Birdy (1984)

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers:

William Wharton (based on the novel by)
Sandy Kroopf (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 December 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

A soaring experience unlike anything you've ever seen before.

Plot:

After two friends return home from the Vietnam War one becomes mentally unstable and obsesses with becoming a bird.

Plot Keywords:

Bird | Vietnam | Friend | Vietnam War | Missing In Action

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Matthew Modine	...	Birdy
Nicolas Cage	...	Al Columbato
John Harkins	...	Doctor Weiss
Sandy Baron	...	Mr. Columbato
Karen Young	...	Hannah Rourke
Bruno Kirby	...	Renaldi
Nancy Fish	...	Mrs. Prevost
George Buck	...	Birdy's Father
Dolores Sage	...	Birdy's Mother
Pat Ryan	...	Joe Sagessa (as Robert L. Ryan)
James Santini	...	Mario Columbato
Maud Winchester	...	Doris Robinson (as Maude Winchester)
Marshall Bell	...	Ronsky
Elizabeth Whitcraft	...	Rosanne
Sandra Beall	...	Shirley
Victoria Nekko	...	Claire
Crystal Field	...	Mrs. Columbato
John Brumfield	...	Mr. Kohler
Joe Lerer	...	Military Doctor
Alice Truscott	...	Mother on Train
Ed Taylor	...	Zimmy The Human Fish
Irving Selbst	...	Fairground Announcer
Steve Lippe	...	Junkyard Proprietor
William Clark	...	Policeman on Beach
James Pruett	...	Emergency Doctor
Priscilla Alden	...	Waiting Room Lady
Howard Kinsley	...	Mr. Tate
Robert Diamond	...	Maloney
Bud Seese	...	Drunk in Jail
Ray Pili	...	High School Band
Lawrence J. McKenna	...	High School Band
David Kuhn	...	High School Band (as David W. Kuhn)
Kevin P. Kuhn	...	High School Band
Ronald Distefano	...	High School Band
Larry Hochman	...	High School Band
Guy Jones	...	Hospital Orderly
Erskine Morgan	...	Hospital Orderly
Ramona Bajema	...	Girl on Train
Maurice Frizzeli Jr.	...	Nuts and Bolts Patient (as Maurice Frizzell Jr.)
Donald Sims	...	Nuts and Bolts Patient
Richard Mason	...	Injured Soldier
Charles A. Tamburro	...	Helicopter Pilot
Richard Holley	...	Helicopter Pilot (as Rick Holley)
Harry Hauss	...	Helicopter Pilot
Mark Simpson	...	Helicopter Soldier
Clark Taylor	...	Helicopter Soldier
Michael Shaner	...	Veteran
Tim Davis	...	Veteran
Bird No. 9	...	Perta
Alfonso	...	Himself
Hobbie	...	Cat
Sneaky	...	Dog
Willey	...	Dog
Ace	...	Dog
Prince	...	Dog
Tiger	...	Dog
Bo	...	Dog
Budah	...	Dog
Chiggar	...	Dog
Tyko	...	Dog
Kelly	...	Dog
Red	...	Dog
Fantasy	...	Dog
Scooter	...	Dog
Jonathan	...	Seagull
Monty	...	Snake
Horatio	...	Jungle Bird
No's. 1 to 84	...	Pigeons
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dennis Erectus	...	Veteran (uncredited)

Directed by
Alan Parker

Writing credits
William Wharton		(based on the novel by)
Sandy Kroopf		(screenplay) &
Jack Behr		(screenplay)

Produced by
Ned Kopp	....	associate producer
David Manson	....	executive producer
Alan Marshall	....	producer

Original Music by
Peter Gabriel

Cinematography by
Michael Seresin		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Gerry Hambling

Casting by
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Geoffrey Kirkland

Art Direction by
W. Stewart Campbell		(as Stu Campbell)
Armin Ganz

Set Decoration by
George R. Nelson

Costume Design by
Kristi Zea

Makeup Department
John Caglione Jr.	....	special makeup (as John Caglione)
Barbara Kelly	....	makeup artist
Paul LeBlanc	....	hairdresser (as Paul Le Blanc)

Production Management
Nancy Giebink	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Davies	....	second assistant director
Chris Soldo	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Rodney Armanino	....	construction best boy
Robert Bovill	....	draughtsman
Richard W. Clot	....	construction foreman (as Rich Clot)
Roger Dietz	....	set artist
Margery Z. Gabrielson	....	painter (as Margery Gabrielson)
John Gorham	....	graphics
Dale Haugo	....	paint coordinator
John A. Kelly	....	painter (as John Kelly)
Tom Sindicich	....	construction coordinator
Michelle Souza	....	assistant props
Anthony Tortorice	....	assistant props
Don Watson	....	lead man
Aaron Zajac	....	assistant props
George Zimninsky	....	property master

Sound Department
Clive Barrett	....	assistant editor
Danny Benson	....	boom operator
Leonard Green	....	assistant editor
David Grimsdale	....	footsteps editor
Stephen Janisz	....	assistant editor (as Steve Janisz)
Eddy Joseph	....	sound editor
David MacMillan	....	sound recordist
Marty McGee	....	cable operator
Ray Merrin	....	assistant mixer
Peter Pennell	....	sound effects editor
Bill Rowe	....	re-recording mixer
Jeremy Strachan	....	assistant editor

Special Effects by
Cliff Wenger	....	special effects
Eric Roberts	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Costas Charitou	....	opticals: Camera Effects Ltd (uncredited)
David Smith	....	optical cameraman (uncredited)

Stunts
M. James Arnett	....	stunt coordinator (as James Arnett)
Queepers	....	stunts: Perta
Mic Rodgers	....	stunt player
Reid Rondell	....	stunt player
Michael Runyard	....	stunt player

Camera and Electrical Department
Maurice Beesley	....	best boy
Don Biller	....	assistant cameraman: Local 644 (as Donald Biller)
Peter Bloor	....	chief electrician
David L. Butler	....	aerial cameraman (as David Butler)
Ted Churchill	....	Steadicam operator
Joseph F. Coffey	....	cameraman: Local 644 (as Joseph Coffey)
Harold Cole	....	grip
Robert Corso	....	grip
Jan d'Alquen	....	cameraman: Local 659
Alan R. Disler	....	first assistant camera (as Alan Disler)
Brad Edmiston	....	steadicam assistant (as Bradford Edmiston)
Gary Gill	....	key grip
Jon Guterres	....	camera grip
Charlie Hammerschmitt	....	Steadicam operator
Douglas C. Hart	....	steadicam assistant (as Douglas Hart)
Kerry Hayes	....	still photographer
Robert Hillman	....	camera operator: Local 659
Alec Hirschfeld	....	camera operator: Local 644
Marc Hirschfeld	....	assistant cameraman: Local 644
Doug Hunt	....	assistant cameraman: Local 659 (as Douglas Hunt)
Adam Kimmel	....	Steadicam assistant
Mark Ludwig	....	second assistant camera
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator
Donna Morrison	....	assistant camera: second unit
Terry Morrison	....	camera operator: second unit
Ralph Nelson	....	still photographer (as Ralph Nelson Jr.)
Scott Rathner	....	second assistant camera
Mike Roberts	....	camera operator (as Michael Roberts)
Frank Strzalkowski	....	best boy
James Wise	....	electrician
Michael Meier	....	electrician (uncredited)
Michael Meier	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lisa Clarkson	....	extras casting
Ellen Lewis	....	assistant casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mark Burchard	....	costumer
Judy Feil	....	assistant costume designer
Molly Maginnis	....	assistant costume designer
Mary Elizabeth Still	....	costumer (as Mary E. Still)

Editorial Department
Daniel Candib	....	assistant editor
Richard Hymns	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Larry Fast	....	special musical contributor
John Hassell	....	special musical contributor
Daniel Lanois	....	music co-producer
Tony Levin	....	special musical contributor
Jerry Marotta	....	special musical contributor
David Rhodes	....	special musical contributor

Transportation Department
Ed Arter	....	transportation coordinator
Michael Brum	....	transportation captain (as Mike Brum)
Paul Cimino	....	transportation captain
Andrew Mendez	....	dispatcher (as Andy Mendez)
Michael W. Broomer	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Christine Baer	....	production assistant
Brett Barclay	....	craft service
Steph Benseman	....	location coordinator
Thomas 'Doc' Boguski	....	production assistant (as Tom Boguski)
Janice Clark	....	assistant auditor
Kathryn Colbert	....	production assistant
Josephine Cornell	....	first aid (as Josie Cornell)
Michael DeMay	....	production assistant (as Michael De May)
Rory Enke	....	location manager
Gary Gero	....	bird trainer
Monica Goldstein	....	assistant: Mr. Marshall
Peter Govey	....	titles
Tom Gray	....	unit publicist
Dick Gros	....	location auditor
Robert Harman	....	flying effects
Mark Jackson	....	assistant animal trainer
Gwen Johnson	....	assistant animal trainer
Ken Johnson	....	ornithopter
George Krafft	....	police coordinator
David Lamb	....	unit coordinator
Donna Lindemann	....	production secretary
Maureen Murphy	....	production secretary
Larry Payne	....	assistant animal trainer
Ron Phipps	....	financial controller
Tracy Rosenthal-Newsom	....	production assistant (as Tracy Rosenthal)
Gilly Ruben	....	assistant: Mr. Parker
Sally Sherwin	....	assistant: London office
Alice Tompkins	....	script supervisor
Michael Waxman	....	location coordinator

Production Companies

• A&M Films
• TriStar Pictures

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1989) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1985) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1985) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2000) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (1985) (Argentina) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• The Drummers of Ekome  special musical contribution
• Thorn EMI Elstree Studios  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:16 (1985) | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | New Zealand:R | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

46th Street Station, cnr Market & 46th Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

A&M Films

Trivia:

The film makes use of several songs by Ritchie Valens such as "Come On, Let's Go" and "La Bamba".

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Al calls Birdy "Al" (11:08)

Quotes:

[about his psychiatrist]
Sergeant Al Columbato:I don't trust the guy. Everything's too interesting to him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Full Metal Jacket: Between Good and Evil (2007) (V)

A Strange, Depressing Character Study

This is a strange and fascinating - but that likable - story about a kid who becomes obsessed with birds and then literally goes crazy. Matthew Modine plays the introverted "Birdy." A young Nicholas Cage plays his best friend, "Al."

It's not a particularly pleasant story. In fact, it's downright depressing many times. It also had an unusual ending, one the critics seemed to all pan but I liked. I thought it was neat.

The movie does keep your interest, so it gets decent points for that, and it certainly presents a unique character study.

I haven't seen this film in a long time, but after writing this review, I'd kind of like to view it again.....depressing or not.