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List Price: $39.95 | | Label: Criterion
Salesrank: 4531
Released: August 14, 2001 |
| Our Price: $17.90 |
| Used Price: $14.89 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Meet Big and Little Edie Beale-high society dropouts, mother and daughter, reclusive cousins of Jackie O.-thriving together amid the decay and disorder of their ramshackle East Hampton mansion. Five years after Gimme Shelter, the Maysles unveiled this impossibly intimate portrait of the unexpected, an eerie echo of the Kennedy Camelot, which has since become a cult classic and established Little Edie as fashion icon and philosopher queen.
Description of Grey Gardens - Criterion Collection:
Grey Gardens is the name of a neglected, sprawling estate gone to seed. The crumbling mansion was home to Edith Bouvier Beale, often referred to as "Big Edie," and her daughter, "Little Edie." The East Hampton, Long Island, home became the center of quite a scandal when it was revealed in 1973 that the reclusive aunt and cousin to Jackie O. were living in a state of poverty and filth. That's the background to this 1976 film portrait by cinéma vérité pioneers Albert and David Maysles, but it's only incidental to the fascinating story they discover inside the estate walls.
The two Edies have lived in almost complete seclusion since the mid-1950s, ever since Big Edie's husband abandoned her and Little Edie (then a young socialite on the verge of a dancing career, or so she claims) was called home to care for her depressed mother. Twenty years later they continue to live in their memories while camped out in a single bedroom of the 28-room mansion overrun with cats (who use the floor as their litter box). Rehashing mistakes and missed chances with an accusing banter that becomes more stinging and angry as the documentary progresses, they exist in a sad codependency brings new meaning to the term dysfunctional. Disturbing and discomforting, it comes off like a freak show at times, but for all their arguments and recriminations, the Maysles reveal two women abandoned by their families who are left to cling to each other, for better or worse. --Sean Axmaker
Grey Gardens - Criterion Collection Reviews:
Not quite as good as I had hoped. 
2009-11-23 - I bought the two disc collection and watched both this weekend as well as all the bonus material. These two women are interesting and easily watchable when they are alone, but when they are together, which is most of the time, they are annoying as hell with all their bitching at each other. I really preferred watching it with the commentary on. I had to laugh when one of the editors said how unselfconscious little Edie was. Seriously? She fiddled with her clothes and that damn head scarf/towel/sweater thing on her head the whole time. I think she was bald or nearly so. She did say something like "if I had hair".
I was hoping for a "Brothers Keeper" type of story but it was more like someones bad home movies. I still give it 3 stars though. It's hard to look away from a train wreck.
A love story 
2009-11-21 - This is a beautiful love story of a mother and daughter who are quite idiosincratic. If you like quirky you will love this documentary. There is a lot more than meets the eye on this film. The directors commentary is quite interesting.
It is just two crazy old women 
2009-10-28 - Frankly I enjoyed the movie better. I realize this was a "documentary" but in the movie, things were explained. The documentary just portrayed them as two crazy old women, "which they were"! The only reason the documentary was made is because they had famous relatives. Had this been my relatives, or your relatives, it would just be two crazy old women living in a rundown house with too many cats and too many raccoons. Don't spend one dime on the documentary.
Grey Gardens
2009-10-25 -
My wife rented the DVD Grey Gardens, she became so interisted that she wanted to find out more. We, I say we because my wife does not do the computer, looked for the best possible price. Found it at Amazon.com.
My wife and I watched the Grey Gardens/The Beales of Grey Gardens - Critenion Collection ( 2-disc set) which we both found very interisting. I watched the frist time, but my wife has watched it several times, the number I am not sure, more the three times. It has been seen with her friends and some of the family members. She has been telling every one about Grey Gardens, that they should watch it.
It is unbelevable how many people have never heard of Grey Gardnes and never knew it was on or made for HBO. We do watch HBO. Never saw it advertised or even a promo for it.
I am glad we were able to fined the Documintry thru Amazon.com
Thank You
amazing...intriguing
2009-10-12 - I ordered this through Amazon after seeing the HBO special, and it is absolutely fascinating. While watching the HBO account, I assumed they were exaggerating some things to make them a bit more interesting, but the real thing is MUST-see if Big and Little Edie interest you.
I write this before I have even finished it, because I only give myself the gift of watching for a few minutes at a time...and find that I continue to << so I can make sure I don't miss any of the words or inferences of these women who often talk over each other. What a treat to have this documentary in it's original form.
