The Birdcage (1996)

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writers (WGA):

Jean Poiret (play)
Francis Veber (earlier screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

8 March 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Come as you are.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Senator | Drag | Beach | Nightclub | South Beach

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

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)
Tony Gonzalez	...	Goldman Girl
Dante Henderson	...	Goldman Girl (as Dante Lamar Henderson)
Scott Kaske	...	Goldman Girl
Kevin Alexander Stea	...	Goldman Girl
Tim Kelleher	...	Waiter in Club
Ann Cusack	...	TV Woman in Van
Stanley DeSantis	...	TV Man in Van
J. Roy Helland	...	Club Hostess
Anthony Giaimo	...	Mr. Lopez
Lee Delano	...	Mr. Boyington
David Sage	...	Sen. Eli Jackson
Michael Kinsley	...	TV Host
Tony Snow	...	TV Host
Dorothy Constantine	...	Bridget
Trina McGee	...	Chocolate (as Trina McGee-Davis)
Barry Nolan	...	TV Reporter
Amy Powell	...	TV Reporter
Ron Pitts	...	TV Reporter
James Hill	...	TV Reporter
Mary Major	...	TV Reporter
Steven Porfido	...	State Trooper
John Pontrelli	...	Rodrigo, Cafe Waiter (as John D. Pontrelli)
Herschel Sparber	...	Big Guy in Park
Francesca Cruz	...	Imelda
Brian Reddy	...	TV Editor
Jim Jansen	...	TV Editor
Marjorie Lovett	...	Matron
Sylvia Short	...	Matron
James H. Morrison	...	Pastor
Robert K. Baruch	...	Rabbi
Mike Starr	...	Harry (scenes deleted)
Al Rodrigo	...	Latino Man in Club
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jordan Ancel	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Patrizia Barretto	...	Bikini Girl on Roller Blades (uncredited)
Elisa Bridges	...	Bikini Girl on Beach (uncredited)
Scott Burkholder	...	Executive Producer (uncredited)
Orlando Delbert	...	Man in Club (uncredited)
Thelma Gutiérrez	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Dave Knight	...	Commuter Stuck at Raised Bridge (uncredited)
Don LaFontaine	...	Radio Newscaster (voice) (uncredited)
Jay Leno	...	Himself (uncredited)
Kevin Loreque	...	Drag Queen (uncredited)
James Gordon MacDonald	...	Crewman (uncredited)
Jody Millard	...	Drag Queen Dancer (uncredited)
Claudio Sad	...	Driver (uncredited)
Kenneth Stephens	...	Chuck (uncredited)
Rene Teboe	...	South Beach Tourist (uncredited)
Joel Tuber	...	Editor (uncredited)
Jordan Werner	...	Pool Waiter (uncredited)
Rayder Woods	...	Drag Queen (uncredited)

Directed by
Mike Nichols

Writing credits (WGA)
Jean Poiret		(play "La Cage Aux Folles")
Francis Veber		(earlier screenplay) and
Edouard Molinaro		(earlier screenplay) and
Marcello Danon		(earlier screenplay) and
Jean Poiret		(earlier screenplay)
Elaine May		(screenplay)

Produced by
Marcello Danon	....	executive producer
Michele Imperato	....	associate producer
Neil A. Machlis	....	executive producer (as Neil Machlis)
Mike Nichols	....	producer

Cinematography by
Emmanuel Lubezki

Film Editing by
Arthur Schmidt

Casting by
Ellen Lewis
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Bo Welch

Art Direction by
Tom Duffield

Set Decoration by
Cheryl Carasik

Costume Design by
Ann Roth

Makeup Department
Baker	....	hair stylist: Ms. Baranski
J. Roy Helland	....	hair designer
J. Roy Helland	....	makeup designer
James Lee McCoy	....	makeup artist (as James McCoy)
Cheri Minns	....	key makeup artist
Carol A. O'Connell	....	key hair stylist
Peter Owen	....	hair designer
Peter Owen	....	makeup designer
Ron Scott	....	hair stylist: Mr. Hackman
David Syner	....	makeup artist: Ms. Baranski
Alicia M. Tripi	....	hair stylist
Mary Ann Valdes	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Michele Imperato	....	unit production manager
Paul A. Levin	....	post-production supervisor
Neil A. Machlis	....	unit production manager (as Neil Machlis)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeff Okabayashi	....	second assistant director
Marten W. Piccinini	....	second assistant director: Miami
Mark Tobey	....	second second assistant director
Joel Tuber	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Nick Bridwell	....	stand-by painter
John Dexter	....	assistant art director
Michael Diersing	....	construction coordinator
Charles Guanci Jr.	....	props: Miami
Randy Gunter	....	assistant property master
Sean Haworth	....	set designer
David Manhan	....	lead man
Brent Regan	....	construction foreman
Stephanie Schwartzman	....	art department coordinator
Mark Wade	....	property master
Clyde Zimmerman	....	paint supervisor
Fred Apolito	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Mike Brooks	....	propmaker gangboss (uncredited)
Christopher Casey	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Peggy Casey	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Michael J. Flynn	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Scott E. Handt	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Dean F. Janik	....	signwriter (uncredited)
Robert Loring Jr.	....	stand-by greens (uncredited)
Brick Mason	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Eric Rosenberg	....	graphic designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ron Bochar	....	supervising sound editor
Raul A. Bruce	....	boom operator (as Raul Bruce)
Gene S. Cantamessa	....	production sound mixer (as Gene Cantamessa)
Kam Chan	....	foley editor
Benjamin Cheah	....	sound effects recordist (as Ben Cheah)
Laura Civiello	....	dialogue editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan Evans Farkas	....	assistant sound editor
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound effects editor
Mark Jennings	....	boom operator
Kristen M. Johnson	....	assistant adr editor
Jeff Levison	....	stereo sound consultant: DTS
Kimberly R. McCord-Wilson	....	apprentice sound editor (as Kimberly R. McCord)
Bruce Pross	....	foley supervisor
Nicholas Renbeck	....	assistant sound editor
Stuart Stanley	....	foley editor
Philip Stockton	....	dialogue editor
Steven Visscher	....	foley editor
Magdaline Volaitis	....	dialogue editor
Deborah Wallach	....	adr supervisor
Jeff Kliment	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Stan Parks	....	special effects coordinator
Daniel Sudick	....	special effects (as Dan Sudick)

Visual Effects by
Syd Dutton	....	special visual effects
Larry Gaynor	....	CIS-SGI artist/operator
Ron Kallsen	....	CIS-SGI artist/operator
Adam Kowalski	....	matte photography
Lynn Ledgerwood	....	special rigging
Rebecca Marie	....	hammerhead animator
Gregory Oehler	....	CIS-SGI artist/operator
Richard Patterson	....	digital supervisor
Mark Sawicki	....	digital advisor
Kurt E. Soderling	....	visual effects camera operator (as Kurt Soderling)
Robert Stromberg	....	matte artist
Catherine Sudolcan	....	production manager, visual effects
Bill Taylor	....	special visual effects
Mike Wassel	....	matte artist
David S. Williams Jr.	....	optical/digital photography
Jeff Heusser	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Scott Howell	....	utility stunts
George Palmiero	....	utility stunts
Jim Vickers	....	stunts
Tom Bahr	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Cort Hessler	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian W. Armstrong	....	first assistant camera (as Brian Armstrong)
Richard Crompton	....	rigging grip
Jules Fisher	....	theatrical lighting designer: The Birdcage
Rodrigo García	....	camera operator
Rusty Geller	....	Steadicam operator
Robert Gray	....	key grip (as Bob Gray)
Kenny King	....	second company grip
Stephanie Maislen	....	camera loader
Stan McClain	....	aerial camera operator
Thomas Nead	....	assistant lighting technician
Dayton Nietert	....	chief lighting technician
Bradford Ralston	....	video assist operator
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	Steadicam operator
Lorey Sebastian	....	still photographer
Alan Shultz	....	dolly grip
Richard Smock	....	rigging gaffer
John Tedesco	....	theatrical lighting designer: The Birdcage
Harry Zimmerman	....	second assistant camera
Jack Chouchanian	....	grip (uncredited)
Mark J. Coyne	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Thomas Enright	....	theatrical lighting operator (uncredited)
Renée George	....	electrician (uncredited)
Tod Olivieri	....	electrician (uncredited)
Herb Silverman	....	electrician (uncredited)
Kurt E. Soderling	....	aerial director of photography (uncredited)
Neil Toussaint	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Fred Valentine	....	best boy rigger: Florida (uncredited)

Casting Department
Gail Goldberg	....	casting assistant
Ellen Jacoby	....	extras casting: Miami
Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto	....	casting assistant
Barbara Klein	....	extras casting assistant
John Laccetti	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cheryl Beasley Blackwell	....	costume supervisor
Sabrina Calley	....	wardrobe assistant
Robert De Mora	....	associate costume designer
Bruce Ericksen	....	costume supervisor
Mathew Hooey	....	costumer
David Mayreis	....	wardrober
Stephen P. Shubin	....	costumer: Mr. Williams (as Stephen Shubin)
Heather Holmes	....	costumer (uncredited)
Kerrie Karcewski	....	costume buyer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Kris Cole	....	associate editor
Dana E. Glauberman	....	assistant editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Bob Kaiser	....	color timer
Jeremiah O'Driscoll	....	first assistant editor
Kurt Ramschissel	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Steve Goldstein	....	music supervisor: live music (as Steven Goldstein)
Mort Lindsey	....	additional orchestrator
Nicholas Meyers	....	music editor
Robert Nichols	....	assistant music editor
Seymour Red Press	....	music contractor
Nic Ratner	....	assistant music editor
Robert Schaper	....	supervising music engineer (as Robert Schaper Jr.)
Alan Silverman	....	score mixer
Jonathan Tunick	....	music arranger
Aaron Zigman	....	additional orchestrator
Brian L. McCarty	....	music playback operator (uncredited)
Gary Raymond	....	music playback & recording mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Randy Burke	....	transportation captain
Larry Crenshaw	....	transportation captain: Miami
Dan Marrow	....	transportation coordinator
K.C. Colebrooke	....	driver (uncredited)
Richard P. Pecora	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Mary Bailey	....	script supervisor
Adam Bryant	....	stand-in: Mr. Williams
Adolfo Calderón	....	location manager: Miami
Jonathan Capra	....	production assistant
Cliff Fleming	....	helicopter pilot
Robbie Goldstein	....	location manager
Greg Goossen	....	stand-in: Mr. Hackman
Barbara Gutman	....	production accountant
Carolyn Hagan	....	production coordinator
Ian Hobbs	....	production assistant
Rex Knowles	....	adr loop group
Monique Limery	....	craft service
Cricky Long	....	production assistant
Elizabeth Massie	....	assistant: Mr. Nichols
Patti McGuire	....	assistant production coordinator
Vincent Paterson	....	choreographer
John Pontrelli	....	production assistant
Kelly Richards Ralston	....	first assistant accountant
Alec Schechter	....	production assistant
Elayne Schneiderman	....	production coordinator: Miami
Michael Schultz	....	caterer
Catherine Schwenn	....	assistant: Mr. Machlis
Rebecca Erwin Spencer	....	assistant: Mr. Williams
Doug Taylor	....	unit publicist
Harry Winters	....	production secretary
Smith Wordes	....	assistant choreographer
John Alfred	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Adolfo Alvarez-Calderon	....	location manager: Miami (uncredited)
Paul Barth	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Lisa Butala	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Susan Giordano	....	additional second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Kurt Greufe	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Deborah Marsh	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Rick McKay	....	special researcher (uncredited)
Eric Morris	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Catherine Pittman	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Jennifer Radzikowski	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• United Artists (as United Artists Pictures) (presents)

Distributors

• United Artists (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (1996) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1998) (USA) (TV)
• Argentina Video Home (1996) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (1998) (Greece) (VHS)
• Gativideo (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• MGM / UA Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (through 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (through)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Illusion Arts

Other Companies

• C-5  audio post-production
• C5  post-production sound services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Edel American Music  soundtrack
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Performing Animal Troupe  animals provided by
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording facilities
• Spacecam Systems  spacecam aerial camera system
• Tomkats Catering  catering: miami (as Tom Kats, Inc.)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Netherlands:AL | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R (No. 34100) | Singapore:R(A) | Iceland:L | Brazil:14 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:PG-13 | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

MacArthur Causeway, Miami, Florida, USA

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

The pianist who plays for Albert during his rehearsal with Celsius is wearing a T-shirt with Maria Callas, the famous operatic soprano, on it. The picture was taken after a performance of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly."

Goofs:

Continuity: Position of the wine bottle changes in Val's hand as he talks with Armand. Then after Val sets the bottle down, we see the back label in all the two-shots of Val and Armand and the front label in the one-shots of Val.

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!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Showbiz Today: Episode dated 15 May 1996" (1996)

Soundtrack:

LITTLE DREAM

We Are Family!

This film has the distinction of being quite possibly the funniest film that I've ever seen. I remember seeing this film the night it opened and laughing so hard that my friend told me she'd get up and leave me there if I didn't shut up!

Almost everyone I've talked to over the years swears by how hysterical this film is. There is a reason for that: Nathan Lane. This guy is a comic genius. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance but should have been nominated for an Academy Award as well if you ask me. Originally when I first saw it, I didn't care for Robin Williams' character at all but the more I've seen it over the years (over fifty times) it grows on me. Dianne Wiest is her normal, ditzy self but is a scream here and Gene Hackman in that last scene...well, I don't want to give away anything.

Half of the fun of this film is the verbal repartee between the characters, especially anything between Hank Azaria, Nathan Lane or Dianne Wiest.

If you haven't seen this film, you owe it to yourself to just have fun and laugh the night away. Enjoy it!!!

My rating: 4 stars