Grey Gardens (HBO)

About Grey Gardens (HBO)

Grey Gardens is a 2009 American television film produced by HBO. The film is based on the life stories of socialites Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith Bouvier Beale, lovingly nicknamed "Big Edie" and "Little Edie". The Beales were the aunt and first cousin of Jackie O and lived in squalor and reclusion in the Grey Gardens estate in the wealthy Georgica Pond neighborhood in East Hampton, New York.

Making / Production

This HBO film was directed by Michael Sucsy and executive produced by Lucy Barzun Donnelly, Rachael Horovitz, Michael Sucsy, and David Coatsworth. The production showcases the unique world of the Beales, brought to life with an exquisite attention to the details of the real Grey Gardens house, outfits, and way of life.

Actors

• Jessica Lange as "Big Edie" - Her nuanced performance capably portrays Big Edie's descent from high-society dame to eccentric recluse.
• Drew Barrymore as "Little Edie" - Barrymore beautifully channels Little Edie, capturing her unique mannerisms and showcasing her tragic struggle for independence.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is based on the famed 1975 documentary "Grey Gardens" by Albert and David Maysles.
• Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore spent months watching the original documentary to master their characters' distinct voices and mannerisms.
• The real "Little Edie" sold the Grey Gardens house in 1979, it has since been restored to its former glory.

Awards

The film was a critical success and was nominated for a number of awards, including 17 Primetime Emmy Awards. It won in the Outstanding Made for Television Movie category. Jessica Lange also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. Drew Barrymore won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film.

Quotes

• "It's very difficult to keep the line between the past and the present." - Little Edie
• "You can't have your cake and eat it too in life." - Big Edie
• "I only care about three things: the Catholic Church, swimming, and dancing." - Little Edie

Music, Soundtrack

• "You and the Night and the Music" - Jessica Lange
• "Around The World" - Michael Feinstein
• "On The Sunny Side Of The Street" - Catherine Russel