First there was the magnificent documentary by David and Albert Maysles of the same title that made a great impact because it dealt with two eccentric women that had abandoned their life of privilege and society and were living in squalor at their dilapidated East Hampton home. Then there were two other less ambitious sequels by the same team. Finally, about three years ago, the material was turned into a Broadway musical that was one of the best things that year in the New York stage. Now, HBO decided to make a television version of the original source for our enjoyment.

The result is an immensely appealing movie about the lives of those unsinkable Edith Bouvier Beale, mother and daughter. This project expands on the lives of those women that had led lives of privilege in another era and found themselves destitute, but determined to keep themselves in the home they shared for many years.

We follow their lives starting at the end of the Great Depression when Phelan Beale tells his wife and daughter they must adapt to the difficult times the country was living. The older Edith is not ready to face reality, having been accustomed to getting her way. Young Edith has an opportunity to continue with a society oriented life in the Manhattan scene, but has the misfortune of falling in love for a married politician who is a coward and has ambitions for higher office in his life.

As a result of the eventual divorce, both Edith mother and daughter try to make the best of what they have in the old East Hampton home. Little by little, their house becomes a place where cats, and even raccoons take over the household. To make matters worse, the younger Edith discovers she has a hair problem and thus her fondness for those scarves she fashions herself to give an exotic appearance. Mother and daughter abandon all semblance of normalcy as they retreat into their own world.

When the documentary came out, a wealthy niece, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, nee Bouvier, arrives at the dilapidated house and is horrified by the filth, the bad odors and the deterioration of a place she knew well as a young girl. She comes to help with the necessary repairs because she can't stand to see how low her aunt and cousin has descended.

The casting of the two Ediths seem a blessing for Michael Sucsy, the director and adapter of the original material. We must confess our fears for what Drew Barrymore could do as the younger Beale. We shouldn't have worried, she gives the performance of her career. Jessica Lange does wonders also with the older Edith. Both actress play their parts with dignity, not making caricatures of their characters, not a small accomplishment. Others in the large cast include Ken Howard, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Daniel Baldwin in pivotal roles.

"Grey Gardens" made good on the promise we expected it to be thanks to its creator Michael Sucsy who kept everything tidy and is rewarded by a television film that would have been a good film, otherwise.

Taking the magnificent 1975 documentary and turning it into a dram is a big risk - and I really feel that it payed off.

What was really great was the back-story that you didn't get in the documentary. Ken Howard (Michael Clayton, "Crossing Jordan") played Big Edie's husband, Malcolm Gets ("Caroline in the City") played George "Gould" Strong, and Daniel Baldwin was Julius Krug, all important characters in the 1936 portion of the film.

Drew Barrymore was absolutely magnificent as "Little" Edie, and Jessica Lange was amazing as "Big" Edie. The passive-aggressive attitude displayed made for some super entertainment. The co-dependency made for some outstanding drama. They were an endearing couple.

Things were really in a disgusting state with cats and raccoons all over the place when Jackie Kennedy Onassis (Jeanne Tripplehorn) shows up after numerous stories made the papers outlining the fact that the women were broke.

They were so far gone that they couldn't see how badly they looked in the documentary made about them. Eddie still thought she was destined to be a star.

If Drew Barrymore doesn't get a Golden Globe for this, something is very wrong.