Coral Browne, Forrest Tucker, Fred Clark

An eccentric woman adopts an orphan boy and introduces him to a variety of experiences. She eventually becomes wealthy when a millionaire she marries dies in an accident.

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93% liked it

6,904 ratings

Critics

92% liked it

13 critics

Unrated, 2 hrs. 23 min.

Directed by: Morton DaCosta

Release Date: December 27, 1958

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DVD Release Date: October 1, 2002

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Flixster Reviews (599)


  • November 17, 2008
    SOOOO 1958 with all the wacky furniture and such, but oh-so cute and entertaining. Kinda long, though!
  • August 2, 2008
    the 1958 "auntine mame" is the pinnacle of rosalind russell's career, and it does jolly rosalind great justice to glitter her comic genius in screwball comedy gendre that had been neglected or underused before. overlooked by most, rosalind russell has uncanny parallel to another ...( read more)classic star katehrine hepburn who was also a screwball diva in the 30s, considering her numberous collaborations with cary grant like "bringing up baby". they share the traits of being tall fair brunette and both funny with their non-stop swift-paced british accents except hepburn had more sharp edginess within her aggressive mannerism which has been constantly mocked in movies like "woman of the year" and "philadelphia story". (after all, we all like to cut a lofy dame down, aren't we?)

    mame dennis is an eccentric socialite from the roaring 20s, wallowing in an extravangant life of endless gayety and diversities of styles and interior decors. mame has a stuff-shirted brother who sets up a will to keep her little son from her "bad influence" after he passes away. unfortunately it arrives soon, so auntine mame is ready to open doors for her nephew with mighty enthusiasm.

    the title protagonist auntie mame is a larger than life character as you cannot demand realism upon such a cozy heart-warming fair tale. it is a comedy which relies upon its witty lines nourished by its deviant naivete of exaggerated demeanors. and this sort of comedies could merely exist among the 50s (age of innocence despite its fatal mccarthyism) since the cleverly phrased comedy without relishing profanity is no longer popular after the mid 60s, another read-between-the-lines "refined" humor celebrating "santized bohemianism".

    the philosophy behind "auntine mame" is more of a hygienic hedonism without the darkness of alcoholism and prosmiscuity as mame exclaims "life is a bandquet, and most suckers are starving to death". and it does pose some anti-bourgeois sign without intruding middle-classed moralisticness. perhaps it casts a positive user-friendly democratic view that everyone should live beyond prejudice to appreciate a lovable cucko-cucko like auntine mame with enormous social acceptance. and my conclusion would be auntie mame is a fruitation of indulgent whims upon childlike innocence.

    one praise goes for orry-kelly who designs most clothes for warner bro. from 30s~40s,, also lots of bette davis vehicles like jezebell and little foxes. and rosalind russel does have episodic sections of various dyed hairdos and exotic costumes, and she even dresses herself like a drogn lady with a dragon-headed doorgate which fumes everytime guest rings the bell. that anchors the great idiocyncrasy of auntine mame.

    except katherine hepburn, no other actress could deliver those oddball lines so well so proficiently as rosalind russell who is mildly underrated. russell does appear as demure love interest in her 30s mgm days in flicks like "china seas" and "they met in bombay" with, again, clark gable. russel could be competent in most roles hepburn made prestige among 30s~40s. the major distinction would be russell is more feminine and less domineering and invasive than hepburn. thus rosalind russell makes an appropriate goofy adorable auntine mame as every adolescent boy's ideal auntine. an escapic retreatment for childhood dreams.
  • August 1, 2008
    Rosalind Russell is terriffic in this 1958 musical film version of the stage and novel hit. Auntie Mame (Russell) has her only surviving family member whom is her young nephew move in after his father passes away. Mame is a very colorful woman and together they open each other's ...( read more)eyes with a lot of crazy charaters and moments along the way....a very good movie.
  • June 1, 2007
    Of all the "Mame" film versions out there, this is the best. It is witty and fun, but at its heart it keeps intact the cold longing of the main character's empty heart in an otherwise excessively over-rich life.
  • January 31, 2007
    A so-so film. I have tried watching it in the past and always got bored with it or fell asleep. Well... the tradition continues. I just can't get into this film.
  • August 15, 2009
    Not as good as people make it out to be.
  • August 10, 2009
    possibly the best movie ever
  • August 8, 2009
    Very funny! I think there is a little bit of Auntie Mame in each of us.
  • June 25, 2009
    Just hilarious, with an endlessly quotable script. All the cast are outstanding, from Peggy Cass as Agnes Gooch ("Will it mix with Dr.Pepper?"), Coral Browne as Vera Charles ("My God that moon's bright!") and Joanna Barnes as Gloria ("It was ghastly! Simply ghastly!"). But best o...( read more)f all of course is Rosalind Russell, "Yes! Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!".
    Greatly exceeded my expectations, I wish I had an Auntie Mame.....
  • May 15, 2009
    Life is a banquet...

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Auntie Mame Trivia


  • In what movie do you hear this phrase "Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving"  Answer »
  • Which 1940's movie was later recreated as a musical starring Luciele Ball?  Answer »
  • Who starred in the classic film "Auntie Mame"?  Answer »
  • Rosalind Russell broke her ankle in the first take of the scene where she comes flying down the stairs in her gown with carpi pants in Auntie Mame ?  Answer »

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