Besty (and company)..."Auntie Mame" (195 with Rosalind Russell is playing on the 'big screen' at Bow*Tie Cinemas (aka Chelsea Cinemas, West 23rd St between 7th & 8th Aves) for the Chelsea Classic movie night hosted by Hedda Lettuce at 7pm on Thursday, November 21. Tickets are $8.00
Was there for "The Swarm" last Thursday night. The movie was a complete and utter train wreck (oh come to think of it there was a train wreck in the movie that killed Olivia de Havilland and Fred MacMurray!) and it was really laughable and enjoyable because of Hedda's commentary and laser pointer.
For interested in the Cinerama Dome and Cinerama, the Dome just turned 50 and our local NPR station did a profile on it. Fascinating history. Turns out a "Cinerama" film never actually played there until relatively recently.
So I take it all those people who saw IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD during it's original release at the Cinerama Dome actually saw it in Super Panavision 70.
If Angela Lansbury's "Mame" isn't a good version for you there can never be one. It was only the third Broadway show I had ever seen, so maybe that was part of my utter enjoyment (the first was the out of town failed musical version of "Picnic" - "Hot September" . I guess it was a mess, but it was my first show - and I loved it. My second show was "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" not such a great show, but I loved the leads and I still enjoy listening to the OBC recording) I give my history only to stress how absolutely bowled over by "Mame" I was. Angela just completely knocked me out! What a star performance! And those great Jerry Herman songs, Bea Arthur, Jane Connell, the choreogrphy, costumes etc and to boot - the musical version of a movie I loved. To me the movie is a little dated now - mostly the over the top business with the Upsons, but I will never not love Rosallind Russell as Mame and still enjoy the movie.. And I will also never not get over my good fortune to have seen Angela in the role. It breaks my heart that she did get to play it in the movie. I have never been able to watch Lucille Ball's "Mame" all the way through. Her croaking voice, bad "dancing" (?!) , and then her being photographed through so much filter it looks like the tv screen is dirty - Jesus Christ!
PS. - sorry about the strange way the above format was set - - in the editing when I previewed it - it was actually longer! - I messed things up. Hope my enthusiasm for "Mame" can help that be overlooked.
How did you like Janis Paige? I heard she was good. I saw "Mame" again awhile later but with Ann Miller, and except for her great "That's How Young I Feel" which was extended to show off her famous dancing talent, it just wasn't the same. I missed Angela Lansbury! When I got to see her "Gypsy" I was bak in theatre heaven.