One of my all time favorite movies. Which leading lady do you prefer?
It is also one of my favorite movies. Rosalind Russell was Auntie Mame. Lucille Ball was Lucille Ball playing Auntie Mame poorly.
I love Beekman Place. I want a place like that.
*watching it now…again.
I love Lucille Ball but that was the worst miscasting ever. The woman could not sing! Who casts a person who sings like a frog as the LEAD in a musical?
ETA: Technically, the Rosalind Russell movie is Auntie Mame. The Lucille Ball movie is Mame.
This. But in fairness, Rosalind Russell didn’t have to sing and wasn’t completely overshadowed by her Vera.
I did not think the musical worked. I will also admit that I have never been a Lucille Ball fan.
Oh yes, I don’t like the musical aspect even overlooking the fact that Lucy couldn’t sing.
I love Lucille Ball, but not as Mame.
Yeah, but Rosalind Russell *could *sing. Watch her in Gypsysometime.
I kind of figured that I would be in the minority on this, but I thought Lucille Ball did an absolutely excellent job in Mame, although I will say that hers was the first version that I ever saw, and in fact I didn’t see the original “Auntie Mame” until much later as an adult, and by then, in my mind, Lucille Ball was Mame…
Besides, how absolutely perfect was the late, great Bea Arthur as Vera Charles?
Roz was bolstered by Lisa Kirk, whose voice was blended with Russell’s in most of the songs.
THAT, you’ll get no argument from me on. Bea originated the role on Broadway and was absolutely perfect.
Ah, such a great movie. The books are good too, if you’ve never read them.
Like everything else she did, Rosalind Russell OWNED the role of Mame. The only thing Lucille Ball ever owned was Desi Arnaz.
I did not know that. Thanks!
Since Angela Lansbury isn’t an option, gotta go with Russell. Ball was horrible (especially in her scenes with Arthur, by comparison)
You’re joking, right? That like asking “It’s a Wonderful Life: Jimmy Stewart or Marlo Thomas?”
What sitcom was it where they made a joke about toning down someone’s oldness/ugliness by filming them through the Lucille Ball “Mame” filter? The Simpsons?
Love Auntie Mame! I introduced my daughter to this movie when she was very young & she loves it too. I didn’t bother with the musical, because I find Lucille Ball annoying & to me Russell IS Mame. Perhaps I would have liked the musical version if I’d seen Angela Lansbury in it.
They’re both unbearable to any heterosexual male, but at least Rosalind didn’t try to sing.
Not to mention the set design for Roz’s version!
UT