SincereFinest disgusting, overrated, pointless

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Keeley Coleman The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

elvircorhodzic AUNTIE MAME is a funny romantic comedy about growing up and maturing. This movie is not only a good Christmas party for the high society. Serious social and family reviews are presented through a series of virtual sketches and comic situations.An eccentric bohemian from New York gets custody of her nephew. She has tried to raise her nephew as a liberal-minded man. However, one uptight aristocrat has crouched in him...Except for some absurd situations and mild exaggeration, this comedy is one „tireless" fun. The rich and ruthless society has been presented with a certain irony. The story, in certain moments, has a sentimental character, but these moments usually end up with a banal phrase. Costume design is very appropriate for the theme in this film.Rosalind Russell as Mame Dennis is a talkative woman, who lives carelessly in luxury with her own whims. Her nephew has made a change in her character. One reckless innovator and spendthrifts becomes a traditional housewife. One egomaniac becomes a caring person full of love and generosity. Roger Smith as Patrick Dennis (older) and Jan Handzlik as Patrick Dennis (younger) are interesting characters between a curious boy and mature man. They will allow their aunt to show them the freedom of life. However, she will turn their lives upside down.Their support are a rich and witty oil man from the south, a sly and arrogant banker, a myopic secretary, tipsy actress, a family pair as the embodiment of petty bourgeois, unwanted bride, maid with good reviews and servant with the "most beautiful" smile in the world.One crazy and somewhat unconvincing comedy, which has the strength, defiance and heart in the right place.

mmallon4 It's hard for me not to be complete enamoured by a movie and a character like Auntie Mame. Two and half hours of zany histrionics with a central character who is a fee thinking, non conformist and constantly has a joyous, optimistic outlook on life; oh, and did I mention she is a total screwball. Few other fictional characters seem to led such an exciting life that I as the viewer am actually is jealous off ("Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are just starving to death!"). If I ever amass a huge fortune then perhaps I can try to emulate the lifestyle of Mame. OK even with a huge fortune that probably wouldn't be possible in this mundane realm that is reality but I can at least try. Auntie Mame is one of the most liberal movies to come out of the 1950's. Mame's carefree, flamboyant, free thinking and non conformist lifestyle clashes with a decade which is thought of as being the most conformist of the 20th century. It should come as no surprise this movie has a huge gay following as the title character is essentially a drag queen. At the beginning of the movie we see Mame throwing a party full of bohemians, intellectuals and champagne socialists ("Karl Marx, is he one of the Marx Brothers?"), essentially the predecessors to the modern day hipster. During the first 50 minutes of Auntie Mame the liberals are the one's having fun while the stuffy, puritan conservative Mr Babbock is being driven mad by Mame's antics and instance that her nephew be sent to a be sent to a progressive school over a conservative prep school, a school with ancient Greek principles, has no uniforms and as the movie's implies, teaches sex education in a very odd manner. However Auntie Mame isn't a total demonisation of conservatives. In the middle portion of the movie she does end up getting married to a southern gentleman and an oil tycoon of whom lives lives on a plantation and goes fox hunting, which does show you that love can overcome ideology. Likewise when Mame returns to her apartment after the death of her husband, the next few incarnations of her constantly redesigned apartment as well as her outfits are not as camp, possibly suggesting her husband's influence on her. Well at least until the second last incarnation of her apartment which is very avant-garde.With the movie's references to sex and homosexuality among other things, Auntie Mame falls into the category of "how did they get away with that?". Yet as liberal as the movie is for its time (and in many respects still is), the liberal of today is the conservative of tomorrow. Some of Mame's actions wouldn't rub with the modern left such as her desire to settle down with a man and her motherly instincts.The Kaleidoscope opening credits set the stage for a film which is a feast for the eyes and ears. They really put effort into these early widescreen era title sequences in one of many attempts for film to compete against television. Likewise Mame's lavish apartment is a masterpiece of set design as it evolves throughout the movie, with each incarnation being as impressive as the last. The movie doesn't lose its stage roots which each act ending with the dimming of the lights with the spotlight on Mame before completely going to dark.I am a huge Rosalind Russell fan and I know it's a cliché expression but it usage couldn't be any more adapt here: this is the role she was born to play! How is it possible of a human being to talk at such a voracious rate? I do wonder how long the script for Auntie Mame must have been. There are probably more words in this movie than the Encyclopedia Britannica. Whenever there is a moment free of any dialogue I have little think to myself, "oh yes, silence, I forgot what that feels like". When Roz's motor mouth isn't running, she's pulling at my heart strings; there are times when I wish I could just go into the screen and hug her. I can't stress enough my love for the actress, the performance and the fictional character. Auntie Mame is an encapsulation of pure unmitigated joy. When I'm feeling down, I know what movie I'll be turning to.

atlasmb While I agree with the general theme of the film--live life to its fullest--I cannot say that I find the film very successful. I had a grandmother who was rather flamboyant--artistic, outspoken, colorful, free-thinking. And genuine. It may be a minor point, but I find Mame's willingness to pretend to be what she is not ungenuine.Would I want to know someone like Mame? Probably not. She is entertaining, but I think I would find her flightiness and exaggeration annoying.I still recommend "Auntie Mame", but I cannot agree with those who place it among their pantheons of cinema. One wrote that Rosalind Russell was born to play the title role. She probably plays it as well as anyone could, but I must point to her role in "Picnic" as her crowning cinematic performance. One writer said that it's a long movie, but it goes by fast. I cannot agree. I felt it lagged, especially in the second half, and mostly during the fox hunt scene, which was out of place, as if purloined from "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."I think the director wanted to maintain a reference with the (so successful) stage play by opting to end "acts" of the film with the stylish fade outs. I think the method is slightly too precious and self-conscious. The ending feels a little contrived in that manner. For comparison, I prefer the ending of "Camelot", with Richard Harris' touching lines.The bottom line is that I think the film could have been more. There is plenty of acting talent on the screen.

utgard14 Orphaned boy is raised by flamboyant aunt (Rosalind Russell) and we see him go from child to man. The whole movie is basically a hurricane performance by Russell, as she blows away everybody else on screen. The rest of the cast is fine (with one noticeable exception), but Russell is on a different planet. The exception to the fine cast is Peggy Cass as Agnes Gooch. I couldn't stand this character or the performance. It was so theatrical it felt out of place. One could argue Russell's performance was theatrical as well, but being a screen vet she knew how to strike the right balance between the two. I could picture Cass doing this shtick in the play and it would go over big. As a matter of fact, it did go over big as she won a Tony for it. But, to me, it does not translate to screen well at all. Regardless, it's a good movie. Fun, witty, and full of heart. I preferred the first half most. Once Gooch and Robin Hughes' character enter the picture it loses a little of its shine. I am sure my opinion on that is in the minority, but it's how I feel. See it for yourself and decide.