Caretaker Eddie: The Martyr Money Personality

Grey Gardens (1975) & (2009)
Eddie, Jackie Kennedy-Onansis's cousin, blames her fall from elite to impoverished spinster-hood on her mother's supposed need for a "caretaker".

[@elizabethlinsay9193]

The actress who played Jackie Kennedy was excellent, too. And looked much like her as well.

[@leannemcfaul9333]

Jeanne Tripplehorn . she's gorgeous. 😍

[@pianoman551000]

@@leannemcfaul9333 Jean Tripplehorn can now be seen in HBO's 'The Gilded Age.'

[@sand3882]

Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange could not have been better. I watched the real documentary after the movie and I couldn't believe how they embodied the roles. Big Edie was emotionally abusive to her daughter, but don't forget how affected she was by what her husband had done to her. She was left to try to support herself and daughter and keep the family home on a small allowance. They were both lively and creative, but they ended up very broken.

[@ihaveinsomnia1]

I saw the documentary first. I was amazed by the movie. Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lang were spot on!

[@jonpendragon2066]

They coulda done better but they were good drews voice breaks through alot

[@urspendy]

they were so GOOD. Drew as Little Edie was reaally well done. Jessica Lange is always good

[@frankschmitzer5824]

Oh how I love both versions. Wish I could have been Edie's friend. She was so much fun!!

[@ibcheel9021]

I agree. The emotional progression in just this scene alone is very heart wrenching.

[@no-gc6xd]

Paul Getty was 44 when she was under 20. I can see how she wasn’t thrilled about the idea.

[@jujub4553]

I love the transcontinental accent so much. I wish we all still had it

[@ronrendon]

LOL WHAT ON EARTH IN A "TRANSCONTINENTAL ACCENT"???

[@gregguralnik2512]

I do too, but it was a "manufactured" accent. That accent was taught in the early to mid-20th century; an east coast mixed with British and Irish. Although, I know many people in Eastern Massachusetts still speak this way.

[@Amblin80s]

No thanks

[@Guitarbarella]

If grey gardens had been a cinema movie theres no doubt in my mind Drew Barrymore would have gotten the academy award that year, how she missed out on an Emmy for it is beyond me but at least she got the SAG and others for it. She really showcased her acting talent in it.

[@ElizabethT45]

Drew also won the Golden Globe for this role. The Academy Awards are all about sending gifts to the voters. SAG is your peers saying you were the best in that category which is more impressive to me!

[@MsFifi11c]

She was incredible in this role

[@kashabrown2692]

Big Edie manipulated her daughter & always talked down on her. I love lil Edie.

[@asbisi]

She gaslighted and manipulated her. Very toxic woman indeed.

[@knitterscheidt]

The scene with Jackie is as far as I know fiction. Wouldn't it be interesting to know what they did say to each other after so many years, tragedies and hardships. I never understood how the sons could know their mother and sister lived like this and did nothing. The wealthy can be the most miserly and cold hearted.

[@TaurusVirgoDvineFem]

Yes, and I would have loved to see Lee Radziwell (Jackie's younger sister) be portrayed instead. I read that it was really her who was involved in helping them & getting the documentary.

[@ginaspurlding8590]

​@@TaurusVirgoDvineFemAri money and his good will , Jackie was too money crazy to pay for anything,her assistant would take Jackie used items to consignment shop for Jackie,I don't think Jackie gave much, unless it was to some charity where she could get credit for the deed and s tax write off.

[@jessieblossom3874]

Big Edie RUINED little Edie's life.

[@tnt01]

100%

[@asbisi]

She did. The whole thing is a true horror story. People call it a love story between a mother and a daughter. Are we even seeing the same thing?

[@elizabethlinsay9193]

Some of the best acting I've seen in many years, and perhaps ever.

[@sand3882]

It really was!

[@user-tt5xj5ib1e]

Where ever you are little Edie, you brought a lot of joy and happiness to people all around the world. May your star forever shine brightly beautiful :) 😍🤩😍

[@ericmartin9569]

Miss Edie was so stunning, she was just too big for the world at that time!

[@caribeandude1]

A fine example of perfect casting. Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lang. They portrayed these two women so perfectly is is hard to distinguish between them and the real ones.

[@lisabullock7461]

She was a caregiver for 30 years.

[@commentcopbadge6665]

That got paid in slights and emotional insults.

[@ronrendon]

As the drag queen Tatianna would say: "CHOICES."

[@PiersPlowman]

Seriously doubt Little Edie was this avaricious or had these types of ambitions. I know this is added for flare and drama. Little Edie was to childlike to ever conduct herself in such a way. This is quite evident from watching her on the documentary. She was very much a pure soul. I have a new respect for Drew Barrymore.

[@constancedenchy9801]

I thought the same...it's like the movie wanted to cast Jackie as some kind of victim for "trying to help" ...I think little Efie knew the gilded cage her cousin lived in and wasn't jealous

[@cherylannemason]

It wouldn't have surprised me, though, that Jackie not only regretted being first lady for very obvious reasons, but that she might actually have thought that Edie might've been better suited for that particular gilded cage.

[@BlackCoffeeee]

I completely agree. Little Edie was obsessed with her memories but never seemed to be resentful or jealous of anyone. This scene really seems to miss the essence of her.

[@catmagic2226]

Drew IS Little Edie...she's just excellent.

[@bentleyr00d]

Raven 222 Yeah, her acting in this movie made me proud, which makes no sense as I have no relation whatsoever to Drew Barrymore, but I was happy that the world got to see that she actually has a great talent.

[@annamiranda8716]

Wow! I didn’t recognize her.

[@Happyboymargarine]

Best work. Real good

[@larapalma3744]

Not quite

[@llwydanwyl]

actually little edidie was much more aggressive.. drew played her great though.. but she couldn’t capture pushing al under the god damn bed lol

[@DraGnFly007]

Jessica and Drew were AMAZING in this movie.

[@4Mr.Crowley2]

If you see the entire documentary and/or the fantastic hbo film it is very obvious that Edie was entirely undermined by her mother from childhood, and that her mother was a malignant narcissist who undermined her daughter at every turn. Narcissists destroy the mental health of those they use for their "supply" -- ESPECIALLY their own children (note that her sons kept their mother at arm's length their entire lives. They escaped while Edie did not). In the original documentary she constantly tells Edie that she is ugly, that she has/always had a terrible singing voice (while constantly praising others including herself while she had a very mediocre voice at best), that Edie never met her mother's expectations, that her failure to marry was entirely her fault and that men didn't and don't like her, etc etc etc. That severe mental abuse started when Edie was a child. Yes, of course Edie had mental health issues -- obviously -- as did her mother -- who was a malignant narcissist -- endlessly needy and indifferent to her daughter's acute mental suffering as long as her daughter was there to fulfill her commands and endless demands such as getting her ice cream every day or caring for the ridiculous dozens and dozens of cats that her mother allowed to breed freely in the house until the authorities stepped in.

[@TheTourmaline57]

this unfortunately is the truth. Painful as it is to hear.

[@bobtaylor170]

I don't recall Big Edie's telling Little Edie that she was ugly. To the contrary, she tells her she doesn't look 56 and that she looks extremely good for 56. She also shows photos of the young Little Edie to the Maysles and comments on how pretty the young Little Edie was. Further, she makes much of Little Edie's dancing ability, and tells her that Little Edie's poetry is better than Robert Frost's. She does tell Little Edie that Little Edie can't sing, which is painfully obvious. To be in a codependent relationship, doesn't the "weaker" player have to consent to be in the relationship? To me, the mystery is why Little Edie didn't get a job and remain in New York, sending money home to help Big Edie, who, in 1952, was only 57 and probably didn't require a caregiver. Why would Little Edie have left New York at its zenith, in 1952? If the mother did need help, a self supporting Little Edie could have insisted that Big Edie come stay with her in New York City. And in New York City, Little Edie, as enchanting as she was, could certainly have found a husband. My guess is that Big Edie had it about right: Little Edie didn't want to get married. Also, I'm convinced Little Edie WANTED to go back to Grey Gardens in 1952. My amateur's guess is that she suffered from anxiety disorder and needed looking after by Big Edie.

[@michellegriff13]

aleister crowley Clapping, loudly!!!!!!!! I knew it from watching the mockumentary "Sandy Passage" and from my own experience that still carry's on with my mother!!!!!!!!!

[@michellegriff13]

aleister crowley In the original documentary the look on Little Edie's face when her mother is talking speaks clearly without words. It is the look of absolute digust towards her mother and if she were to open her mouth she may throw up from the disgust from having come from such a nasty, malignant woman. She looks ashamed to be a woman because of how her mother has treated her and ashamed at how her mother effortlessly attempts to conceal her jealousy. It makes me sick to think how mothers do this to their children. My mom tries doing it subtly with my 14 y/o son but I STOP IT EVERYTIME!

[@libertygiveme1987]

aleister - First off, that is a TERRIBLE NAME to use!!!! Secondly, I COULD NOT AGREE MORE!!!! But after Edie's mother passed, Edie was FINALLY able to live!!!!

[@LilyGazou]

They had a sale of the old China and kitchenware some years ago. I bought a stack of it just as mementoes of the Edies.

[@michaeldickens7493]

It's funny big Edie says she had a very good man to take care of her but he left her and didn't want to give little Edie allowance anymore some good guy

[@atheodorasurname6936]

Both Edies remind me of my late mother, who was only three years older than LE, lived in NYC during the late 1940s and really enjoyed it there as she did, loved cats (as i too do) -- and like LE my mother looked much younger than her age. Big Edie acted more stubborn and controlling than my mother, who was still, like her, an expert at subtle putdowns and self-righteousness. And like LE, i am considered eccentric and never married -- although unlike her, I had little or no chance at "bagging" some rich guy! The guy i could easily have married, now deceased, was also a cat lover, and i did live with him for nearly 12 years until he had turned into a hoarder collecting junk and bringing it into the house, which was starting to resemble the stinky mess the Edies were living in. I just couldn't stand it any longer, so he finally bought another house, took many of the cats and moved out.... This story is a valuable warning of what could happen if, faced with lack of money to live on, we have not acquired enough practical life skills to get a job and find ourselves stuck in a worsening situation, growing old while passively hoping relatives might help....

[@efrrren6420]

Wherever you are I truly hope you are happy, god bless you.

[@susiefairfield7218]

As a care giver in south florida...i gotta say..there are still ladies in their 90s that carry on in this air now to this day..accent and all Life is Wondrous and Strange and far too short for one to accomplish much

[@monastratton7311]

Edie was the golden girl. that true....

[@shizzle7642]

Everybody thinks and feels differently as the years go by.... being little Edie’s same age as the documentary, I get many of the genius lines they spoke! To know that little Edie was given the opportunity to live life by her own rules is consoling 💜

[@ryanshelby6745]

Aspergers I think. Must of made her life very difficult. And I don’t think people knew what that was back then.

[@katieb2098]

You are so so right!! I have aspergers myself and the first thing I thought was she had it too I can see it clearly

[@SaxonC]

Seems like the Bouvier Family’s main goal was money. Big Edie emphasis on these so called suitors was the they were rich..

[@miriamhavard7621]

Saxon C unfortunately that was the norm.

[@dennybenz5846]

Including Jackie and lee

[@commentcopbadge6665]

That's the world they were born and raised into. The sisters of those "potential suitors" were no different, I'd wager.

[@ammasown1]

@Saxon C Pedigree was everything in that world.They were the American aristocracy, it was really about societal status, and being from “the Best Families,” more than money, it was about social standing.

[@tubester4567]

How is it any different to today, Women have always tried to marry for money and status.

[@heart2soar476]

This intrigued me. I have an Aunt that looks like Jackie O. On anothre side of the family , I have an Aunt Edith, they nameed me after her. She was Edith , and I am Edie

[@commentcopbadge6665]

Whatever you do, avoid or at least be wary of any requests to go and care for your aunt. lol

[@batubop651]

Not a fan of the title of this clip, nor the way it was cut to justify it. Although obviously mum and daughter formed an extremely unhealthy example of codependency for so many years, I think it is well documented poor Eddie tried to break free in her early adulthood several times but her mother forced her back to home. If I’m incorrect in my assessment, I’m willing (obviously not happy to though, for Edie’s sake) to be corrected. Either way, a very sad tale. Actually…. even now that I’ve said that, in todays view of life, I still think Edie would be deemed a victim of her obsessive mother. Edie would hopefully have had the correct resources to break free with today’s understanding and psychology skills. Edit: also, I agree with other’s sentiments, both Drew and Jessica were brilliant in the movie, eerily so!

[@getreal3445]

When the husbands leave their wives these mothers will chose one of her children to take the place of their father to be the emotional anchor if you will these mothers consume that child’s life like no other its one of the many horrible traits of a narcissist So you are absolutely correct my friend little Eddie was emotionally abused to her very core it effect her mental health sadly she lived an arrested development of a life up until her death 💔

[@rhettjanes1056]

Lots of Truth in what big Edie was telling Little Edie about getting older and your feelings that how you feel different now than what you did when you were younger

[@oooops537]

Awesome acting. Emotional roller coaster for sure.

[@ibcheel9021]

The last lines from both of the actors and both reactions is classic. Next time I'm in an acting class I will do do this. Great connection piece

[@pbohearn]

absolutely: verbal and nonverbal; actions and reactions they are both 100% in the moment

[@briancrouch4827]

Lil Edie is a princess RIP lil Edie..

[@monroeboy80]

Little Edie had dreams in her heart of being an entertainer but was undermined from the start. Her father cut her off after he kept pressuring Big Edie to find her a "suitable" man to marry. Little Edie did not want to marry and had no desire. That's when she was cut off financially and moved back to take care of her mother. You can see glimpses of resentment in the statements Little Edie made in the original documentary. She was a very good looking woman in her younger years and even in to her older years. But time waits for no one. Yes she could have been an actress even a successful one. I think at the end of her life she was happy with her life. Little Edie came from another time when women of a certain status were expected to marry. Money marries money. Thankfully we have come a long way for women!

[@chainsawteddybear]

beautifully said

[@idaslpdhr]

In the UK we call these people new money, in America they are old money, old money are the inherited passing from 1 generation to another, new money are people in business

[@CuriousRose]

The movie did an exceptional job at portraying The Beales honestly.

[@MellyP22]

Drew was great but have you seen Jinkx Monsoon?!? I learned about Little Edie thanks to RPDR

[@user-pp4nd7vw8m]

AGREED

[@sweetadversity]

Iconic

[@JakeFallis75]

Isn’t that a photo of Rosemary Kennedy, the forgotten Kennedy sister?

[@frankf198]

Omg good call 👍🏻

[@patrickoneill8047]

The actresses are a mirror image, their voices parrot the Edie's, their body movements, timing are indistinguishable from the actual documentry. Professional entertainment.

[@sand3882]

They are both fantastic. Spot on. I have the movie and documentary. I've seen them so many times...time to watch again!

[@RoseMakesIt]

I 100% agree

[@frankschmitzer5824]

I love both versions. Wish I could have been Edie's friend. She was so much fun.

[@TheUnexplainable1]

Wow,Yea she had some serious issue's. . .

[@amazingabby25]

This was well made

[@georgerodriquez7744]

I would be more pissed then that.I think her husband had told her to stay away from that family.the kenndys didnt want to see them or have them near.

[@abacus299]

Have seen the documentary - which was both troubling and intensely moving - but not the 2009 film which looks interesting from this clip. Going to search for it now.

[@littleogeechee223]

That’s EDIE, not Eddie...🙂

[@garydiamond8124]

A stunning movie didn’t get the credit it deserved

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

So many of those HBO movies seemed to totally fly under the radar, sadly...

[@RubyOpheliaQuinn]

I don't think that Jackie was that nice.

[@constancedenchy9801]

Agreed

[@DavidWilliams-so2dy]

She wasn’t. Only when it worked in her favor.

[@carliebeau5329]

I love how she said i didnt fall in love. Lollolo. Having money and being inlove 2 different things Eddie.

[@colecolettecole]

i originally skipped over your thumbnail because you wrote ' eddie ' but i recognized little edie so came back to have a look ~ you might want to spell her name properly ~ if i could have dinner with anyone it probably would be little edie ~ so interesting ~

[@trashpanda9615]

After watching the documentary and then the hbo movie , I really didn’t like how little Edie was portrayed ☹️

[@sand3882]

In what way? I thought they were both fantastic.

[@trashpanda9615]

@@sand3882 I felt in the hbo version she was portrayed as self absorbed and disingenuous

[@sand3882]

@@trashpanda9615 , I've watched the film and the documentaries several times. I don't remember feeling that way at all. I plan to watch it again soon. I'll check it out.

[@jessimmersimqueen]

Edie would not have said that to Jackie! She said it so someone else I think.

[@jacquelinelarsen1721]

I wonder if her gold pins and brooches are real?

[@JG-uu1oj]

Caretaker 'Eddie' ?

[@rosetresham8641]

I feel like this did not fucking happen in real life.

[@LilyGazou]

The 2 Edie’s were real. We used to go into the garden when we were stupid brats. But I don’t know if this conversation with Jackie ever happened. The family had to get involved because the property was falling apart, piles of garbage, raccoons and rats running around.

[@christinehedstrom9515]

Omg so toxic. Just by INSTINCT I would get away from my mother when she spoke I'd "slender" and WHO not if, I was going to marry. I am so glad that I escaped that whole age!!. 'Would drive anyone NUTS!

[@rosetresham8641]

I hated the made-up convos...

[@marquamfurniture]

Edie....... Not Eddie.

[@stompthedragon4010]

I hear that Jackie never really went there.

[@joannacouncil1782]

I thought the same thing she never visited them

[@stompthedragon4010]

@@joannacouncil1782 Had to make Jackie look good, I guess

[@joannacouncil1782]

@@stompthedragon4010 I just found this documentary I'm obsessed lol

[@stompthedragon4010]

@@joannacouncil1782 I was too. From reading comments it seems many people become fascinated and endeared to Big Edie and Little Edie. You hear alot of criticism of Big Edie; people saying she was a horrible narcissist who destroyed Little Edie' s life. I don' t see it that way. Their relationship is very complicated and they almost seem like old friends and roomies with their bantering.

[@joannacouncil1782]

@@stompthedragon4010 I agree I think they would be miserable with out each other lol I love both of them I watch everything I find on them two

[@annamiranda8716]

I had a father in law and a sister in law who acted this way. My sister in law still lives and is quite crazy in the head.

[@franklinstephen3268]

Hi 👋how are you doing?

[@louiseklitou841]

What is this film called?? Please

[@Jendromeda]

'grey gardens' the newer one there are two versions...the first from the 70's is a documentary, it's very fascinating. this is the movie version. it was on HBO. the docu is on youtube. beware...if you watch it, you may get hooked. it's mesmerizing.

[@akeeru]

WOW

[@erinlevere6881]

“Yes Jacqueline, it could of been me”

[@AK.kje11]

Very unusual

[@pbohearn]

Its Edie not Eddie. Geezuz Cruminy!

[@stephanielekas583]

Hollywood royalty

[@jamesmalamute7874]

We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard,

[@MsSilentsiren]

I'd kill myself if I had that type of an accent while speaking.

[@rhondaflowers3824]

WOW! WHY? IF THAT VOICE WAS ALL YOU KNEW...YOU WOULDN'T FEEL AS SUCH. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY..FROM THE LOOKS OF YOU...I DOUBT THERE WERE MANY COLORED MAIDS AROUND IN THAT TIME .

[@DavidWilliams-so2dy]

So what? You type in all caps. Only imbeciles do that. 🤣😆

[@Iworkwithnitwits]

It is Edie not Eddie.

[@misssusan5959]

I met Edie years ago in the 80,s in Hollywood. She was living there after her mother died. She was wearing a black head scarf with a big diamond brooch.. it was beautiful. Who knows if it was real or not. We talked a bit and she askecme if my dad came from a fine family.. I think she wasn,Tito impressed with my answer. Lol! But when I told her I saw her on that tv documentary she became a little warmer to me. She said she burned her hair while she was up in a tree, and that she came from a fine family. I told her because of her being on the tv documentary she would become famous, and she liked that. She seemed a little brash, but still a unique meeting.

[@sand3882]

Sounds like a rather surreal meeting. Thanks for sharing.

[@NudePostingConspiracyTheories]

It’s TOO painful

[@WISDOMCROW]

But what if it was her instead of Jackie Onassis ? It would of changed history. BUTTERFLY EFECT but this "BUTTERFLY EFECT" would be on anther scale.