If you're like me, you have always been fascinated by the Beale's of Grey Gardens. The eccentric and isolated little Edie and her mother big Edie and their sad life, living in the past, their show biz aspirations and their broken dreams. I'd seen most of the documentary in pieces, so I was very happy last night when I found out Hulu has just loaded not only the whole documentary, but, also the movie. The movie is just more film of the real Beales. HERE is the documentary and HERE is the movie.
If you watch, please let me know what you think. Yes, I do relate to them and that is why I go to work...so that I don't become a little Edie who can't dance.
21 comments:
I don't know if it's included anywhere in either of those Hulu vids but the DVD of the old Grey Gardens movie includes an interesting phone conversation, recorded many years later, between Little Edie and one of the Maysles Brothers where she reveals that much of her behavior during the shoot was her wacko way of trying to get him into bed.
I don't think it's in these. I plan to watch them again after work tonight. But, it seems much of little Edie's behavior is expidited by her views on her sexuality. Repressed Catholic and womens libber..she couldn't reconcile any of it.
I watched the entire 1970s documentary (in sections) on Youtube. I then bought the DVD of the remake.
So wish I had seen it on Broadway.
They fascinate me. I do not need to know every nuance and/or detail about them but I enjoyed the documentary. I am a bit miffed that it took them having it shown for Jackie O to do something to help them.
grrrr
How hard is it to hear the word No?
My inlaws are coming today for a visit. I am cooking on the grill and I am cleaning the house for their arrival. I am also in the midst of cleaning the floor under my oven (you KNOW how gross that can get if you do not do it often) because my new oven is being delivered tomorrow.
So what does my Oldest say to me this morning?
She is questioning why I cannot take her to the store.
Why am I cleaning?
When are they coming?
What is the big deal about it all?
She tried every word and trick in the book to get me to say I would take her. NO!
So she left..hehehehe
I had to let that out..thank you thank you.
Couldn't see it due to the fact that I'm outside the US...
Sigh
Beth in Seville...
had a visit from my crazy mil, and am now at 170/110, with chest pains... lol
Beth in Seville
Beth ~ calm down, try to rest. Your health is more important. Tell the MIL you are recuperating and can have NO Visitors!
Yeah, that's gonna be easy lol! I am prepared... having dreams of my father who passed in '08, so I am prepared, without fear. We go to a much better place. I am not afraid. Feel sorry for my kids, but they're 19 and 17 ... not babies and are prepared for this. Once you let go, it's easy.
Lots of love,
Beth in Seville
I finally watched all of the original documentary last year. I found the mother controlling but, then again little Edie wasn't all there. She grew up most of her life having men taking care of her and she couldn't cope when her beauty faded.
Does anyone know why Edie always wore a head covering ? Didn't she have any hair ?
Little Edie had alopecia, I believe.
At the end of the documentary it looks as though she is fairly bald (she is wearing a black lace scarf).
Those poor women were both pretty much bats...harmless, but really needed to be helped. I wonder why the family didn't so something? Anyone know?
Sorry, DO something...can't type today.
Great movie, that I saw years ago. Drew Barrymore really captured her spirit. You might also like the story of Edith Piaf. Amazing woman, though a tragic life.
DD there is another documentary made about
the 2 eddies. It's called
THE BEALES OF GREY GARDENS
it is like a making of the documentary of GG
in 1974-1975 lots & lots of candor stuff with
little eddie going swimming in the ocean. The
view of the hamptons is breathtaking as she
walks down to the beach.
I am a GG fan myself prefer the doc to the film
however I do think drew did a great job.
If you can get a copy of the adore mentioned
not well known secondary doc/ film you will love it !
&
Hello from Enrique/jarhead to everyone.
-Kiki :)
Beth, I am concerned for you. I hope the MIL is gone, and you can rest. I'm assuming you are taking medications, but they must not be working.
I don't mean to worry you when you have made your peace, but I want you to stick around longer, and I know your kids must, too. 17 and 19 is too young to lose your mom.
Please take care.
I loved Drew Barrymore in GG. But then I like her in pretty much anything she does.
I think the family did try to do something but that momma was one strong willed person. I do think that at least once a year they could have sent a cleaning crew in to take out most of the trash--whether the Edies liked it or not.
Beth, are you seeing a doctor?
What kills me about the Beales is that they moved into that mansion in it's heyday and let it get run down. My family would have moved into that mess and then patched it up with duct tape and THEN sang Tea For Two on the porch. Nuts.
When her attorney husband left her, he pretty much abandoned them. I think they ended up getting $300 a month to live on...which at any time wouldn't cover hardly any expenses in that neighborhood.
They were both beautiful women in their prime...I just wonder why they didn't do better.
LOVE this story and remember when it broke as news back in the 70s and Jackie did try to help. Mostly because she was embarrassed I think. Some relatives you just cannot have much to do with. Thats it. They live in their own little world. And they honestly don't think they need any help. Even with raccoons living in their house. Like "Whats so weird about that?"...they just don't see things in a normal way. Its beyond our realm of ability to understand. Just be nice & ignore the dirt and then go home. Leave them be, its all they know.
rox
But seriously, check out the picture. Even in the unstable state of her mind at the time. The aristocracy she was raised up in has not left her. You can see it in her face & how she carries herself. Little Edie was still classy, in her own little world. She was her own Queen Bee.
rox
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