Mame (1974) - Official WB Region 2 PAL release, plays in English without subtitles

I wasn't going to bother with this version of 'Mame' based on the negative reviews here but then I saw a trailer and it looked so incredibly camp and 'so bad it might it be good' that I couldn't resist. The surprise then was that I absolutely loved it! I doubt anyone can deny that Lucille Ball can't really sing but I found her performance charming and often funny. The supporting cast is good especially Bea Arthur who does steal show as Vera (surely every drag queen ever should sing 'The Man In The Moon Is A Lady') and Jane Connell as Gooch. The songs are great - yes, Angela Lansbury does sing them better but the visuals that go along with them add to their appeal. The title song and 'We Need A Little Christmas' are especially infectious.Its difficult to compare to the Rosalind Russell version as that one doesn't have the songs but Russell is arguably a more stylish Mame and the episode with the awful Upsons is far funnier in the straight version and Pegeen is much more believable as an efficient personal assistant than the frilly Irish maid presented in the musical. I'm pleased to have both versions as well as the soundrack with Lansbury to listen to. So, I whilst I can't guarantee that everyone will love this version of Mame as much as I did, I definitely think its worth a watch.

Met with no small amount of derision at the time of its initial release in 1974, this big screener of the hit Jerry Herman musical is a veritable treasure trove of camp delights, with the incandescent Lucille Ball firing on all comedy cylinders in the titular role. The songs are great, the orchestrations to die for and it looks fabulous. Ball can't sing but who cares because when you're an entertainment legend and know from years in the business how to really 'sell' a performance no matter WHAT they ask you to do, then you know you can just sit back and see how a real pro pulls it out the bag. Which is good because she is on screen for practically the whole movie. A great supporting cast, including film and stage wonder, Robert Preston and the brilliant Bea 'Golden Girls' Arthur give it all they've got (and what they've got is a lot) and if this doesn't 'coax the blues' right out of your hearts come the spectacular deep South-set title song, then you need to check your pulse!

Having seen the stage show at The Broadway Theatre with Angela Lansbury and later with the fantastic Celeste Holm and finally the Ginger Rogers interpretation at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1970, I think that it needs to be stressed that the theatrical and cinematic productions of any show really cannot be compared. yes, it would have been interesting to see any of the former leading ladies on the silver screen version but Lucille Ball makes a terrific Mame and is well supported by a strong veteran cast.I bought this particular version of the DVD as my original copy is region 1, I wanted a region 2 disc and I am not bothered by the Spanish printing on the sleeve. The recording transfer is as good as my US disc and far better than my original VHS tape. The sub-titles in Spanish can be switched off and it is simple to download the English language cover art from the internet. All in all a good recording and excellent value.

There have been so many negative reviews of this film, both when it came out and since, that I felt drawn to judge it myself. Yes, it was shameful that Angela Lansbury was not asked to reprise her Broadway role, but forget that. Lucille Ball is excellent. Witty, poignant and truly sassy.Her singing voice is more Judi Dench than Doris Day but she copes with all her songs, except possibly 'If he walked into my life' which needs more coaxing. All the Broadway songs are there except for Mame's 'That's how young I feel' which is replaced by a number for Beauregard, who is after all played by Robert Preston.He, and the remaining cast , which includes a very young Peter Davison and also Jane Connell and Bea Arthur from Broadway, are fine. Arthur resembles a predatory vulture, especially when sharing a duet with fellow baritone Ball.It's an old-fashioned sentimental film so within over two hours there are slow moments but in general the direction is lively and the script entertaining. I've read of some copies being Spanish and others having the picture in the wrong frame. Luckily mine was OK. So if you can be equally lucky, do enjoy.

Under-rated and undervalued, this is an excellent, hugely entertaining filmed version of Jerry Herman's musical. Lucille Ball's performance is enchanting and poignant. She dances and moves superlatively well (courtesy of Onna White's training and choreography but drawing on a wealth of musical theatre experience) and her singing voice, though tending toward baritone, convinces as warmly expressive of someone who, as Ball herself said, has 'stayed up all night and drank champagne'. Gene Saks keeps the concoction going at a sprightly pace and the costume and set design, the sumptuous photography and Paul Zindel's witty screenplay cannot be faulted. It is a funny and exhilarating movie (the rolling-skating sequence particularly hilarious) but the surprising depth and subtlety of Ball's performance makes it a very touching one too. She is, of course, ably supported by the wonderful Beatrice Arthur, Jane Connell and Robert Preston. Ignore the absurd comparisons with Angela Lansbury's very different interpretation. The DVD transfer is a triumph. Buy it and enjoy.

Been searching for this movie for years... Saw it when I was a teen and loved it. Have seen various edited versions occasionally on TV but never the full unedited version so was delighted when I saw this on Amazon. American import ( as you can't get it in the UK) arrived very quickly considering.. had it in time for Christmas ... just as well there was little else to watch. Both Lucille Ball and Bea Arthur are amazing with a wonderful supporting cast. Tunes you will recognise, Mame, Need a Little Christmas, If he walked into my life, and the iconic Bosom Buddies, to name a few Songs you will find yourself singing along to and tapping your feet in pleasure. Fun for all the family...in my view a must have!!

I am one of the few people who think that Lucille Ball became Auntie Mame in the musical "Mame." Lucy does not have a beautiful voice, but when you watch her perform the songs you realize that you are getting Lucy's personality, which is filled with charm always, and not the charm of some dubbed person who isn't visible.Her Auntie Mame is not Rosalind Russell (who was phenomenol) or Angela Lansbury, who I enjoyed in the musical on Broadway. Lucille Ball's Auntie Mame is less a caricature and far more realistic. Two of my favorite scenes is the dancing with the young Patrick in the speakeasy and the encounter with the Upsons. Lucy's performance in the Upson scene is the best I've seen. She is natural, beautiful, and realistic in response to the Upson's bigotry.Lucy looks great in the film despite her age, and the soft focus close ups are not new actresses. They've been used forever and frankly I don't know why they used it.I don't appreciate Paul Zindel's scrips or the direction. It doesn't move things alove as quickly as this kind of movie musical demands, but that's not Lucy's fault or the fault of her performance.The fox hunt could not be done by any other actress. Watch that entire scene again and see how many emotions and facial expressions enliven that whole scene and then transmogrify into an appealing shyness in the song "Mame."I don't just "Love Lucy," I love what she did with Auntie Mame.

Ótimo filme. Imagem sem nenhuma melhoria em relação ao DVD. A Warner tem de melhorar a qualidade de alguns filmes, alguns ótimos, outros de qualidade de imagem sem cuidado nenhum na transferência para Blu ray.

Nice movie and story, but its proven that our beloved Lucy really cant sing

i dont think anything all around good show it was interesting the story line is good

Für alle Musical Freunde ein MUSS. Lucille Ball in ihrer besten Rolle, obwohl sie von den Kritikern zerrissen wurde. Alle weiteren Rollen top besetzt. Die Handlung erinnert ein wenig an Annie oder Oliver. Habe mich selten so gut unterhalten. Das Bild auf der US Blu ray wurde gut aufbereitet. Der Ton ist in Mono, trotzdem sehr gut. Die Gründe weshalb Warner die Audio Spur nicht in 5.1 remastert hat, sind ausführlich im Netz zu lesen. Auf jeden Fall eine Bereicherung für jede Filmmusical Sammlung.