The Blue Bird (1976)

A pair of peasant children, Mytyl and her brother Tyltyl, are led on a magical quest for the fabulous Blue Bird of Happiness by the Fairy Berylune. On their journey, they are accompanied by... See full summary »

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Maurice Maeterlinck (play), Hugh Whitemore (screenplay)

Stars:

Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Fonda, Cicely Tyson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Mother / Witch / Light / Maternal Love
Jane Fonda	...	The Night
Cicely Tyson	...	Tylette
Ava Gardner	...	Luxury
Todd Lookinland	...	Tyltyl
Patsy Kensit	...	Mytyl
Will Geer	...	Grandfather
Mona Washbourne	...	Grandmother
Robert Morley	...	Father Time
Harry Andrews	...	Oak
George Cole	...	Tylo
Richard Pearson	...	Bread
Steven Warner	...	Children of the Future
Monique Potter	...	Children of the Future (as Monique Kaufman)
Russell Lewis	...	Children of the Future

Storyline

A pair of peasant children, Mytyl and her brother Tyltyl, are led on a magical quest for the fabulous Blue Bird of Happiness by the Fairy Berylune. On their journey, they are accompanied by the humanized presences of a Dog, a Cat, Light, Fire, Bread, and other entities.

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Plot Keywords:

soup | grandfather granddaughter relationship | dead animal | grandfather grandson relationship | grandmother granddaughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

A cavalcade of magic. A carnival of fun. The Blue Bird is magic for everyone.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

Soviet Union USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Blue Bird

Filming Locations:

Lenfilm Studios, Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, Petrogradsky District, St. Petersburg, Russia

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$887,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Lenfilm Studio, Edward Lewis Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to actress Cicely Tyson, director George Cukor accused her of jinxing the film by using voodoo magic. Relations between Tyson and Cukor eventually deteriorated to the point where, when Tyson would arrive on set in the morning, she would ask - referring to Cukor - "Is he dead yet?"

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Quotes

Tylette: I love you both as much as you deserve.

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Connections

Version of The Blue Bird (1940)

User Reviews

Don't skip this one based on press.

I watched this last night, taped it off a TCM showing. This film is a lot better than reviewers said. I'd say it's a must-see for Elizabeth Taylor fans. She obviously enjoyed her roles. Patsy Kensit is simply adorable in this. The film has deep, yet surreally portrayed concepts involving life and death, sin and love. Certainly perfect for young children with a strong moral philosophy. The story is fantasy, some sets are better than others, it's all very colorful and has an early 19th century feel. If you are a student of set construction, choreography, ballet in film, or escapes to alternate realities, you will enjoy this perhaps more than you think you should.