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The Birdcage

  • 19961996
  • RR
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
87K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,540
596
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, and Dianne Wiest in The Birdcage (1996)
Trailer for The Birdcage
Play trailer2:12
1 Video
73 Photos
Comedy

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.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.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.

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
87K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,540
596
  • Director
    • Mike Nichols
  • Writers
    • Jean Poiret(play "La Cage Aux Folles")
    • Francis Veber(earlier screenplay)
    • Édouard Molinaro(earlier screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robin Williams
    • Nathan Lane
    • Gene Hackman
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mike Nichols
  • Writers
    • Jean Poiret(play "La Cage Aux Folles")
    • Francis Veber(earlier screenplay)
    • Édouard Molinaro(earlier screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robin Williams
    • Nathan Lane
    • Gene Hackman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 230User reviews
    • 59Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 7 wins & 25 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Birdcage
    Trailer 2:12
    The Birdcage

    Photos73

    Dianne Wiest in The Birdcage (1996)
    Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Nathan Lane, Mike Nichols, and Kirby Mitchell in The Birdcage (1996)
    Robin Williams in The Birdcage (1996)
    Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in The Birdcage (1996)
    Gene Hackman, Calista Flockhart, and Dianne Wiest in The Birdcage (1996)
    Hank Azaria, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, and Christine Baranski in The Birdcage (1996)
    Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in The Birdcage (1996)
    Nathan Lane in The Birdcage (1996)
    Mike Nichols in The Birdcage (1996)
    Nathan Lane in The Birdcage (1996)
    Gene Hackman in The Birdcage (1996)
    Robin Williams and Christine Baranski in The Birdcage (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robin Williams
    Robin Williams
    • Armand Goldmanas Armand Goldman
    Nathan Lane
    Nathan Lane
    • Albertas Albert
    Gene Hackman
    Gene Hackman
    • Senator Keeleyas Senator Keeley
    Dianne Wiest
    Dianne Wiest
    • Louise Keeleyas Louise Keeley
    Dan Futterman
    Dan Futterman
    • Val Goldmanas Val Goldman
    Calista Flockhart
    Calista Flockhart
    • Barbara Keeleyas Barbara Keeley
    Hank Azaria
    Hank Azaria
    • Agadoras Agador
    Christine Baranski
    Christine Baranski
    • Katharineas Katharine
    Tom McGowan
    Tom McGowan
    • Harry Radmanas Harry Radman
    Grant Heslov
    Grant Heslov
    • Photographeras Photographer
    Kirby Mitchell
    Kirby Mitchell
    • Chauffeuras Chauffeur
    James Lally
    • Stage manageras Stage manager
    Luca Tommassini
    • Celsiusas Celsius
    Luis Camacho
    Luis Camacho
    • Goldman Girlas Goldman Girl
    André Fuentes
    • Goldman Girlas Goldman Girl
    • (as Andre Fuentes)
    Tony Gonzalez
    Tony Gonzalez
    • Goldman Girlas Goldman Girl
    Dante Henderson
    • Goldman Girlas Goldman Girl
    • (as Dante Lamar Henderson)
    Scott Kaske
    Scott Kaske
    • Goldman Girlas Goldman Girl
    • Director
      • Mike Nichols
    • Writers
      • Jean Poiret(play "La Cage Aux Folles") (earlier screenplay)
      • Francis Veber(earlier screenplay)
      • Édouard Molinaro(earlier screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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 Keeley, daughter of Kevin Keeley, US Senator, and co-founder of the Committee for Moral Order. The Senator and family descend upon South Beach to meet Val, his father and "mother." What ensues is comic chaos. —Randy Goldberg <goldberg@nymc.edu>
    charadepretenseshamunited states of americaunited states98 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Outline description of film
    • Genre
      • Comedy
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Hank Azaria realized after filming that he had actually based his voice on his grandmother's.
    • Goofs
      In the kitchen scene where Armand and Val realize Agador never prepared an entrée, Armand slips and falls while bringing the sweet & sour peasant soup pot back into the dining room; as he then tells Val "go, go, she'll be here any minute, go", he is clearly laughing.
    • Quotes

      Armand: What are you giving him drugs for? What the hell are Pirin tablets?

      Agador: It's aspirin with the "A" and the "S" scraped off.

      Armand: My God, what a brilliant idea!

      Agador: I know.

    • Alternate versions
      In the November 12, 1998 ABC-TV network airing of The Birdcage (1996), approximately 13 minutes of added footage was restored to the film:
      • After Albert and Armand have discussed the upcoming marriage with Val, there is a scene where the cake Albert had ordered earlier is delivered. Albert shrieks because the cake says "To My Piglet From His Uncle" instead of "...From His Aunty" like Albert had requested. Then Albert and Armand have an amusing discussion of what it will be like to have Val and his wife live with them and what it will be like to be grandparents.
      • After Armand initially refuses Val's request to "tone down" the apartment, there is an extra scene later where Armand has a conversation with the bartender that eventually convinces Armand to prepare the apartment for the Keeley's arrival.
      • During the long roadtrip, the Keeley family is seen leaving a rest-stop at the Florida border. There is a huge fiberglass orange on top of the yellow and white striped rest-stop. Lettering on the orange reads, "Welcome to Florida".
      • There is an extra scene where TV network executives decide to send their news team to Florida on the basis that The Enquirer is already there.
      • Armand's dinner speech about the origins of Guatamalan "Peasant Stew" is longer in the TV version and he refills the guests bowls while explaining that the stew is the main course.
      • Albert's speech about his parents's search for a cemetery plot is longer.
      • There is a short scene included where Katherine Archer asks a TV news van if they will be leaving their parking spot which happens to be in an intersection.
      • After the Keeleys have learned that they are stuck in the apartment and everyone is sitting around drinking, Katherine is shown eating the "Peasant Stew" in Albert's and Armand's bedroom. Katherine and Agadore have a brief exchange in which Agadore admits to having made the stew and Katherine compliments him on it.
      • In the version broadcast on ABC, swimming trunks were electronically painted over the skimpy thongs worn by Agador and other male inhabitants of South Beach, Florida.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Birdcage/Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco/Down Periscope/If Lucy Fell/Anne Frank Remembered (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      La virgen lloraba
      Written by La Lupe (as Lupe Yoli)
      Performed by La Lupe
      Courtesy of Sonido Records

    User reviews230

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Charming and a lot of fun
    Granted The Birdcage isn't perfect, it is a little too long and the ending came across as rather sudden, but I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this film. It looks good, has a nice soundtrack, has a (I think) terrific script, good pacing, a fun story and above-decent direction from Mike Nichols. As for favourite scenes, there are some great scenes, but who can forget the dinner scene? The whole film is worth watching just for that scene for so many reasons. And the acting I had no problem with whatsoever. Robin Williams underplays but still delivers the laughs solidly, while Gene Hackman proves he is great as a comic actor. Dianne Wiest, Calista Flockhart and Hank Azaria also give terrific turns, however it is Nathan Lane's hilarious turn as Albert that steals the show. All in all, this is very good and very funny and charming. 8/10 Bethany Cox
    helpful•5
    0
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Sep 3, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 8, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La jaula de las locas
    • Filming locations
      • Carlyle Hotel - 1250 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • United Artists
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $31,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $124,060,553
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $18,275,828
      • Mar 10, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $185,260,553
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • DTS-Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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