123, 361 Grey Gardens and The Beales of Grey Gardens

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Subbuteo · #51 Post by **Subbuteo** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:44 pm

I've recently watched â€˜The Grey Gardens' and was mesmerised. By pure chance I heard The New Pornographers â€˜Jackie is Dressed in Cobras' shortly after, the two are inextricably linked in my mind at leastâ€¦one of those moments when nothing makes sense but gels like some discovery of a time capsule. However I must confess to some consumption of Pinotage Stellenbosch.

Do others link musical interludes with cinematic episodes?
Please elucidate otherwise I will consider it an affliction!

Perhaps a new thread?

jbeall · #52 Post by **jbeall** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:48 pm

For those of you living near New York, there's a musical version of Grey Gardens playing off-Broadway, and the review is very good.

foggy eyes · #53 Post by **foggy eyes** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:10 pm

Beaver

tavernier · #54 Post by **tavernier** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:00 am

jbeall wrote:For those of you living near New York, there's a musical version of Grey Gardens playing off-Broadway, and the review is very good.

It's actually on Broadway now; it was off-Broadway in the spring, sold out its run and has now graduated to the "big time."

TheRanchHand · #55 Post by **TheRanchHand** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:34 am

I was in one of the large booksellers here in Los Angeles this evening and they were carrying two copies of Criterion's Grey Gardens. I have seen some DVDs slipping out a week before release but rarely a month. I almost picked it up as the film does sound interesting but will probably netflix it first.

arsonfilms · #56 Post by **arsonfilms** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:58 pm

Gary over at the Beaver seems a little miffed about the claim to a new transfer, but I think we had established that the "new" transfer was "new" when the disc initially came out. I'm actually a little surprised (and thrilled) that they changed the menus and packaging to the new style rather than just repackage existing discs.

I'm a little disapointed though that this wasn't just turned into a two-disc set with one spine number, but I'll get over it.

colinr0380 · #57 Post by **colinr0380** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:49 am

arsonfilms wrote:I'm a little disapointed though that this wasn't just turned into a two-disc set with one spine number, but I'll get over it.

As someone who owns the original Grey Gardens DVD I'm not disappointed

I hope they do a similar double pack for new and single release for old customers if they ever put out a disc of a Hoop Dreams follow up film.

Michael · #58 Post by **Michael** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:49 am

I'd buy the double pack even I already own two discs of Grey Gardens!

Michael · #59 Post by **Michael** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:54 pm

Very fresh from watching Beales. It really compliments the first film in many way. Beales expands a few angles from the first - more and plenty more of the Edies' singing, philosophy and the astounding costume creations, Jerry and Lois. Beales ends on an exquisite note - the chat through a screen window about wildflowers by the road.

Michael · #60 Post by **Michael** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:36 pm

Just came across Matt's words on a different thread:

I'm eyeing you all you Grey Gardens haters

I've been a member of this forum for a long time and I don't recall reading negative words about Grey Gardens. You Grey Gardens haters (if there are any), step forward and tell me why you hate it. I just can't imagine anyone feeling this way about it, forgive my foolishness.

foggy eyes · #61 Post by **foggy eyes** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:52 pm

I found it uncomfortable, unilluminating and voyeuristic in the extreme. However, I loved Salesman, and felt the tone of pathos and desperation there melded perfectly with the gruelling objectivity. Wish I liked Grey Gardens too, to be honest. Must revisit.

tryavna · #62 Post by **tryavna** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:33 pm

I don't hate the movie, but like Foggy Eyes, I found it "unilluminating." To be honest, I just didn't find myself caring that much about the two women. That's not really the reaction a viewer should have, I realize, but that's the way it was.

#63 Post by **Matt** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:08 pm

The essay accompanying The Beales of Grey Gardens (written by the absolutely useless Michael Musto) is a complete embarrassment. In it, he manages to make totally tasteless Joy Behar-esque references to Janice Dickinson, Shake 'N Bake, and Jim Jones, as well as to Gypsy, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, the Romanovs, and Edward Albee. He seems to think of Grey Gardens as nothing more than a campy midnight movie or, in his own words, "the world's first superbly twisted reality show... that appeals to the dark side of human nature, the one that likes to see people who have it all reduced to our level , or even lower." Ugh. And he calls the Beales "Wonder Bread-serving weirdos" and "wacky recluses." I mean, the first line of the essay is "The Beales are back, and their squalor is making lives brighter all over again!" What a fucking idiot.

I swear, if I ever happen to meet Musto on the street, I will have to be physically restrained from hacking at his face with a straight razor.

Michael · #64 Post by **Michael** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:24 pm

I swear, if I ever happen to meet Musto on the street, I will have to be physically restrained from hacking at his face with a straight razor.

I know how you feel. Musto gets on my nerves so I avoid reading anything by him but I had to make that essay an exception. Completely disgraceful and disgusting. Musto reduced the Edies to a big joke. Fucking criminal. Shame that the Criterion didn't use your deeply thoughtful, poignant essay on Grey Gardens instead.

Have you watched the Beales yet, Matt?

#65 Post by **Matt** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:44 pm

Michael wrote:Have you watched the Beales yet, Matt?

I did. Despite everyone's protestations to the contrary, it really does feel like just a collection of outtakes and not the equal of the original film. The only part of the film that I felt was worthy of comparison to or inclusion in the original film is near the beginning. Mrs. Beale recites a Victorian poem, tears up, and then asks Edie to "do a little song nicely" for her so that she can cheer up. It's very touching, but other than that, there is very little of Mrs. Beale in the film and a whole lot more of the Maysles themselves, Jerry (the marble faun), and Lois.

The new film is too aware of the Grey Gardens "phenomenon," so you get cheeky clips like Edie saying how she would never want anyone to play her in a movie, more digs at Jackie ("another magazine article?"), more VMI March, and a costume montage.

I like the review that Rich Juzwiak has on his fourfour blog. I wish he posted here.

Michael · #66 Post by **Michael** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:13 pm

My favorite parts:

The opening with Edie stepping down the porch singing You Ought to be in Pictures. The dams shielding my tear glands cracked open already.

Mrs. Beale reciting a poem and Robert Louis Stevenson...profoundly moving.

Edie flirting with David and Al.. there is one long silent moment of Edie looking at the camera with such a chaos of emotions simmering behind her face. So hauntingly wistful that it's going to be impossible for me to forget for the rest of my life. You will know the exact moment I'm talking about when you watch the film.

The beach sequence, of course. I also love the part when Edie walked to the church.. she looked like she stepped out of a 1940s woman pic in that crowd of Hampton folks.

Mrs. Beale teasing her daughter about flirting with the firemen and ruining Jackie's $300 blankets that Edie used when trying to kill the fire.

Mrs. Beale describing the impossible "Italian" beauty of Jerry's face. Hilarious! Edie's take on alcoholics. More hilarity.

Geez, I"m now thinking this.. what's the point of listing my favorite parts? Everything about it is my favorite part.

I've been reading Rich Juzwiak since I came across his sublime Mysterious Skin review last year.

#67 Post by **Matt** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:08 pm

Michael wrote:Mrs. Beale teasing her daughter about flirting with the firemen and ruining Jackie's $300 blankets that Edie used when trying to kill the fire.

Yes, I thought it was particularly hilarious that the first thing Edie thought of to throw on the house fire was one of Jackie's $300 blankets. Before water, even!

Gus · #68 Post by **Gus** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:51 am

I just bought this set and when i looked on dvd compare it says that the old Criterion Grey Garden has a A telephone conversation between Little Edie and Albert Maysles after the credits of the film (5 min). The my new set does not have this. After the credits there is an photo gallery for about 5 min but no sound. Is there a problem on my disc or have Criterion made an mistake here?
Can anybody check this?

#69 Post by **Matt** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:35 am

It's not like it was an advertised feature, so they're free to delete it if they like. It's kind of a shame, though, since it was amusing.

ezmbmh · #70 Post by **ezmbmh** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 12:53 pm

I agree, Matt, when Edie in her offhand way says she should have married Albert long ago. Is a shame it's not on new disc.

Gus · #71 Post by **Gus** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:16 pm

Does anybody have this in audio form? if so i would be real happy if some nice person could send me such a file.

Antoine Doinel · #72 Post by **Antoine Doinel** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:38 am

Caught a free screening of this film tonight. I wasn't quite sure what to expect going in and I only read very little about the film so as to have my own impressions going in, but I fell completely for it. What a fascinating portrait of Edith and Edie that the Maysles have captured. Both outrageously hilarious and, often at sharp turns, disarmingly moving. Their style, which I felt hindered Salesman in keeping the audience at a detached distance, is evocative here. Perhaps because there is more direct interaction with the filmmakers, but more because we see Edith and Edie for who they are in all their complex glory.

Anyway, I will have to rent Beales Of Grey Gardens but I have a feeling it won't match the original. But more of Edie and Edith certainly can't be a bad thing.

I can't even imagine what a Hollywood version of this would be like except for completely awful. I hope it doesn't come to pass.

Antoine Doinel · #73 Post by **Antoine Doinel** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:32 pm

Grey Gardens Collections: Inspired By The Life Edith Bouvier Beale

Michael · #74 Post by **Michael** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 2:34 pm

Antoine Doinel wrote:Grey Gardens Collections: Inspired By The Life Edith Bouvier Beale

So who is Eva Marie Beale? She has come up with a very clever marketing strategy to capitalize on the popularity of Grey Gardens. She must be a niece or something. Love the photos.

Antoine Doinel · #75 Post by **Antoine Doinel** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 11:09 pm

Matt wrote:Despite everyone's protestations to the contrary, it really does feel like just a collection of outtakes.

I watched Beales tonight and I couldn't agree more. That said, it's still utterly fascinating as it again alternates between humor and tragedy often in the same moment.

But I wonder for those who don't know the story of the Bouviers (and my knowledge of their history is rudimentary at best), how the movie plays, as from time to time it veers dangerously close to being a voyeuristic/exploitative look at two crazy old gals in a rundown house, rather than a portrait of an empire in decline (or in a state of neglect).