starring Rosalind Russell
directed by Morton DaCosta
Mame Dennis (Rosalind Russell) is entrusted with the care of her nephew Patrick after her brother dies suddenly and unexpectedly. She is unmarried and has no children at the time. Dwight Babcock, a bank official appointed by her brother's will, hampers her efforts to raise Patrick as she sees fit.
Mame tries various lines of work. She meets Beauregard (Forrest Tucker) while she is working in a department store. They fall in love and get married.
Patrick grows up and goes to university. Beauregard dies while mountain climbing. Mame’s friends encourage her to write a book about her life. Patrick decides to get married but Mame does not approve of his bride to be or her parents.
This movie has a very episodic feel to it. The center of the movie seems to be the relationship between Mame and Patrick but it is much more her story than it is his.
I could tell that the movie was supposed to be funny. I smiled several times and chuckled once or twice but it did not make me laugh out loud.
I didn’t hate this movie but I’m not crazy about it. Before Auntie Mame was a movie it was a successful play on Broadway and before that it was a novel. Parts of the movie seem very dated. I don’t see myself watching it again.
This is one of just four films directed by Morton DaCosta. The only other well known film he directed was The Music Man (1962). He also directed several hundred performances of the Broadway production of Auntie Mame.
This movie received six nominations for Academy Awards but did not win any. Auntie Mame was nominated for Best Picture. The award went to Gigi. The movie was also nominated for Academy Awards for Best Set Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Effects.
Rosalind Russell was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role. In was her fourth and final nomination for an Academy Award, she was on the losing side all four times she was nominated. This time around the winner was Susan Hayward for her role in I Want to Live! Rosalind Russell also played the part of Auntie Mame on Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award in 1957.
Peggy Cass played the part of Agnes Gooch and was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. It was her only Academy Award nomination. The winner was Wendy Hiller for her role in Separate Tables. Peggy Cass also played the same role in the Broadway production of Auntie Mame. She won a Tony Award for her performance on Broadway.
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