Patrick Dennis’ novel about his eccentric aunt Marion was a runaway best-seller in 1955, and eventually became two hit stage plays and two hit movies. One play and film were of the musical variety and featured Angela Lansbury and Lucille Ball (respectively) as the eternally hip Auntie Mame, but both straight versions starred the inimitable Rosalind Russell. As one of the original “fast-talking dames” of the screwball 1930s, Russell chewed up scenery and a stellar script by Betty Comden and husband Adolph Green, with the helpful backing by a top-drawer supporting cast that included Coral Browne as rival/BFF Vera Charles, Peggy Cass as uptight Agnes Gooch and the never-forgettable Joanna Barnes as the simply ghastly ping-pong playing Gloria Upson. Dive into the madcap merriment again on the big screen and never forget that life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.
Wed., Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m., 2013
