I’m a huge fan of the original Broadway production of Mame, which I saw was with Angela Lansbury – she was on stage, I was in a seat.
It was a extraordinary and vibrant entertainment.
In 1974, WB which owned the rights to the original Auntie Mame (available on Blu-ray from WB, in all its wonderful Technirama beauty), decided to make a film version of the musical play.
To this day, I don’t understand why they didn’t use Ms Lansbury for the lead, and in her place, went with Lucille Ball.
Ms Ball couldn’t sing. They didn’t use voice replacement, and at that age was no longer the dancer she may have been when a Goldwyn Girl.
They did use Bea Arthur, and she’s wonderful, along with Robert Preston.
There is a large and resolute audience for this disc, and Warner Archive, has released a gorgeous Blu-ray.
Presumably derived from a very high quality interpositive of reasonably recent production, all of the color, especially the vibrancy of reds is fully intact. Blacks are perfect.
It’s a beautifully shot film – highly resolved when need be, and heavily veiled (Ms Ball was 63) when necessary, which was virtually every shot in which she was included.
All of the history aside, Mame, as a representation of the original musical, is an important release, and the quality here, is superb.
I wouldn’t be honest, if I opined that Lucy is terrific in the lead role.
As a disc, it is perfect Warner Archive quality.
Image – 5
Audio – 5 (monaural)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Upgrade from earlier Blu-ray – You betcha!
RAH
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