The Birdcage (1996)

A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen companion agree to put up a false straight front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancée's right-wing moralistic parents.

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writers:

Jean Poiret (play), Francis Veber (earlier screenplay),

Stars:

Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Williams	...	Armand Goldman
Gene Hackman	...	Sen. Kevin Keeley
Nathan Lane	...	Albert Goldman
Dianne Wiest	...	Louise Keeley
Dan Futterman	...	Val Goldman
Calista Flockhart	...	Barbara Keeley
Hank Azaria	...	Agador
Christine Baranski	...	Katherine Archer
Tom McGowan	...	Harry Radman
Grant Heslov	...	National Enquirer Photographer
Kirby Mitchell	...	Keeley's Chauffeur
James Lally	...	Cyril
Luca Tommassini	...	Celsius
Luis Camacho	...	Goldman Girl
André Fuentes	...	Goldman Girl (as Andre Fuentes)

Storyline

Armand Goldman owns a popular drag nightclub in South Miami Beach. His long-time lover Albert stars there as Starina. "Their" son Val (actually Armand's by his one heterosexual fling, twenty years before) comes home to announce his engagement to Barbara Keely, daughter of Kevin Keely, US Senator, and vice president of the Committee for Moral Order. The Senator and family descend upon South Beach to meet Val and his father and "mother..." and what ensues is comic chaos.

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Plot Keywords:

senator | drag | beach | nightclub | south beach | 

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Taglines:

Come as you are.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

MGM/UA site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 March 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Birds of a Feather

Filming Locations:

MacArthur Causeway, Miami, Florida, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

JPY 73,721,900 (Japan) (13 December 1996)

Gross:

JPY 249,131,200 (Japan) (3 January 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Artists

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song sung by Armand and Katherine in her office, "Love Is in the Air," is a song that was cut from the Stephen Sondheim musical "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Originally supposed to be the first number in the show, it was replaced by the song "Comedy Tonight", sung by Nathan Lane in the 1996 Broadway Revival.

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Goofs

Val goes to visit his dad Armand to tell him about his upcoming wedding to Barbara. Armand swallows all his champagne in one gulp but when he gets up to refill his glass, there's still some left in the cup

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Quotes

[first lines]
[singers are performing "We Are Family" on-stage]
Cyril: [backstage, into a telephone] Agador! Where is Starina? She goes on in 5 minutes!

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Connections

References A Star Is Born (1954)

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Soundtracks

"SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY"
Written by Donna Summer and Michael Omartian
Courtesy of Mercury Records
By Arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV licensing

User Reviews

I'm coming out...

OH.. my GOd! What a wonderful story, what a comedy.. I have no words to describe what I felt when I watched this. You see Robin Williams in this whole new character , he has never played this kind of role before.. well it suits him, don't you think? HE did a pretty good job with Armand Goldman, but what about his partner.. Nathan Lane, well what about him? He played perfectly his SHE.. Albert slash Starina Goldman slash Coleman role. They both do "fosse,fosse,fosse.. Martha Graham.. Martha Graham.. MADONNA ..MADONNA! Who else could be a "mother", a "Wife" and "just a guy" if not Nathan Lane, his shrieking is so funny, he is a true woman in this picture. I can say nothing more about the "Birdcage", you better watch it and find out the rest yourself..