Bill and Coo

Like the review I gave for the other "lost gem", I think this movie is great! It's very weird and may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is highly entertaining and very fun to watch! If you are looking to find this film, it's available through the little link, or on odd sites -

definitely worth looking as they don't make movies like this anymore! If you ever get a chance to see this film, don't pass it up.

For me, it's hard to attach a rating onto a genuine oddity like B&C. In my many years of movie viewing, the flick remains a true one-of-a-kind. I don't know how the producers did it, but the birds manage a whole array of intricate tricks and self-control. The amazing results don't look like animation. Yet, I wonder whether ordinary looking birds can truly be trained for sliding down wires or standing on their heads. I wish IMDB had more info on this key matter.

Anyway, the story is about young feathered lovers Bill and Coo and their bird town Chirpendale. Much of the charm and amusement comes from converting people-talk into birdie-talk, like Chirpendale. Most screen time is taken up with the Starling Circus where the acrobats do their people-like stuff. Then too, viewers never know what trick is coming next. Intruding now and again, however, is the looming menace of the big crow, but instead of a black moustache to twirl, he struts around in domineering fashion. So it's good guy Bill against bad guy Crow. It seems some Hollywood cliches never change even in bird land.

Anyway, I can see today's kids being entertained by the oddity just as my generation was many years ago. But viewing it again as a geezer, I think many adults could also happily catch a novelty that somehow escaped the Hollywood assembly line. Meanwhile, I'm off to happily double the goodies in my patio birdfeeder.

I saw this movie for the first time in a Spanish translation in Cuba, circa 1950. It was such memorable film that I never forgot it. I was about 10 years old at the time.

The trainers of the parakeets, love birds, and other creatures must have spent years to make this film! Bill and Coo, hero and heroine, are endearing. But the evil crow is the most wonderful villain a child could ever wish for. And the village idiot who saves the day is a real warm character.

In fact, each and every character seems to share human traits and personalities, thanks to the great editing, music, and narration of this charming movie. It should return to the video stores for new generations to enjoy.

Definitely not a movie for everyone, but this movie is a treasure. Cast with lovely birds, kittens, puppies and a crow who makes the town of Chirpendale a living heck, Bill and Coo is an accomplishment. The tricks that the birds perform in the circus scene alone are great and storyline is engaging even for those who are young at heart. After watching this movie on late night public TV, I became enamored with it and feel it should be seen more rather than lay on the wayside of cinema history.

I first saw this in a theater when I was small. I remembered it always, and when I taught a "movie sleepers" class, I finally acquired it in 16 mm. It stars mostly birds, but other animals as well, all trained for "Bill and Coo", a unique love story. You must still retain a very young soul to really get into this. "Charming" is often a sticky, say-nothing word, but not in the case of "Bill and Coo". It charms the viewer, and astounds--how DID they get all those birds to do those things?! A person must see this to believe it, but children beware: Adults should not be allowed to view this unless in the presence of children.