The Birdcage (film)

The Birdcage (film)
Name	The Birdcage
Director	Mike Nichols
Producer	Mike Nichols, Neil A. Machlis
Writer	Jean Poiret, Francis Veber, Édouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, Jean Poiret
Starring	Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, Calista Flockhart
Music	Jonathan Tunick
Cinematography	Emmanuel Lubezki
Editing	Arthur Schmidt
Studio	United Artists, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Released	March 8, 1996
Runtime	117 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$30 million
Gross	$185 million

The Birdcage (film) is a 1996 American comedy film directed by Mike Nichols and starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane as a gay couple, Armand Goldman and Albert, who own a drag club in South Beach, Miami. The film is a remake of the 1978 French film La Cage aux Folles, directed by Édouard Molinaro and starring Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault. The story revolves around the couple's son, Val Goldman, who announces his engagement to the daughter of a conservative Republican senator, Kevin Keeley, played by Gene Hackman, and his wife, Louise Keeley, played by Dianne Wiest, who are associated with the Republican National Committee and have ties to Newt Gingrich and the Contract with America.

Plot

The plot of the film follows Armand Goldman and his partner, Albert, as they try to pretend to be straight for the sake of their son's future in-laws, who are connected to Bob Dole and the Republican Party (United States). The couple's drag club, The Birdcage, is a popular spot in South Beach, featuring performers like Starina, and is often visited by Elton John and other LGBTQ+ icons. As the story unfolds, Armand and Albert must navigate their relationships with their son, Val, and his fiancée, Barbara Keeley, while also dealing with the challenges of hiding their true identities from Senator Keeley and his wife, who have ties to Pat Buchanan and the Christian right. The film features a range of characters, including Agador, the club's housekeeper, who is played by Hank Azaria, and Cyrus, a friend of the couple, who is played by Tom McGowan and has connections to Harvey Fierstein and the LGBTQ+ community.

Production

The production of the film was led by Mike Nichols, who worked with a team of writers, including Jean Poiret, Francis Veber, and Édouard Molinaro, to adapt the story from the original French film, La Cage aux Folles, which was released in 1978 and starred Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault. The film was produced by United Artists and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, with a budget of $30 million, and was shot on location in Miami and Los Angeles, with cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki, who has also worked on films like Gravity and The Revenant. The film's score was composed by Jonathan Tunick, who has worked on a range of films, including A Little Night Music and Blazing Saddles, and has collaborated with Stephen Sondheim and Mel Brooks.

Cast

The cast of the film includes Robin Williams and Nathan Lane as the lead characters, Armand Goldman and Albert, with Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest playing the roles of Senator Keeley and his wife, Louise Keeley. The film also features Calista Flockhart as Barbara Keeley, the daughter of the senator, and Dan Futterman as Val Goldman, the son of Armand and Albert. The cast also includes Hank Azaria as Agador, the club's housekeeper, and Tom McGowan as Cyrus, a friend of the couple, who has connections to Harvey Fierstein and the LGBTQ+ community. Other notable cast members include Christine Baranski, who has appeared in films like Mamma Mia! and Cybill, and Grant Shaud, who has worked on Murphy Brown and other TV shows.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising the performances of Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, as well as the direction of Mike Nichols, who has also worked on films like The Graduate and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. The film holds a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics praising its humor and heart, and has been compared to other LGBTQ+-themed films, such as Philadelphia and Brokeback Mountain. The film was also a commercial success, grossing over $185 million at the box office, and has become a classic of American comedy, alongside films like Airplane! and The Naked Gun.

Themes

The film explores a range of themes, including LGBTQ+ rights, identity, and acceptance, and features a range of characters from the LGBTQ+ community, including drag queens and gay couples. The film also touches on issues of politics and social justice, particularly in its portrayal of the conservative Republican senator, Kevin Keeley, and his wife, Louise Keeley, who are connected to Pat Buchanan and the Christian right. The film's themes have been compared to those of other LGBTQ+-themed films, such as Milk and The Imitation Game, and have been praised for their sensitivity and nuance.

Release

The film was released on March 8, 1996, and was distributed by United Artists and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film was released in the United States and internationally, and was accompanied by a range of marketing and promotional materials, including trailers and posters. The film's release was also accompanied by a range of LGBTQ+-themed events and screenings, including a premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and a screening at the GLAAD Media Awards. The film has since become a classic of American comedy, and continues to be widely popular and influential, with a range of cultural references and parodies in films and TV shows like The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live.

Category:American comedy films