money. Whereas, Lee Radziwill (and later Jackie O) had money without true graciousness.

[rachelsthebomb]

I love this film so much and I love how much he cares for them. Everyone at the time saw them as an oddity where the brothers saw them as just very interesting people. I'm so glad we have all gotten to meet them as well. Thanks to the maysles brothers, the edie's will live on forever and that is what they would have wanted so I don't think they had been exploited. They both wanted to be famous.

[Realaw1]

What a beautiful, beautiful documentary. Was assigned this film for my college class when I normally would not have chosen to watch something of this type and it left a huge impression on me. What brave and strong two ladies they were. Whether your attracted or repulsed by their lifestyle you cannot escape the fact that they represent a slice of Americana that will never exist again.

[djbethell]

"At the time the Beales were living here with cats, fleas, raccoons..." and more love than people ever know!

[jennmooney]

The brothers shooting the film of course could have helped a lot more-The Beale's were exploited, in my opinion but I am not saying they weren't open to that exploitation due to their desperation.

It wasn't Jackie who helped them but Ari. She wanted nothing to do with it/them. Too bad the father left them in such a state..

Ari needed a bit of clout in the US as everyone was opposed to his marrying Jackie and no one else cared.

[Adreeene]

I've been looking for something like this ever since I saw the documentary. Thanks for posting!

[HybridMoments90]

The voices really don't line up in this video. Other than that it is great though, thanks for sharing.

[tcromnyc]

where was Jackie when these amazing women where rotting to death

[jesusrules2012]

Wiki...With the Beale women facing eviction and the razing of their home, in the summer of 1972 Jacqueline Onassis and her sister Lee Radziwill provided the necessary funds to stabilize and repair the dilapidated house so that it would meet Village codes. So apparently Jackie did help them.

[alSation81]

probably on one of Aristotle Onassis's super-yachts cruising the south of france

[jobw87]

They both got $5000 ea, that's nearly 20k in today's money. And he didn't visit them again because the mother died a year later and then 2 yrs after the mother's death, little Edie sold the place for 220K, about 645K today, then she moved away. I had questions after catching some of the movie on HBO and watching some of the original online. So, I went and wiki-ed everything because I have nothing better to do but wait until summer school starts in a few weeks. lol :0(

[Allycia]

i did the EXACT same thing haha

[MegaAudra]

Why didnt the Maysles ever return to check on edie and why did they not give them a penny? How shameful they did that to them. Im sure they made plenty of money and continue to this day. Little edie didnt die bitter though did she..she kept on till the end..even swam every day. So wish I could have met her

[qqt718]

you wish you could have met her? really? don't you think that is a bit overboard?

[Nancydah]

and that is your business because??????

[qqt718]

same reason that my reply was any of your business.

[ambroulard]

Megaturd- so you know they did'nt ?? get a life- they helped them to the extent they could- you don't jump in unless your prone to do so and take over the handling of someone elses life- we all have responsibilities already -- Hey why didn't you go try to help them out you nerf.?

[craiges2002]

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing.

[rscmrcmd]

2:20 - The current owners have better luck with their delphiniums than Mrs. Robert C. Hill did with hers. Wish

the Edies could see it.

[xxxskongxxx]

I do love the Beale women and their spirit. However, I think we should be careful not to romanticize poverty. There is a sadness in their voices, like when Little Edie justifies her outfit, "I have to think of these things up, you know..." - making the best she can out of her situation, not necessarily an expression of her creative. Although, she is an artistic spirit and eternally irreverent.

[WHITETRASHDOLL]

When I win the mega million that house will be mine!!!!

[catseye664]

ill be fightin you ofr that house, cuz i intend on winning the mega million tomorrow night!

[WHITETRASHDOLL]

I tell you what who ever wins first gets the house and we'll be room mates. With 28 rooms I think we can manage to stay out of eachothers way lol

[sheepishlyImp]

Haha, she said Davis Maysles. His name is David.

[elsienita]

where's the first part of the documentary?? i just watched it!

[sharimom]

I think they are being removed because they were authorized by the maysles. I was watching all of them by someone else on sunday night (first airing on hbo) and all of those are gone

[cruwysgirl]

big Edie said it man...you can't be free when your being a supported...so true...I wish I could be more like them...not care what people think...they were free in that way...

[jsbach15]

This is incredibly special! Thank you so much for uploading; I had no idea this "revisit" was filmed.10 stars!

[zeelove8]

i agree i would love to see there home as it was befor the decay, these wemon are truly sooooo interesting i cant wate to see the movie, i love that Drew B is playing the role as lil Edie, wonderful!:)

[caniusemyrealname]

Yes, the house is pretty now, in a generic 'Traditional Home' magazine kind of way. I would rather see it as it was before the decay set in; ie. fix the structural problems but keep the old paint colors and original furniture. There's a shabby chic grandeur in the original decor that seems more "authentic" than this pretty fix-up.

Of course the Bradlees renovated for the purpose of living in the house, not to turn it into a museum. Maybe the Edies would've liked this better?

[MandyMaidstone]

I am certain both the ladies would be thrilled to see the home restored to it's former glory. They didn't set out to live in dirt poor poverty, it wasn't their intention to let the home fall into such a state but without money... what else could they do? Shame on Jackie for not helping out until the cat was out of the bag and even then not much of a helping hand. She restored the White House with tax payers money but didnt use hers to do the same for kin.

[firstloveskiss]

"After the movie came out we got a letter from the Maysles that said, 'We spent a million dollars on the movie and we don't have any money now and there will never be any money because nobody liked the film and it wasn't a hit.'" - Little Edie

[Babyhowdy233]

Oh my, what love, care and money can't accomplish!!! As for folks who bemoan this restoration:remember that this is how the house USED to basically look like before Big Edie became senile and unable to care for it. It WASN'T meant to be dirty, decrepid and filled with cat crap and fleas.

[christopherstwin]

The decrepitness, of their home, was obviously, a subliminal reflection. Of both the "Edie's" years of broken dreams and untold memories.

[capi7al]

@christopherstwin all of those comas are unnecessary

[phoenix6470]

why the hell did they fix it up. that's not true to the spirit of that house. gentrification at its worst.

[Philosophyuser]

They fixed it up because Little Edie wanted that. When she sold the house, she wanted the buyers to fix up the house.

[FASHIONCONSPIRACY]

The Maysles family should buy a headstone for Little Edie.....

[rscmrcmd]

At the very least.

[themikejustice]

How do you know Little Edie doesn't have a headstone? By the way, one of the "Maysles" is dead -- so maybe you should buy HIM a headstone.

[Babyhowdy233]

Little Edie already has a headstone.

She is buried next to her brother(Bouvier "Buddy" Beale)at Locust Valley Cemetery in Long Island New York.

[FASHIONCONSPIRACY]

Babyhowdy233: Ty for the info...wish she was next to her mother.....wasn't there speculation from Lil Edie that it was her brother who reported them to the board of healthy? ( alllegdly) of course..ty again

[Babyhowdy233]

Little Edie adamantly stated in her will that she didn't want to be buried near her mother. In fact she didn't want to be buried at all. She wanted to be cremated and her ashes scattered into the Atlantic ocean.

[firstloveskiss]

that's because she resented her mother for holding her back and guilting her into caring for her so she wouldn't be lonely. i resent her mother for that. if she loved her daughter, she would have wanted her to be happy doing what she wanted. little edi wanted to be married and wanted to accept ugene's proposal, but her mother refused that relationship....and edi never got over it....ever.

[SugarShandy]

you are right which proves she was not crazy but hurt, and years of verbal abuse and manipulation will take your life away as well as your identity

[firstloveskiss]

exactly!

[Babyhowdy233]

Yes, her brother Bouvier "Buddy" Beale tried for years to get the women out of that house. He said the house was a "white elephant" that "helped to ruin my family" because it cost so much to maintain. Only after cousin Jackie got involved to save them from eviction did Buddy relent and pay the back property taxes for his mother.

[FASHIONCONSPIRACY]

Babyhowdy233: Ty for replying with more info...I luv these ladies, wish I could've had tea or ice cream with them; I was in a social setting with Lee and Truman...I was just a young lady  but what a memory it left me with!

[FASHIONCONSPIRACY]

What about the check they received for the documentary....skimpy????.....­I have a still of it in my video...Grey Garden The Evolution......ty for the post.....

[TheAncientQueen]

great vid. Thanx.

[marginallymental]

I guess it's pretty now. It certainly looks like every other E. Hamption house out there--dolled up in sugar. And in a way, it's restoring the house to--if not the original style of a North Shore retreat of the twenties--than at least to the posh level of the past. But it's sad, too. They were original and fresh and trapped in their pasts and dishonest and kind--and they were the antithesis of this gingerbread pastiche. You truly can never go home again.

[jenjunebug]

Wow. I almost don't have the words. Sad in one aspect yet i am tempted to envy them for living exactly how they wanted most everyone else dosen't have the guts to...or the money

[JesusSananda]

You know, they should have just kept the way it originally looked and cleaned up a bit and turned it into a museum for the fans. Like they could have painted the walls all the same original colors and had all the little things that were on the walls there etc... they didn't have to go and change it

[PamK36]

What about cat shit? Should they have left that?

[xchampbearx]

If you look for an article called How I Fell In Love With Grey Gardens, Sally Quinn explains why she bought the house from Little Edie, and how they tried to match all the paint colours, used existing furniture, found the original garden plan, etc.

If they had left it delapidated it would have collapsed!

[jun7per]

Their way of life was not sad. It was magical and lively.

[Shanniquitie]

it looks shitty

[NKE272]

so what happend to all of their things like the photos and what not? anyone know what they did with that stuff?

[maryrives]

I liked the way it looked before.

[shesamazingnyc]

That was nice. I've been going past that house on the way to the beach for years and didn't even know it! You can't really see anything from the street, they've grown the privet hedge so high. It's nice to see what it looks like now.

I read that on rainy days the house still smells like cat urine.

[dehountinge]

HAHA, I know me too!!

[lilyypoot]

Extreme loss of former glory and mystique, in every way!

[nowvoyeurer]

g-h-o-s-t-s

[bearcub410]

i don't care much for jackie but i love edie and her mother . the house is perfectly dull now but america is too, i find most people today have very little taste or wit i would have love to have met them ! beautiful people ! thanks

[alexxahex]

thank you for posting!

[RainyMarch]

It's a shame that the Beales never got a cent from the documentary that, each year, becomes increasingly popular. I wonder how much the Maysles made on the film. I love this video because you have included Little Edie as she was. Love her. She's the cat's pajamas, that's for sure. Thanks for posting.

[italoman9]

Sad that Edie and her mom didn't get an opportunity to live their later years with the house so beautifully restored while they were still existing. :-<

[marosci]

If they gave a shit how it looked they wouldn't have let it get like that in the first place.

[Babyhowdy233]

My sentiments exactly!

[JudgeJulieLit]

@marosci Decrepitude happens incrementally, while the mind and aims are elsewhere. It takes energy and strength to maintain a 28-room house . . . and Big Edie was age 77. And in their formative decades (when habits appropriate to one's now and future identities are learned . . . or not) they had domestic staffs to run house. Raised to be debutantes and then society wives and hostesses, both were artistic and dwelt in their imaginations, seeing surroundings just as props and settings.

[wvanderwahl]

@JudgeJulieLit I thought your comment was sensitive and accurate. You made a very good point. Both lacked basic skills and habits to get them through the day , let alone many years and in a home so large. Even someone with "housekeeping" experience would have been greatly challenged. They simply were not prepared. They were a reflection and product of their time & society. They lacked survival skills and yet they made it.

[JudgeJulieLit]

@wvanderwahl Thank you for your reply comment.

[RainyMarch]

Little Edie has that unmistable accent. Her voice reminds me of Jackie's voice somehow. Little Edie is actualy charming.

[thedruproject]

great upload! sucks that the sound is a little off :\