Auntie Mame
Composite Score: 81.93
Starring: Rosalind Russell, Forrest Tucker, Coral Browne, Fred Clark, Roger Smith, Patric Knowles, Peggy Cass, Jan Handzlik, Joanna Barnes, Pippa Scott, Lee Patrick, Willard Waterman, Robin Hughes, Connie Gilchrist, and Yuki Shimoda
Director: Morton DaCosta
Writers: Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Patrick Dennis
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Drama
MPAA Rating: Approved
Box Office: $23.30 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
I want to preface this review by saying that the only reason Auntie Mame is not higher up this blog’s list is its lack of a Metacritic score, which is a tragedy, but consistency must be maintained. This film is a comedy classic featuring a strong, confident female lead in Mame Dennis portrayed masterfully by Rosalind Russell (who was robbed of the Oscar in my opinion, but I’ve not seen I Want to Live!, so I could be wrong). The comedy holds up almost perfectly in the sixty-four years that have passed since the film’s original release. The costuming and set design create a wonderful world of extravagance hat simply begs to be watched, and I cannot recommend this film enough.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
I mentioned that the comedy holds up almost perfectly. There is one bit in Auntie Mame that has not aged as well as the rest, and that is Mame’s Japanese manservant Ito, played by Yuki Shimoda. No doubt roles for Asian-Americans and Asians in general were scarce in the late-50s and early 60s, especially with many going to non-Asian actors, so the performance is by no means the fault of Yuki Shimoda. However, the portrayal of Ito as written in the film comes across as mildly stereotypical (I say mildly because I have Breakfast at Tiffany’s on my mind). Ito is a loyal servant and driver who is a part of Mame’s complex family and all that, but he is also portrayed as not-too-bright, struggling with certain consonants, and laughing at everything in a way that is all too reminiscent of negative Asian stereotypes. The rest of the film is phenomenal, but to not mention this clearly problematic portrayal would be an injustice to an entire demographic of film audiences.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
For starters, Rosalind Russell is perfect in this role. She reprises her performance from the stage production of Auntie Mame and does so in phenomenal form. Her comedic timing, motherly tenderness, intense facial expressivity, and romantic musings characterize and personify this larger-than-life maternal figure who shapes the upbringing of young Patrick while also being the epitome of a strong, independent, usually single woman. Her portrayal garnered an Oscar nomination, BAFTA nomination, and Golden Globe win that year, and all of those accolades are well-deserved.
Another of Auntie Mame’s triumphs comes in the form of its visuals. The set, costume, and color design in this film are on another level in terms of visual pleasure. Mame’s consistently bright and bedazzled outfits shine brighter than a Beyoncé album cover and are equally as stylish. The many transformations that her apartment undergoes over the course of the film match well with the mood of the action. From eccentric to mournful to classy to foreign, every idea is captured by the set decorators who had the project of designing Mame’s apartment for this film.
Finally, what keeps Auntie Mame among the greats is its ability to age incredibly well. Subtle witticisms that remain as funny today as they were in 1958 abound in the film’s script, with nods to topics that remain fairly touchy even in the modern day. Even the film’s story does a phenomenal job of not becoming dated by its period (aside maybe from celebrations of extravagant wealth). It champions independent women, promotes more experimental and experiential-based education and bucks traditional classroom methods, and pushes back against the prejudices of the wealthy classes in America (in this case specifically the anti-Semitic prejudices but more broadly against all types). This is a film made to last, and it does just that.
Auntie Mame is a triumph of visuals, comedy, acting, and story, vaulting into the ranks of Greatest Films of All Time. A problematic portrayal of Asians from the 1950s must be noted and examined more closely but should not keep you from watching this otherwise Great film. It is currently available to rent on Amazon, if you are interested.
