The Beales of Grey Gardens

The Beales of Grey Gardens (2006)

*** (out of 4)

Albert Maysles and David Maysles took the unused footage from their 1975 documentary GREY GARDENS and came up with this new film. As with the first, we take a look at Big Edie and Little Edie, the relatives to Jackie Onassis who lived in an estate that was pretty much ran down and which they shared with a various of creatures including cats and raccoons. Having just watched the original film a few weeks before this, I was very familiar and it was still fresh in my mind. I don't think viewing the two so close hampered this film but at the same time I think it's clear that this one here isn't nearly as good. I think you could point to several different factors but for some reason I just kept saying to myself that this footage wasn't included in the original for a reason. That reason was probably that it simply wasn't all that interesting or at least it wasn't as interesting as what we got in the first movie. I thought GREY GARDENS was a pretty weird film because it really didn't seem to have a point other than to show how weird these people were. It at least had a structure to it but that's not the case here. It really does seem like the entire movie was just thrown together for the sake of the filmmakers having another picture for the credits. That's not to say that this is a bad movie but at the same time it really does feel as if you're watching 90-minutes worth of deleted scenes that you'd typically just see on a film's special features. Some of the highlights in this film include a sequence where a fire breaks out and you can see the damage in the original film but there it doesn't have an explanation. Another highlight is hearing the two ladies talk about their thoughts on the Catholic church and men in general. Fans of the first film will probably get the most out of this but the rest should certainly seek out the original first.

David Maysles, the primary editor of the brilliantly edited "Grey Gardens" died in 1987 and was therefore not involved with this project.

According to his brother and cameraman Albert (his interview is the only extra on the DVD), he and David filmed for about 6 weeks for several hours a day in the early autumn of 1973. Presumably, this film was culled from the best of what remained of that material.

It's disjointed to the point of really just being a roughly assembled collection of outtakes. We see much more of the Marble Faun as well as quirky artist friend Lois who only appeared in the birthday party scenes in "Grey Gardens". Little Edie in particular comes across as both more rational as well as more flirtatious with the Maysles brothers, especially the younger David. And the extent to which the brothers engaged with and encouraged the Beales becomes much more obvious in these segments.

Still, this is a must-see for fans of the Beales, if only for a view of all of Little Edie's amazing costumes of the day as well as her general philosophies of life. Little Edie was a true free-thinking early feminist, trapped by the circumstances of her time and social status, but I'm sure it would please her endlessly to know she has so many admirers more than a decade after her death.

The 75-year film focused on the relationship between mother and daughter and themselves, and this one focused more on their relationship with their surroundings, more showing their friends and even interacting with the director. It is further supplemented with content about swimming, Catholicism, costumes and constellations, and Mrs. Bell mentioned poetry.

I have watched this movie 5 times in the past month. I think I am a little obsessed with Edie Beale. She shows such joie de vivre in this film and is full of joy and wonder. The movie is wistful and at times bittersweet. I wish I could have known the Beales and visited them. They show such love and respect for each other. I also love Lois. This movie makes me nostalgic for the 1970s. I feel like I am in a time capsule. I actually prefer this movie to Grey Gardens; I felt that Edie's true personality, charm and joy was shown in a better light. Lois was also highlighted more. Love love love this movie. I will probably watch it a million more times. When I watch it, I feel like I am a friend visiting with them, passing the time and singing songs. It puts me at peace. Namaste.

If you ever wonder how loses look you should definitely watch this documentary which is actually a sequel on the same documentary re-ment 25 years earlier about the same sort of low-lives as the ones you get the sea in the movie which is pretty sad there is no evolution and stability remains down pointing to the lack of class and so we can definitely say that anybody liking this movie definitely proves that they don't have any dignity whatsoever and this is really bad is wrong with Western world and because of this Allah knows the great change needs to happen. There is no might no power then with Allah. Allahu Akbar!!