Although the novels have not aged well, I’ll always have a soft spot for Patrick Dennis (especially The Joyous Season and The Pink Hotel). His most famous character never stole my heart, but she’s still got major fans, according to Vanity Fair:
… Bridesmaids, which was based on many of Annie Mumolo’s experiences serving as a round-the-calendar bridesmaid to her many cousins, resonated with a wide audience, including one revered dramatic actress who became an unlikely pen pal: Tilda Swinton…
“She’s like, from another world,” Mumolo says, in awe of her e-mail pen pal—the type of mythical celebrity who inspires the best fan fiction. “She’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever encountered. She’s so funny. Her e-mails are like works of art, truly. They should be published. The way she communicates is just beautiful and poetic.”
With time, the e-mails built to a professional collaboration.
“She asked me, ‘Have you read Auntie Mame?’” Mumolo remembers, referring to Patrick Dennis’s 1955 novel about a boy and his over-the-top eccentric aunt. “I said, ‘No, I haven’t read the book but I’ve seen the other version of it made into a film version in the 50s.’ She said, ‘Would you take a look at it? I want to see if you are interested in writing a modern-day adaptation.’ I said yes, because you say yes to Tilda Swinton when she asks if you want to do something.
“I read the book and it was one of the most fun reads I’ve ever had. It’s totally different from what I had seen in the movie versions,” Mumolo says. “We had meetings and then, as I got a little overwhelmed with a few other work things, I brought on a co-writer to work together on this, because it’s a huge job and an adaptation. I brought on a friend of mine—Stan Chervin [the Oscar-nominated Moneyball co-screenwriter].”…
But speaking of outdated cartoons…
If experience is necessary for being president, name a political topic I can't master in one hour under the tutelage of top experts.
— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) July 28, 2016
First Topic: The Dunning-Kruger Effect https://t.co/VBXA2G1bRu
— Wyeth Ruthven (@wyethwire) July 28, 2016
Open Thread: When Does “Badly Dated” Age Into “Charmingly Retro”?Post + Comments (63)