Submit Response is a weblog by Jack Mottram, a Edith ‘Little Edie’ Beale
My latest obsession: Edith ‘Little Edie’ Beale
Little Edie - and her mother Big Edie - are the subject of the Maysles Brothers’ documentary film Grey Gardens.
Their story is way beyond high camp.
The Beales are also Bouviers - as in Jackie Bouvier Kennedy - and Little Edie was once the toast of the town, as a debutante, model and aspiring actress (she claimed proposals of marriage were forthcoming from Howard Hughes and John Paul Getty) until her ailing and abandoned mother called her home to their East Hamptons manse in 1952. From then on, the pair lived together alone, holed up in the house as it went to seed around them.
By the time the documentary-makers showed up with their cameras, the Beales had hit the headlines, and rock bottom, after the local Health Board condemned Grey Gardens, in 1971 (Jackie even donned rubber gloves to help clear the filth).
The film shows their daily routine, up close, in the ‘direct cinema’ style pioneered by the Maysles Brothers - Little Edie dances and sings, lambasts her mother for curtailing her career, and feeds the raccoons that live in the attic; Big Edie sings too, lambasts her daughter for pretty much everything under the sun, and mixes cocktails in jam jars. There isn’t, as far as I remember, a single moment in the film when the Beales are silent. Most of the time, they’re shouting at and over each other, in what is almost a private argot of quick-witted, epigrammatic quips. (They are both, it has to be said, quite, quite mad.)
It’s a moving portrait, then, and one that steers well clear of exploiting the Beales. The cherry on the cake, though, is Little Edie’s look. She is never seen without an improvised turban, usually fashioned by poking her face through the neck of a jumper with the arms tied at the back and a brooch pinned at the temple, and, more often than not, she bunches, ties and rouches up her skirts at random points around the hem. The result, fittingly, ends up somewhere between bag lady and society dame.
Sadly, Grey Gardens is only available on DVD in the US, but it’s well worth tracking down a copy if you’re able to play it. Failing that, you could always read more a wee bit more about the Beales:
- Edith Bouvier Beale, an obituary in The Guardian
- Christopher Barton’s Little Edie Shrine
- Jonno’s Lost In A Sea Of Leaves: Remembering the life - and death - of Little Edie Beale
- Instructions for accessing an ‘Easter Egg’ interview with Little Edie on the Criterion Grey Gardens DVD.
All credit to Janet for introducing me to the Edies and Grey Gardens!
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Kudos Little Edie! You are a STAUNCH breath of fresh air!
The world is so much richer for Grey Gardens. Some have called you mad I say… they could learn ALOT from you! Thank you for permitting Grey Gardens! MMK -
Glad some else loves this brilliant film…everyone should see it! Although i think you maybe missed the mark in thinking they are both “quite quite mad.” I have never seen two more honest, fascinating people. Think of all the seemingly ‘together’ people that you have ever met;there is always something shocking about everyone when you start peeling back the layers. These women just put it all out there. To call them mad or feel sorry for them is to simply dismiss them.
Let’s face it: we all have a little bit of “Edie” in every one of us, and we should feel sorry for those who don’t. We should all be that “mad.” -
I have recently seen “Grey Gardens” and feel that I could become obsessed with Little Edie. She seems very real to me; in fact, I had to keep reminding myself the film was made back in the ‘70’s. As Edie said that sometimes the line between the past and present is blurred, also the line between sanity and beyond sanity is difficult to discern and seems beside the point in the case of Edie. She just has an absolutely fascinating personality.
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I could see many people I know in this film. It wasn’t so unusual to me at all, but rather revealing in my own family. It was staunchly revealing, in that I too, wore skirts on my head as a child. The movie opened up old memories indeed. The co-dependency was shockingly looked at in my own life as I watched the movie unfold. In one scene, Little Edie became the actress in her own mad movie.It was brilliant.
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Great Film, made me happy and sad, I felt like I was there with both Mum and Daughter, best Documentary I have ever seen and ever will see. God Bless both of you xxx
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Greetings, I am Frank battaglia. I am the last photographer to Photograph Little Edie at her Grey gardens Estate before she moved. I am the only photographer selling her images on the web, If you go to islandbreezearts.com you will find my site. Recently in fact this month in Harpers Bazaar United Kingdom April edition one of photos is featured. Photo of her on beach. If anyone is interested for personal or publication please contact me
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Sorry Frank Battaglia. I have seen you make this claim all over the internet and it’s not true. There are beautiful pictures of Edith taken in the Summer of 1979 as she was packing up and leaving Grey Gardens. She looks pleasant and relaxed. Not bored and annoyed like she does in yours. You should update your sales schpiel and most certainly your technique.
meow
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Wed, Nov. 9th, Edie would have been 90 years old ! Robb Brawn & Lee Arboreen have created a site dedicated to Edie and everything Grey Gardens. Great pictures of Edie, Christine Ebersole, and interviews with Jerry Torre and Albert Maysles, links, and much much more. Check it out at http://www.mygreygardens.com
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I think I ll never forget those 2 wonderful women. My day brightens all the time I talk about grey gardens with someone…
and Frank battaglia, I m sorry but as much I know we have to do everything possible to sell, I just think that advertising this way is just misplaced! The Beales deserve more respect than that!
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New CD!
Little Edie Live! A Visit To Grey Gardens
For additional information,
http://www.greygardenscd.com -
New Book
memoraBEALEia
A Private Scrapbook About Edie Beale of Grey Gardens
First Cousin to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis -
For more information on Little Edie Beale, be sure to visit the Grey Gardens Online Database at http://www.greygardensonline.com.
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Im laughing at the comment about ME exploiting the memory of Edie when I see above several folks soliciting Grey gardens material. LOL You do not get any better photos of Edie than mine PERIOD! They are real and unposed and reflect a very sad and confused period of her life before leaving Grey gardens. eat your heart out dude! Or Kristel whoever you are! Was your name on the HBO movie?Mine was!!!
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