Grey Gardens: What We Can Learn From The Edies
HBO's film remake of 1975 documentary Grey Gardens finally airs amidst great fanfare tonight. Both the film and the documentary feature the lives of two society belles-turned-eccentric-shut-ins: a mother (nicknamed "Big Edie," played by Jessica Lange in the upcoming film) and daughter (known as "Little Edie," courtesy of Drew Barrymore this time around).
Their story: these relatives of Jackie Kennedy -- once the toast of the bon ton - have been languishing for decades in their East Hampton mansion, which has fallen into shocking disrepair. The documentary has fascinated and horrified audiences for nearly thirty-five years.
I've been anticipating the new film with a measure of trepidation. The original documentary - which was accused by some as having predatory undertones as it probed the lives of the Edies - was at least a bald, honest portrait of lives that had taken a bizarre turn. When I watched it for the first time, I was intrigued and repulsed like everyone else: the garbage in the kitchen! The dilapidation!
Yet I feel strangely protective of the Edies as new film's premiere draws closer. Will this generation hold the women up as objects of fascination - or ridicule? Will the portrayals lapse into campiness, or treat the subjects with nuance and respect?
After all, one of the most remarkable aspects of the original Grey Gardens was the naked vulnerability of its subjects, the sort of blithe openness that often accompanies owners of grand delusions.
Americans have always had a tenuous relationship with the idea of eccentricity, unlike our forebears in England, where eccentrics occupy a hallowed part of the cultural fabric. Of course, the Brits would love eccentricity, since for them, it has aristocratic undertones; they love their aristocrats.
But in America, eccentricity has different connotations. If we happen to like a person who has eccentric tendencies, we say, "Oh, that so-and-so is such a character." "Characters" of this variety are treated with an air of tolerance - as in, every town or family has one.
But more often than not, eccentrics are regarded as freaks and treated accordingly.
Not that Big Edie and Little Edie made it very easy for Americans - or audiences of any nationality, for that matter - to find them wholly sympathetic or charming or even accessible. After all, they were more Miss Havisham than Auntie Mame.
My personal relationship with eccentrics has always been one of adoration - but that's what you get when you have British education. I always find myself trying to glean some sort of instruction or wisdom from an eccentric's idiosyncrasies - the imminence of Grey Gardens the movie has me reexamining the Edies for a life lesson. I think it would be this:
If you can see past their oddness, and past the mountains of empty cat food tins, and past the cobwebs and squalor, there it is: a total lack of apology for who they are.
Goddamn it, that's refreshing.
That lack of apology defines their little family (and incidentally was also one of the chief characteristics of the clan Jacqueline Bouvier married into: the Kennedys).
One of the best (and chicest) life lessons I've ever been taught is to never feel the need to explain yourself to others, or apologize for who you are. It can never hurt to be taught it again.
Hopefully the new Grey Gardens will faithfully - and tenderly - relay this aspect of the Edies' characters - which might just rescue them from being mocked and disdained otherwise.
Little and Big Edie on their Grey Gardens porch.
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I loved Grey Gardens so much. The Edies were fantastic ladies.
I saw the documentary years ago, but the HBO Movie blew me away.
HBO does good movies.
Drew deserves a BIG FAT emmy, because she was channeling Edie, the daughter.
Jessica's performance was great too, but Drew stold the show.
Good work Drew and Jessica!!!!
I was told right after filming of the HBO film wrapped up in the fall of 2007, that I would be blown away at the last scene, where Edie sings Tea For Two at Reno Sweeny, and I was ! I had supplied the film company with the only recording in existence of Edie singing the tune, only this wasn't from her actual performance at the club, but rather her singing it just for me at one of my many visits to Grey Gardens. Drew sang it exactly, phrase for phrase as I have it on tape. Edie and I actually met that night at Reno Sweeny, and my relationship with Grey Gardens has now spanned over 3 decades. For our complete review, check out our blog at MyGreyGardens.com (HBO film review by Robb Brawn & Lee Arboreen), and be sure to check our Youtube video uploaded 4/18/09 the same day as the HBO film release. Click
GREY GARDENS PROMO to view the video
I have the original dvd, saw Christine Ebersol in the musical in NYC, read everything I can find , and I have now watched the HBO movie twice, and still these two women fascinate me. The entire story is so oddly moving. It's mix of stunned repulsion, sympathy, delight, humor, and saddness. I am still trying to figure out why they degenerated or maybe they regenerated. I don't know which it is yet. May be it is both. I do know that it is one of the most tender stories of loyalty and honor and duty. Yet it is mixed with bitterness and revolt. They are an enigma. Little Edy went on to live happily on her own for 2 decades after her mother died. They imprisoned themselves yet they maintained a certainty integrity that is to be admired. I am in awe. They just didn't give in. STAUNCH women for sure.
Don't complain, don't explain.....I've always loved that philosophy and I definitely apply it to how I live my own life. When I watched "Grey Gardens" this weekend that was one of the things that struck me. Little Edie did a bit of mild complaining to her mother about how her life had evolved, but for the most part they both accepted the circumstances of their lifes with little hand wringing. Maybe they both were just mentally ill, but I was touched by their dignity and Little Edie's smile and good cheer.
Drew and Jessica both gave heart-breaking, beautiful performances.
Thanks to HP posters, I found the original documentary on You Tube and watched the first five parts yesterday. I think there are ten? I tried to pull up the other parts this morning, and they have been taken off of You Tube because of copywrite infringement. Darn!
What a story! My impression is that Big Edie was an eccentric, and Little Edie was mentally ill. I question whether or not Big Edie's controlling her daughter and urging her to come home was because she understood her daughter was ill, and Big Edie stated in the documentary that she did not like doctors, while Little Edie stated that her father wanted to have her committed. Fascinating how the two women "fed off" one another. And on a side note, in part 3 of the documentary on You Tube, Little Edie shows pictures of herself, as a young woman. Caroline Kennedy bears a striking resemblance to her. Wow!
Try this link
Part 6 of 11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aq4LyDHe6I
Part 7 of 11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jLNV4CbBYc
Those were uploaded by Sabrina1Kristina.
The other version I watched was by someone else that had it broken into ten parts.
The 11 part version might be different than what you've already seen so you might have to start at five or six on the new link.
You'll see the rest of the parts on the right side of the screen when you're there on YouTube.
Better hurry and see them all before that version is pulled down too! ;)
I rented it not too long ago on Netflix, if that's available to you
Can you remake a documentary??
This movie was depressing as all heck but the acting was SUPERB! What a wonderful script. Even better than the acting was the make-up team. They deserve Emmy's RIGHT NOW!
Grey Gardens HBO movie broke my heart all weekend
I haven't seen the documentary but watched the HBO version and thought the story was heart breaking. Couldn't get those Edie's out of my mind and heart all weekend.
I know what you mean. They are heartbreakingly sad and funny. Their endurance, their deep love for one another was so touching. The 3 characters, the 2 Edies and Grey Gardens itself became so intricately woven together that they were all one.
I have seen all three versions...the documentary, musical and the HBO version. The actresses in both shows were amazing. Drew's performance was very similar to Christine Ebersole's. I can't put my finger on that accent though. It's not Long Island is it? Sounds like New England. So glad to see Drew to have an opportunity like this to truly transform herself. What a revelation.
I remember this story years ago when it was reported in the news and appeared in NYMagazine. The neighbors wanted the house declared 'uninhabitable' and have the Beales evicted. I think part of the intent of the stories was to embarass Jackie, who did send them money for support. They clearly were unable to care for themselves but were so fiercely independent that probably if social services were sent, they would have refused. When I first read the story, I felt so sorry for them having their privacy so exposed. But many of us have relative like this.. maybe there is a lesson...
I loved Jessica and Drew and thought they did a great job in their portrayal of the two Edies. I however, could not get the picture of all the cats and filth out of my head.
I do love cats but that was just a bit much.
Drew and Jessica deserve an Emmy for this performance, they did a fantastic, outstanding job!
These women were eccentrics yes but they were also emotionally damaged and ill. The mother was a control freak who manipulated her daugher into a position of care-taker for both the mother and that horrid house when neither had the wherewithall to deal with any of it. I watched the film last night and there were times when I cried at the waste of such lives.
Yes, women of their kind were expected to play certain roles. Arranged by their families to make 'good' marriages, even Jackie Kennedy was a victim to it. She married a man who played around on her on a consistent basis and it was her job to give him heirs and look good and that was it.
Both Lange and Barrymore are headed for Emmys with this one. The resentment and frustration on Barrymore's face at times was even Oscar worthy, if the Oscars were in the offering for this TV movie. With this film, Drew has shown she's a true Barrymore and has come into her own. (I couldn't even tell if some of the scenes were Drew or the real Edie.)
In the end these two women had only each other. and young Edie was a smart cookie too. She knew exactly what she was doing when she had that photographer into that house pre-Jackie Onassis' visit. Onassis would have never even visited if she wasn't embarrassed by all the publicity of those poor and decrepit relatives. Exceptional film!
I'm surprised no one has commented on the Broadway musical, "Grey Gardens," which was based on the documentary. Both Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson won Tony awards, not to mention the other Tonys the musical received. It was amazing in every way. I saw the documentary after seeing the musical, and was even more impressed by the work of Christine Ebersole, who played dual roles. You can get the music on CD. . .
I second that. I did not see the play, but a documentary on PBS about the movie and the musical and how it all came to fruition. When I saw CE play Little Edie I thought it was the real deal. She is such a talented actress. Too bad the play closed. I am sure it would get a strong audience now that the movie is out.
It closed on Broadway, but then moved to London's West End. Now other companies are mounting new productions of the musical, so it's not really over! Maybe the HBO movie will help sell more tickets for live theater performances of the musical :-)
I saw it , and it was incredible.
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