From the cartoon kaleidoscope opening to the last walk up the staircase for Mame Dennis, this comically-contrived and highly theatrical movie version of the celebrated Broadway success is nevertheless pleasing in almost every sense. Director Morton DaCosta, who also helmed the stage version, uses the theatricality of the piece to his advantage, giving the proceedings the shiny look and feel of a holiday bauble. The movie takes off running, bursting with chatter and frivolity, and Rosalind Russell is a great crazy-quilt hostess, often going in three directions at once. The story of an orphaned lad in 1928 who goes to live with his batty aunt in New York City started life as a book by Patrick Dennis, with Russell playing the lead once it was turned into a play. The film-version doesn't try to disguise the stage origins, but then it doesn't really have to; DaCosta keeps the pacing so brisk, with characters entering and exiting rapidly, that initially the viewer may feel as though something important may have been missed. The picture isn't loaded down with artificial charm. On the contrary, the romantic sub-plot between Russell and oil tycoon Forrest Tucker (which, again, is quick--in and out) is genuinely sweet (this is Tucker's triumph as much as it is Russell's) and the supporting players are impeccably well-cast, bouncing off each other like frenetic ornaments. While the plot does slip into an episodic structure (and does feel a bit lengthy),the smooth maneuvering of characters and quirks and hang-ups and hang-overs is an awful lot of fun. As for Russell, she gives shading and feeling to this woman; her exuberance can be taken as a put-on (for laughs),yet we never lose sight of Mame Dennis as a ballsy, bright lady, and she never lapses into bitchiness. Mame may have been real, or maybe just a literary confection, but she isn't a phony. She believes life is a banquet, and gets us to believe it too. *** from ****

I really liked the first portion of the movie when the little boy went to go live with his flamboyant and fun Auntie Mame. Watching all the interaction between her and the boy was really sweet and fun. And, when other "do gooders" tried to make her be a more conventional parent, this provided some wonderful moments as well. And so, up until towards the end, I really loved this film. And then, out of nowhere, the kid suddenly grows up in the space of only a few minutes and the film ends?! It was as if someone in charge said "hey--they public doesn't need a three hour film--just stop here and no one will be the wiser". And so, the story just seems to abruptly stop and left me very unsatisfied. It's too bad, as Rosalind Russell was in top form as the amazingly odd but lovable Auntie Mame.

When his parents are killed, young Patrick Dennis now orphaned is delivered to the tender care of financial trust adviser banker Fred Clark and to the guardianship of his only living relation, his irrepressible Auntie Mame.

I'm not sure that young Patrick played by Jan Handzlik would not have wanted a normal childhood, but if fate makes you an orphan, you can do a whole lot worse and most have than to be raised by an Auntie Mame. She's well fixed and like a lot of people in the Twenties lived like there would be no tomorrow.

But Russell is made of stern stuff and she meets the Great Depression head on and in the process marries Forrest Tucker who leaves her a wealthy widow with more than she ever thought possible.

Mame Dennis is one of those larger than life roles that takes a larger than life personality to fill it. She's certainly done well with those who have played here. Rosalind Russell who played Auntie Mame on stage for 639 performances from 1956 to 1958 made the role her big career role. Certainly Angela Lansbury and Lucille Ball who did the role when Auntie Mame became the musical Mame operated under a tremendous handicap when they were compared. Russell dominates the part, the part never dominates her however.

Director Morton DaCosta who directed Russell on stage brought two other Broadway cast members for the screen. Young Jan Handzlik who played Patrick Dennis as a child and Peggy Cass as her mousy secretary Agnes Gooch who goes out and experiences life all too well. Russell's rapport with young Handzlik is an integral part of her performance and DaCosta was wise indeed to make sure he was cast.

Best part of the film is when grownup Patrick played now by Roger Smith wants to marry bubble-head heiress Joanna Barnes and Russell takes steps to make sure that doesn't happen. Her intimate dinner party for Barnes and her WASP parents Willard Waterman and Lee Patrick who are proud that they live in an exclusive and 'restricted' part of Connecticut is a swinging affair for the ages.

Russell got her fourth and last nomination for Best Actress, but was unfortunately up against Susan Hayward that year for I Want To Live who many in the Academy also considered way overdue for recognition. In fact that year no one was going to beat Hayward for that particular performance.

Still for a play set in a particular time, Auntie Mame is frequently revived today both as a play and as the musical Mame. Rosalind Russell made it a classic for the ages.