The author, evan tanner, wrote under the penname pseudonym of patrick dennis, and used that name for his narrator. Auntie mame is just the sort of novel that leaves you dancing for more. So does the decor of her new york apartment at 3 beekman place. The author, evan tanner, wrote under the pseudonym of patrick dennis, and used that name for his narrator the first novel was adapted into a 1956 play by jerome lawrence and robert lee, which. In the 1950s there was a famous stage version and still more famous film version, both starring the illustrious rosalind russell. Check out her ability to exude classism while she talks with her mouth closed. An irreverent escapade is a 1955 novel by american author patrick dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, patrick, growing up as the ward of the sister of his dead father, his aunt mame dennis. Auntie mame film wikimili, the best wikipedia reader.
Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick. Mame is one of the iconic figures of american literature and the novel was one of the bestselling books of the twentieth century. Originally titled my best girl, it is based on the 1955 novel auntie mame by patrick dennis and a 1956 broadway play, by lawrence and lee, that starred rosalind russell. Charles busch, author of the tale of the allergists wife and vampire lesbians of sodom auntie mame is the american alice in wonderland.
Patrick dennis witty 1955 bestseller about a boy and his largerthan life socialite aunt became a broadway smash when adapted by jerome roberts and robert e. Auntie mame began as a novel by patrick dennis aka ed fitzgerald, then was adapted into a longrunning broadway play. Auntie mame began as a novel by patrick dennis aka ed fitzgerald, then was adapted into a longrunning broadway play by jerome lawrence and robert e. Mames mousy secretary agnes gooch looked rather fetching in the black velvet evening dress mame has her wear. An irreverent escapade kindle edition by dennis, patrick, paul rudnick, michael tanner. Mame is a musical with the book by jerome lawrence and robert edwin lee and music and lyrics by jerry herman. Auntie mame 1955 and its sequel around the world with auntie mame 1958 were novels about the adventures of a young boy being raised as the ward of his eccentric, impulsive, wealthy aunt. Aug 08, 2015 auntie mame designed by malcolm bert, paging mr. Patrick dennis famous auntie mame has so many incarnations that it can be hard to keep track. I grew up watching auntie mame with my family, so it was natural that when my brother and his wife had the first grandchild, we christened my mom, the new grandma, mamie. Auntie mame is a 1958 american technicolor comedy film based on the 1955 novel of the same name by patrick dennis and its theatrical adaptation by jerome lawrence and robert edwin lee. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form.
The book is often described as having been inspired by dennis reallife eccentric aunt, marion tanner, whose life and outlook. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading auntie mame. Pepper like poor agnes gooch, or one of mames martinis recipe below. See more ideas about auntie mame, auntie and rosalind russell.
But practically nothing in the movie stays true to a historical period, so you. Auntie mame 1955 and its sequel around the world with auntie mame 1958 were. The irreverent escapade, which in turn introduced me to the marvelous comic writing talent of patrick dennis. I also love the secret ingrediant of the upson daquiri. Every page sparkles with wit, style andthough mame would cringe at the thoughthigh moral purpose. Peggy cass and corale browne are heavenly, and lee patrick and joanna barnes as mrs. An irreverent escapade is one of my favorite books. A play yard, highchair, blankets, and toys and books are great starters. It is what it is a blissfully easytoread, unapologetically american social comedy, with enough perfectly timed, backhanded slaps at social snobbery, racism and antisemitism to redeem it from total silliness. I decided to take a page from mames book and step right up to the banquet. In october of 1928, the newly orphaned patrick is sent from chicago to live with his auntie mame in new york city. An irreverent escapade unknown binding january 1, 1957. Auntie mame is a 1958 american technicolor comedy film based on the 1955 novel of the. Auntie mame original, play, comedy, broadway opened in new york city oct 31, 1956 and played through jun 28, 1958.
Mame original, musical, comedy, broadway opened in new york city may 24, 1966 and played through jan 3, 1970. Auntie mame 1955 and its sequel around the world with auntie mame 1958 were comedic novels about the adventures of a young boy being raised as the ward of his eccentric, impulsive, wealthy aunt. Search, discover and share your favorite auntie mame gifs. I was first introduced to auntie mame through the rosalind russell film, which is just wonderful. Auntie mame fix the animal in the eye with a masterful gaze and horse mount duration.
This is a picture of them at their house, upson downs, in darien, ct aryans from darien. Do i strive to be the auntie mame in my own nieces lives. He arrives at mame s during prohibition, and the story follows his life with mame through his college years. Mame dennis irrepressible, adoring, easily distracted, utterly downtoearth is the guardian any sensible child would love to have. An irreverent escapade, auntie mame tells the story of patrick dennis and his best friend in the world, his auntie mame. Jan 19, 2016 mame is one of the iconic figures of american literature and the novel was one of the bestselling books of the twentieth century. Convinced theyre ruining her nephew, auntie mame takes them for quite a ride. Tanner moved to mexico and eventually ran through the money he made off auntie mame and his other campy novels. At mames party for the upsons, babcock complains hes had to deal with mame for 9 years so its 1937.
Recently, jonathan adler credited the designs of mr. We follow her through flapper parties, the crash of 1929 where she becomes a shopgirl at macys and meets the love of her life, her marriage and the long life after. Mame yanks the couple off the floor to their total surprise, making a pun of their surnamea play on the fact that they do so themselves, calling their manor upson downs. Comden was born in brooklyn in 1917, green in the bronx in 1915. Auntie mame favorite quotes the dis disney discussion. Auntie mame is a unique literary achievementa brilliant novel disguised as a lightweight piece of fluff. The problem is that babcock and the upsons expect everyone to be exactly like everyone else. I cant stand russell and the movie version of auntie mame. Patrick dennis was a heck of a writer the story is well told with great characters and well. David leavitts extraordinary first novel, now reissued in paperback, is a seminal work about family, sexual. Patricks girlfriend gloria upson is strictly top drawer.
This film version stars rosalind russell and was directed by morton dacosta. I probably read the book when i was about 15 and loved it. At mame s party for the upsons, babcock complains hes had to deal with mame for 9 years so its 1937. Auntie mame 1958, adapting a stage hit from another great writing team jerome lawrence and robert e. Adler these are stills from the set of auntie mame 1958 fabulous art direction for which malcolm c.
Not long after enjoying this movie for the first time, i received the book it is based upon, auntie mame. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick dennis auntie mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the new york times bestseller list for 112 weeks. Although patrick narrates the story, mame is the real main character. I hate all that artificial staginess, and someone should have reminded roz that she didnt need to play to the back row on film. The chapter in which patrick meets his future wife not like the movie at. The pair began their lifelong collaboration by performing together in nightclubs in 1944.
An irreverent escapade by patrick dennis goodreads. Auntie mame by morton da costa morton da costa, rosalind. The story opens in 1928 according to dennis will and closes in 1946 according to mames telegram. Several years later, when patrick and pegeen are married, their son, michael, wants to travel with mame on her trip to india. With a wit as sharp as a vodka stinger and a heart as free as her spirit, auntie mame burst onto the literary scene in 1955and today remains one of the most unforgettable characters in contemporary fiction.
The first novel was adapted into a 1956 play by jerome lawrence and robert lee. Patrick dennis booklist patrick dennis message board. Books similar to auntie mame meet your next favorite book. Auntie mame i stepped on the ping pong ball youtube. Auntie mame is a witty, hilarious and charming skewering of all that was conventional and pretentious in american life from the 1920s until the 1950s. Not to be confused with a musical version of the story, that appeared on broadway in 1966, and was later made into a 1974 film mame. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick denni.
In auntie mame, published in 1955, her sheltered, just. The success of auntie mame prompted him to come out of the closet and embark upon a shortlived but rather fabulously gay life. This 1958 film version permits rosalind russell to recreate her stage role as mame. Oct 07, 2005 i grew up watching auntie mame with my family, so it was natural that when my brother and his wife had the first grandchild, we christened my mom, the new grandma, mamie. The upsons property is called upson downs ups and downs. He split half his fortune with his exwife, who remained his friend. Throughout mames ups and downs in life, her wardrobe and hair color change like mad. To assist mame, patrick hires a stenographer, timid and frumpy agnes gooch, to take dictation and an irish poet, brian obannion, to serve as her editor.
You could practically write a whole book about what happened to me. Left in mames care when his millionaire father drops dead, young. Therefore, if youre watching auntie mame, you could drink champagne, you could drink spiced rum and dr. Jul 30, 2008 mame dennis irrepressible, adoring, easily distracted, utterly downtoearth is the guardian any sensible child would love to have. You can imagine how pleased i was to find this book and to know that the adventures went even further than the film. The broadway play had, in turn, been adapted from the patrick dennis novel and would later be a. An irreverent escapade is a 1955 novel by american author patrick dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, patrick, growing up as the ward of the sister of his dead father, his aunt mame dennis the book is often described as having been inspired by dennis reallife eccentric aunt, marion tanner, whose life and outlook mirrored those of mame, but dennis denied the. Mame forces them to balance themselves on furniture tantamount to the libra scales.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. For the next few months, mame dictates to agnes, and obannion lives well and does little. Anyone who has seen this film has probably noticed that the little boy who auntie mame has taken charge of is named patrick dennis. This 1958 film version permits rosalind russell to recreate her stage role as mame dennis, the flamboyant, devilmaycare aunt of young, impressionable patrick dennis. The upson home, upson downs, is in a restricted area, and they are appalled that they might get a jewish cellist as a neighbour instead of a good little wasp like patrick after he marries their gloria. The film of auntie mame was nominated for five other academy awards. I have always loved the movie auntie mame with rosalind russell and i have the soundtrack from the musical with angela landsbury. Mame refers to the upsons connecticut home, which theyve called upson downs. Auntie mame is wearing one when patrick bursts into her room to show her his new toy airplane. Jan 21, 2014 patrick dennis witty 1955 bestseller about a boy and his largerthan life socialite aunt became a broadway smash when adapted by jerome roberts and robert e. Clip from the classic 1958 motion picture auntie mame starring rosalind russell in the role of auntie mame, gloria upson played by joanna barnes underwhelms the crowd with her ghastly story. Betty comden and adolph green, the legendary musicalcomedy writing team, departed from form to deal in straight comedy in warner bros.
The author, evan tanner, wrote under the penname pseudonym of. Mame then reveals that she bought the lot behind upson downs, to make a home for refugee jewish children. Unexpectedly one day, patrick arrives, wanting mame to meet his girl friend, gloria upson. So, thats the movie which people seem to either love or roll their eyes at, personally i tend toward love. Sep 04, 2017 therefore, if youre watching auntie mame, you could drink champagne, you could drink spiced rum and dr. I guess it started out with entries to the readers digest. Young patrick dennis, orphaned at the age of 9, is sent to live with his only living relative. But for heavens sake, stay away from the honeysweetened upson downs daiquiri. The story opens in 1928 according to dennis will and closes in 1946 according to mame s telegram.
There are umpteen of them in auntie mame and singling out one is nearimpossible, but my handsdown favorite arrives late in the film when russells mame dennis pays a visit to her nephew patricks future inlaws, claude and doris upson, at their colonialstyle manse in mountebank their signpost reads upson downs, described as being. Auntie mame when youre from pittsburgh you have to do something duration. With an introduction by paul rudnick and a swank new cover, auntie mame is back in print, the classic novel that introduced the world to americas most madcap, fun. Theres a newspaper closeup showing the date, and the characters discuss the date as well, since theyve mixed up the arrival of mames orphaned nephew, patrick. This book by patrick dennis is about his auntie mame. An ogunquit playhouse presentation, in association with the bay street theater, of a play in two acts by jerome.
Upson and gloria, but the rest stinks, and roz is the big hammy hole at. This rosalind russell vehicle nominally begins in 1928, right before the great stock market crash. There are umpteen of them in auntie mame and singling out one is. Patrick is 10 years old when story opens, so hes only 28 at the end, but he has a 10yearold son. Jan 23, 2009 clip from the classic 1958 motion picture auntie mame starring rosalind russell in the role of auntie mame, gloria upson played by joanna barnes underwhelms the crowd with her ghastly story. See more ideas about auntie mame, rosalind russell and auntie. These are stills from the set of auntie mame 1958 fabulous art direction for which malcolm c. The set design is a perfect compliment to the costumes, as mame goes from an orientalist phase in the 1920s to a blue period for the 1930s, a classical design. Auntie mame books are awfully decorative mark ramsay. The chapter in which patrick meets his future wife not like the movie at all is a wonderful character study. Let s hope patrick dennis is finally recognized for what he.
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