For much of my life, I have loved the movie “Auntie Mame” but only the film staring actress Rosalind (Roz) Russell. Russell, a Waterbury, Connecticut native played Mame in the 1958 movie. It impacted me to the point that I have mimicked Mame’s lifestyle and that is to bring everybody into “the party” and see what happens. Think big, no matter what, help others, let life unfurl.
I also own the book from which the film was made. Written by Edward Everett Tanner III under the pseudonym of Patrick Dennis, it was first released some 55 years ago. The cover of the first printing of the book looks like the photo below. Do you love that braceleted gloved hand or what?…the pink and black, love it! The cover is very en vogue today.
So low and behold I see today in 2010, that Tanner’s book is a very hot commodity in Italy, in fact it’s a best seller. Gosh maybe I’ve been ahead of my time with embracing that whole “Mame” thing. In Italian, Auntie Mame is translated Zia Mame, cute right?
The New York Times says after 15 reprints and sales of more than 280,000 copies, 30,000 of which were sold in the pre-Christmas rush, many are puzzled.
Some believe people are harkening back to a more simpler time because the economy is so tough right now. The novel is one of the Depression era about a glamorous, free-spirited Manhattan socialite. She teaches her nephew, for whom she becomes a surrogate mother after he was orphaned, to live life to its fullest. I highly recommend this fun film, who couldn’t use some of Mame’s strong-spirited nature right now.
Is there an Auntie Mame in your life? I’d love to hear your story.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Ann Nyberg
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