Book discussions auntie mame

The book is often described as having been inspired by dennis reallife eccentric aunt, marion tanner. I read dennis book and i have to stress that anyone who loves this film but who has not read the book should read it. Tanner was no longer telling interviewers that his aunt marion was the model for auntie mame, whose wacky adventures were chroncicled in the book. Take a look at this video, you may have seen some of these films but not realized youd seen the. Conflict ensues when the executor of his fathers estate objects to the aunts lifestyle. Auntie mame was based on the novel of the same name by edward everett tanner 3d, who wrote under the pen name patrick dennis the same name as mame s nephew in the play. Through the eyes of her young nephew, patrick, the boisterous and wildly eccentric figure mame is sketched.

Auntie mame received so much success after it was written in fact, that patrick dennis wrote a sequel to the novel, around the world with auntie mame in. Lost classic auntie mame revived after 50year gap books the. An irreverent escapade by patrick dennis goodreads. In the 1950s there was a famous stage version and still more famous film version, both starring the illustrious rosalind russell. Lost classic auntie mame revived after 50year gap books. That was all over by the time she hit mourning becomes electra which was a good ten years before auntie mame. An irreverent escapade is one of my favorite books. Jul 27, 2016 tilda swinton is remaking auntie mame, darling. Rosalind russell in auntie mame auntie mame has lots of memorable lines, including the famous, life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death. 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. The name of it is auntie mame and it should be causing much turbulence in this. She is the very personification of a trouper in those riding scenes even given the fact that stuntwoman audrey scott was her riding double. Flamboyance, indulgence, and hilarious adventure are entertainingly amalgamated into patrick denniss much beloved rare book, auntie mame.

I reread and study auntie mame like a hilarious, glamorous bible where, among other wise lessons, one learns that true sophistication and innocence are two halves of the same glittering coin. Aug 18, 2016 originally created by novelist patrick dennis in 1955, the story of auntie mame has resonated with generations of gay men and a new film adaptation starring tilda swinton may be on its way. Auntie mame by jerome lawrence goodreads share book. Auntie mame charles buschs specialty of playing classy ladies with a twist makes him an inspired choice to take on an iconic role in gay culture. Theyre a series of chapters, each one with a different adventure. Whos read auntie mame and the followup around the world with auntie mame by patrick dennis. Hurricanes may be out of season, but one blew into the music hall yesterday, along with the christmas stage show. It was made into a play, a broadway and a hollywood musical, and a fabulous movie starring rosalind russell. 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. It was made into a play, a broadway as well as a hollywood musical, and a fabulous movie starring rosalind russell. But i soon warmed to it, largely because of rosalind russells vivacious performance. Auntie mame was a handsome, sparkling, scatterbrained and warmhearted lady who brightened the american landscape from 1928 to the immediate past by her whimsical besides being the source for one of americas most popular musicals, auntie mame set a standard for broadway comedy thats been sought after ever since.

This 1958 film version permits rosalind russell to recreate her stage role as mame dennis, the flamboyant, devilmaycare aunt of. Every page sparkles with wit, style andthough mame would cringe at the thoughthigh moral purpose. Not quite a bad girl but deliciously naughty and so very much fun. She felt that rosalind russell had clearly gotten some of her inspiration for her performance in the nonmusical auntie mame 1958 from miss balls character on the tv series, i love lucy 1951. Rosalind russell is auntie mame and there is no doubt in my mind that she being cast in the role was a perfect choice. Marion tanner, known as model for mame the new york times.

Auntie mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the new york times bestseller list for 112 weeks. The original 1958 auntie mame was a comedy book and film, but not a musical untill the 1966 broadway play, mame. Mame is a 1974 technicolor musical film in panavision based on the 1966 broadway musical of the same name itself based on the 1958 film auntie mame and the 1955 novel auntie mame by patrick dennis. The upsons are shocked when vera points out that mame s book will be the raciest of the year, but are even more scandalized when they learn that agnes is unwed. A classic musical based on the novel auntie mame by patrick dennis and the play auntie mame by jerome lawrence and robert e. Mame is one of the iconic figures of american literature and the novel was one of the bestselling books of the twentieth century. The loco in her parentis an eccentric, a free spirit and an unflaggingly openminded heroine, mame dennis taught more than one protege including nprs bob mondello. Im currently reading auntie mamewhat a riotous romp. Through all of her adventures, mame s true loyalty lies with patrick, and his with her and together, they remind everyone that life is a banquet, and most poor sonsofbitches are starving to death. If it feels good and doesnt harm anyone, go for it. From play, to film, to broadway musical, auntie mame is a madcap joyride for audiences of all ages. I suspect the episodic framework of the novel is due to mr dennis satirizing the format and content of readers digest magazine, which was composed of short, upbeat pieces about safely conventional people and social mores. Buy a cheap copy of around the world with auntie mame book by patrick dennis. Then norah took the pictures of my mother and auntie mame out of their frames and cut them.

Auntie mame is the most refreshingly wonderful loving brilliant articulate woman who still sees the world as a place to be explored and who marvels in her own unique way and its wonders. Well, ill never get away with that as a proper book report. Auntie mame is the funniest movie to come out of the 1950s. An irreverent escapade and millions of other books are available for instant access. Run along to ito and tell him to bring me a light breakfast black coffee and a side car. I remember the first time i saw rosalind russell give that dynamic, memorable performance as auntie mame. Lets hope patrick dennis is finally recognized for what he is. Tanner said that his book was based on his aunt, a reallife bon vivant and eccentric named marion tanner. I guess it started out with entries to the readers digest. 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. Risque is a word not often used today, but it applies in full force to auntie mame the book and the character. Auntie mame by morton da costa morton da costa, rosalind. Around the world with auntie mame book by patrick dennis. Auntie mame, a novel by patrick dennisvanguard press.

Patrick dennis, author of the book and auntie mames fictional nephew, is a pseudonym for author edward everett tanner, iii. 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. 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. Read the full synopsis of auntie mame, 1958, directed by morton dacosta, with rosalind russell, forrest tucker, coral browne, at turner classic movies. Auntie mame is a unique literary achievementa brilliant novel disguised as a lightweight piece of fluff. Patrick dennis, the author of the original book, was bisexual and married to a woman, but well known in the greenwich village gay scene. Click here to sign up to the irish times book club. An eccentric, a free spirit and an unflaggingly openminded heroine, mame dennis taught more than one protege including nprs bob.

In 1955, auntie mame spent 112 weeks on the new york times bestseller list, but that was only her first act. I have always loved the movie auntie mame with rosalind russell and i have the soundtrack from the musical with angela landsbury. You truly do not want to miss out on some of the worlds best writing. Edward everett tanner iii 18 may 1921 6 november 1976, known by the pseudonym patrick dennis, was an american author. 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. Lawrence and lee wrote the play for her, but she wanted them to close it down completely when she left to make the statement that there was no other mame but roz.

Jul 24, 2010 lost classic auntie mame revived after 50year gap this article is more than 9 years old. Mame dennis is a fictional character in the book, auntie mame by author patrick dennis, whos real name was edward everett tanner iii. The loco in her parentis an eccentric, a free spirit and an unflaggingly openminded heroine, mame dennis taught more. Mame is a musical with the book by jerome lawrence and robert edwin lee and music and lyrics by jerry herman. Fans hold earnest discussions as to the propriety of the southern scenes there was a whole thread going on all that chat about the southern part of mame and if we could now still do it. Tanner was no longer telling interviewers that his aunt marion was the model for auntie mame, whose wacky adventures were chroncicled in the book that was on bestseller lists. Auntie mame original, play, comedy, broadway opened in new york city oct 31, 1956 and played through jun 28, 1958. Sign in or create your guardian account to join the discussion. May 21, 2012 obtaining the book should not be difficult, as copies are readily available from a number of booksellers and libraries. Patrick dennis famous auntie mame has so many incarnations that it can be hard to keep track. 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, funloving, and irresistible aunt.

I probably read the book when i was about 15 and loved it. Here youve been taking my dictations for weeks and you havent gotten the message of my book. Movies ac this category is for questions and answers related to auntie mame, as asked by users of. 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. This film version stars rosalind russell and was directed by morton dacosta. Auntie mame was a handsome, sparkling, scatterbrained and warmhearted lady who brightened the american landscape from 1928 to the immediate past by her whimsical this fabulously successful hit hardly needs introduction. The wonderful staircase in auntie mame s beekman place apartment was a standing set at warner brothers used in over 14 films between 1948 and the early 1960s. Auntie mame was based on the novel of the same name by edward everett tanner 3d, who wrote under the pen name patrick dennis the same name as mames nephew in the play. July 30, 2008 an eccentric, a free spirit and an unflaggingly openminded heroine, mame dennis taught more. I dont know quite where she came from, but auntie mame appeared one day in a stack of old paperback books i. An irreverent escapade 1955 was one of the bestselling american books of the 20th century.

Mame 1974 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. His golf clubs and my old books and toys were sent off to a charity. Three years later, thousands of fans celebrated her. Perhaps its mame s flamboyant life is a banquet attitude, perhaps its her clothes, perhaps its her perseverance in the face of adversity. Auntie mame is a 1955 novel by patrick dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, patrick, growing up as the ward of the sister of his dead father. Lucille balls involvement in this film began in an interesting way. Mame denniss eccentric, bohemian lifestyle is interrupted when her late brothers son is entrusted to her care. One, dated july 14, 1929, features such random terms as. 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. And now patrick denniss dazzling novel auntie mameis back in print on this side of the. If there was one part i would give my soul to do, its this one. In chronological vignettes, the narrator also named patrick recalls his adventures growing up under the wing of his madcap aunt, mame dennis. Auntie mame was his most successful, making him a millionaire and a celebrity in new york.

A team of editors takes feedback from our visitors to keep trivia as up to date and as accurate as possible. 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. However, patricks father has designated an executor to his will to protect the boy from absorbing too much of mame s rather unconventional perspective. There has been quite a discussion in another thread about stereo tracks for auntie mame. This book by patrick dennis is about his auntie mame. Also, i find a lot of stylistic similarity between mame and the music man, also a warners technirama production directed by original broadway director. 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. Book reflects on overlooked role of aunts the complete book of aunts covers everything from aunts in literature and film, to remembrances from nieces and nephews who had unusual relationships with. Why auntie mame has resonated with generations of gay men. Auntie mame, the book, is not just an inspiration but a hilarious, serious, sarcastic, bombastic, exceptional, tremendous and loving look at the life of one of those people you wish you had a chance to know personally. Charles busch, author of the tale of the allergists wife and vampire lesbians of sodom auntie mame is the american alice in wonderland. Young patrick dennis, orphaned at the age of 9, is sent to live with his. Mame is an unconventional individualist socialite from the roaring 20s. Lifes a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.

Freespirited mame takes the boy on irreverent escapades through the bohemian 1920s, the ravages of the great depression, the tribulations of her many loves and her plea for social justice. Auntie mame quizzes there are 28 questions on this topic. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital. Its far funnier and frankly, far better than the lucile ball musical remake, mame, but its nowhere near as charming.