Customers say
Customers find this documentary well-made and compelling, describing it as heartbreaking yet funny, with one review highlighting the beautiful love story of a mother and daughter. The film features extraordinary ladies who maintain their dignity throughout, and customers appreciate its eccentricity and colorful portrayal of high society life. They find it interesting, with one customer noting the fascinating philosophical content, while another praises the directors’ pioneering approach to documentary filmmaking.
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Reviewer: Alex H
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: *Baby Jane* Comes To Life! The *BEALES* Rock!
Review: I had to buy the GREY GARDENS/THE BEALES OF GREY GARDENS-CRITERION COLLECTION DVD set, after seeing the HBO bio-pic Grey Gardens (HBO) with Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore (who both did an outstanding job), because I wanted to see the real story of Edith Bouvier Beale and daughter Edie.The Beales were related to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and were part of high society and very rich, but then fell on hard times. They ended up living in squalor in an old dilapidated mansion called “Grey Gardens.” The press got wind of it, published the story in newspapers, and gave genius filmmakers Albert Maysles and his brother David the idea to make a documentary about the Beales, which would become the “Grey Gardens” film.Some might call this exploitation or voyeurism–which it might be–but either way the Beales are certainly entertaining. Never mind the filth, the raccoons, and the numerous cats about the place that find it fit to relieve themselves wherever, Edith and “L’il” Edie are characters that you would not believe!The matriarch, Edith, reminds me of the character “Sophia Petrillo” on the 80’s TV show The Golden Girls – The Complete First Season. She’s old and says exactly what’s on her mind, sometimes at the expense of her daughter Edie. Edie is like Bette Davis’s character “Baby Jane” in the film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (Two-Disc Special Edition). Once a statuesque model, Edie now runs around with a scarf on her head–we never see her without a scarf/turban–bathing suits with fishnet stockings, and layers of clothes held together with safety pins etc. creating whole new fashions. She dances around and gives her ideas on the state of the world, flirts with the Maysles, and the two women fight and sing throughout the two films.You can’t turn away! Sometimes it’s very sad to watch the Beales, while other times you can’t help but laugh out loud. It really makes you wonder what happened to them. Both were gorgeous and smart women in their time, so it’s hard to imagine how they ended up in such an awful state. Perhaps they were a product of their respective generations where women were supposed to know their place and little else. Either way it’s really an eye-opening look at lives that are filled with regret.I feel sorry for Edie because of her over-bearing mother. I also think Edie suffered from social anxiety and that’s why she couldn’t leave “Grey Gardens” or ever felt comfortable living by herself in NYC when she was younger. And she continues to say that she has to move away from her mother and “Grey Gardens” but she never does. Anyway, both women are more than able to hold their own on camera and each has a personality that eclipses any famous relations they have. Jackie O becomes an after thought.The GREY GARDENS DVD contains the original documentary-all cleaned up–foldout insert with liner notes by Hilton Als (writer for “The New Yorker”) and these bonus features:*** AUDIO INTERVIEW—40:47-Minutes–1976Kathryn Graham interviews Edie and one of the Maysles for “Interview” magazine. She asks Edie about her thoughts of the movie, the past, regrets etc. There are 11-audio selections that you can choose individually or play all.*** 2 FEATURETTES—05:20-Minutes—05:22-MinutesTODD OLDHAM == Interview with designer Todd Oldham about Edie and Grey Gardens being style and fashion inspirations.JOHN BARTLETT == Interview with Bartlett about the film and Edie as fashion icon.*** STILL PHOTO ALBUMSInteractive photo albums including “family album” and “behind the scenes.”*** TRAILERSTHE BEALES OF GREY GARDENS is some of the extra footage that wasn’t used in the original “Grey Gardens.” Viewers get to see Edie leave the house, go to church, and go swimming at the beach. This DVD also has a foldout insert with liner notes by Michael Musto (writer for “The Village Voice”) and contains:*** INTRO BY ALBERT MAYSLES–about 8:30-MinutesTouching intro by Albert Maysles who talks about his memories of the Beales and “Grey Gardens” and you get to see Jerry, the young teenager in GG, all grown up.The Maysles have created another interesting movie based on real life people and I adore Edie and her unconventional nature. Definitely recommend this set for documentary film lovers and film students and anyone who likes camp. Also checkout the Maysles other films The Beatles – The First U.S. Visit and The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter – Criterion Collection.
Reviewer: David d.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Colorful Grey Gardens
Review: So, I’ve heard of this documentary and been admonished for not yet seeing this film as its such a camp. I understand that such fashionistas as Isaac Mizrahi and Todd Oldham have been influenced by Little Edie’s outlandish sense of fashion. Most of the reviews also touched on the acerbic relationship between the elder and the younger Beale, one review comparing their relationship to that in “Who’s Afraid of Virgina Wolfe?”.Those people don’t get it.What I saw was ultimately a poignant view of how relationships evolve over time, whether it is a relationship forged by choice or by blood, or both. Big Edie has been blamed for ruining Little Edie’s chances of marriage and an independent life. It seemed to me that she had a mother’s intuition that perhaps her daughter wasn’t quite cut out to brave the world on her own. Little Edie’s descriptions of life in New York sound like those of someone who, at the time at least, had a tenuous hold on reality.Little Edie’s fashion sense is in fact out-there, but not as outlandish or garish as I’ve frequently read. If her look was an inspiration for anyone, it was because she had a flair for color and pattern, not just that she was outrageous. I was mesmerized by her many costumes. The lines of her sarong-like coverings were not too far from the Wrap-Skirt so ubiquitous during the 70’s. Little Edie also seemed to have little self-consciousness about her body, which I saw as quite fit for a lady of her age. She was basically dressing to look like Ann Miller from some Technicolor Dance Extravaganza from the 40’s, strong gams emphasized by fishnets and low pumps.Also refreshing was her uninhibited tendency to break out in a song and dance (looked like Runway Dancing or Vogueing from a Harlem House Ball to me) whenever the mood took hold.The “Beales of Grey Gardens” truly enhances the appreciation of “Grey Gardens” itself. Two moments I found touching: Little Edie ruminates on her Catholic faith. You sense her sorrow that she stopped going to Mass after the raid on their home because of the disdain of her fellow citizens, even in Church. She decides, I think from her renewed self-confidence after being filmed by the Maysles, to defy the town and take her faith back. She goes to Mass. The second moment happens when Big Edie is demanding that Little Edie change into a particular piece she got at Pearl River. Little Edie resists until she comes up with what she feels is an appropriate ensemble to pair the piece with. When she goes to change, Big Edie is asked how many costumes a day satisfy her, and she says “Oh, about 10.” She is obviously enchanted and delighted by her daughter’s flair and passion for dressing up, something I suspect few others around them appreciated. She looked proud of her daughter.Be prepared, not for the grotesque as I sense many see in this relationship, but for a complex and ultimately satisfying relationship. Living in squalor is nothing to emulate, but it is no less creepy to me than the notion of living in the blank anteseptic homes usually put out in cinema as normal.Let’s face it: most familial relationships are messy and strange, but ultimately satisfying.
Reviewer: Karin
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Love how these ladies are true to themselves! They didn’t care what anyone thought, how they lived. Maybe they were a bit oblivious to it, but still they really did not care!
Reviewer: snoopypuppy23 (Troy)
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: this is a must see for all. Not only does it show their lives, but also how they think. Great film!
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