Auntie Mame

Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade is a 1955 novel by American author Patrick Dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, Patrick, growing up as the ward of his Aunt Mame Dennis, the sister of his dead father.

This article is about the novel by Patrick Dennis. For the 1958 film, see Auntie Mame (film). For the musical, see Mame (musical).
Auntie Mame
First edition cover
AuthorPatrick Dennis
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
PublisherVanguard Press
Publication date
January 21, 1955[1]
Media typePrint (hardback and paperback)
Pages280
Followed byAround the World with Auntie Mame 
Rosalind Russell and Polly Rowles in the original 1956 Broadway production of Auntie Mame

The book is often described as having been inspired by Dennis' real-life eccentric aunt, Marion Tanner,[2] whose life and outlook mirrored those of Mame, but Dennis denied the connection. The novel was a runaway bestseller, setting records on the New York Times bestseller list, with more than 2 million copies in print during its initial publication. It became the basis of a stage play,[3] a film,[3] a stage musical, and a film musical.

In 1958, Dennis wrote a sequel titled Around the World with Auntie Mame.

Adaptations

The novel was adapted for the stage by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. Running from October 31, 1956, to June 28, 1958, at the Broadhurst Theatre, the original Broadway production starred Rosalind Russell in the title role.[4] The original Broadway cast also included Robert Allen as Mr. Babcock, Yuki Shimoda as Ito, Robert Smith as Beau, Polly Rowles as Vera Charles, Jan Handzlik as young Patrick and Peggy Cass as Agnes Gooch.[5] In 1957, both Russell and Cass were nominated for Tony Awards, and Cass won the award. A West Coast touring production, starring Eve Arden in the title role and Benay Venuta as Vera Charles, ran from August 4 to December 13, 1958, with stops at San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.[6]

The British production of the play opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on September 10, 1958 and ran for 301 performances, closing on 30 May, 1959. Beatrice Lillie played the title role, with Florence Desmond as Vera Charles (later replaced by Joan Peart). Dinsdale Landen played Patrick Dennis (as a man), Agnes Gooch was Rosamund Greenwood and Jill Melford played Pegeen Ryan.[7]

In December 1958, a film of the same title based on the play was released by Warner Brothers with Russell, Shimoda, Handzlik and Cass reprising their roles.[3] Russell and Cass were both nominated for an Academy Award, and Russell won a Golden Globe for her portrayal.

In 1966, a musical version titled Mame, starring Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur, opened on Broadway.

In 1974, the musical was made into a film of the same title starring Lucille Ball, Bea Arthur (reprising her stage role), and Robert Preston. This film was a failure at the box office—despite breaking attendance records during its Radio City Music Hall run—and critics generally panned it for Ball's singing ability and thought she was not up to the part (she was 62 years old).

In 2016, screenwriter Annie Mumolo told Vanity Fair that she was working on a "modern-day" adaptation of the novel as a film with Tilda Swinton as Mame.[8]

Re-issues

In September 2001, the book was re-released in paperback by Broadway Books, an imprint of Random House.

In 2009, the Italian publisher Adelphi re-released the book, which had been out of print for many years in its Italian translation, under the title Zia Mame; the book reached the top spot on Italian bestseller lists and stayed there for many weeks, an unusual performance for a re-release.[9]

References
  1. "List of the Books Coming Out Today". The New York Times: 21. January 21, 1955.
  2. "MARION TANNER, KNOWN AS MODEL FOR 'MAME' (Published 1985)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-04-10.
  3. Crowther, Bosley (1958-12-05). "Screen: 'Auntie Mame'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  4. Beatrice Lillie was the replacement for Greer Garson (Broadway and London)
    Beatrice Lillie – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB
    Greer Garson – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB
  5. Auntie Mame at the Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  6. "Auntie Mame – Broadway Play – 1958-1958 Tour | IBDB".
  7. Wearing, J. P. (1993). The London stage, 1950-1959 : a calendar of plays and players. Metuchen, New Jersey. ISBN 0-8108-2690-9. OCLC 27897126.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. Annie Mumolo on Life After Bridesmaids and Her Secret Project with Tilda Swinton
  9. "SAP NetWeaver Portal". Ibuk.it. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
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