If you enjoy foreign films, and wish to see the basis for the birdcage, then purchase this one, as it is only a few dollars more. They try to conceal their lifestyle and their ownership of the drag club downstairs when the fiancee and her parents come for dinner. The 2010 remake of the 2007 movie death at a funeral. The best movie remakes of the last 30 years consequence. Jun 06, 2019 the screenings mark the 40th anniversary of the american release in 1979, as well as noting lgbtq pride month, and the 50th anniversary of the stonewall riots. But with its hilarious performances and aheadofitstime social message, theres nothing like the audacious, dazzling original movie. Bizarrely unneeded, as the original came out not even three years before the film was made, has one of the same actors returning for the same character, and is exactly the same in every way except the characters are black.
Movie originals and remakes brentwood public library. The comedy that comes out of the closet two gay men living in st. Ein kafig voller narren franzosischer originaltitel. This original is much much funnier than the remake. The birdcage is a 1996 american comedy film directed by mike nichols, adapted by. Breakthrough gay film, i have fond memories of this film. It played in boston in 1979back then i was a closeted high school kid. I somehow got in the film was r rated and i looked about 14 and loved it. Written by harvey fierstein with lyrics and music by jerry herman, the musical version of the film also enjoyed great success, with a run of over 1700 performances. And although the source material is about 20 years old, its still funny as hell. Like the play upon which it is based, the film tells the story of a gay. The american remake the bird cage, while wellcast and earnestly funny, does not hold a candle to this wonderful, beloved classic. Younger gay audiences are probably more familiar with the 1996 remake, the birdcage, but they owe it to themselves to check out the original french film.
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 fiancees rightwing moralistic parents. Sure, its tough to keep up with subtitles at times, and yes, sometimes the translations are lacking the depth the filmaker intends to convey. With ugo tognazzi, michel serrault, claire maurier, remi laurent. He died on november 14, 1989 in paris, france of aids. This material still shows its age as it did even in the 1979 french language version but it has been tarted up with giddy ingenuity. And nichols has two almighty weapons in his arsenal, in the form of williams and costar nathan lane.
This was unfortunate because that meant the plot was already familiar to me. See more ideas about harvey fierstein, cage and musical theatre broadway. This is the original movie based on a french play that the birdcage and the english. The best movie remakes of the last 30 years consequence of. The screenings mark the 40th anniversary of the american release in 1979, as well as noting lgbtq pride month, and the 50th anniversary of the stonewall riots. Remi laurent was born on october 12, 1957 in suresnes, france. Tropez, his transvestite lover, and how the owner reacts after his son returns home one day and announces hes going to marry. In accordance with ny governors executive order, the brentwood public library is closed until further notice. My first viewing was back in 1979, when i was a closeted senior in college, and it was. The characters in the american version are nearly exact duplicates of their french counterparts. Born on may 31, 1928, in bordeaux, in southwestern france, to a middleclass family, molinaro began his sixdecadelong film and television career in the mid. American remake the birdcage but it is just a better movie in my opinion. American audiences tend to resist foreign films for some good reasons.
But it can get away with this because of the way it is pitched as a farce, unlike, say, outrageous. When the french italian film adaptation of jean poirets play became a big box office hit in the late 70s, it was a conventional farce with a typically gallic twist, the old sonof. Armand goldman robin williams is the owner and musical director of the films eponoymous. It was funny, uplifting, gay positive and made me realize there is nothing wrong with. Dan futterman, calista flockhart, hank azaria, and christine baranski appear in supporting roles. Tropez have their lives turned upside down when the son of one of the men announces he is getting married. Other times, as is the case of the island, the makers dont want the public to know that the movie is a remake. Tropez have their lives turned upside down when the son of one of the men announces. Its about the gay owner of a scandalous nightclub in st. There are also numerous remakes that became hollywood blockbusters, but were actually reimagined french, spanish, south korean, and hong kong originals. One of the most successful comedies of all time, this best foreign film award winner inspired the birdcage and stars michel serrault and ugo tognazzi as two partners torn between crossdressing and chaos. I was literally dragged to this movie in the late 1970s, at an art theatre left pinky up in the air no less. With robin williams, nathan lane, gene hackman, dianne wiest. The film, based on a play by jean poiret, was a wildly successful venture, ultimately earning over forty million.
Make sure you watch it in french with english subtitles. We continue to serve you online through web chat, online resources, and online programs. The 1978 adaptation was itself remade into the american version in 1996 the birdcage starring robin williams, the openly gay owner of the birdcage, a drag club in miami. Younger gay audiences are probably more familiar with the 1996 remake, the birdcage, but they owe it to themselves to check out the original french film because it is one of the true masterpieces of screen comedy. Staring michel serrault, ugo tognazzi, claire maurier and luisa maneri. However, it was even more hilarious than its american version. This film is far better than the watered down american remake why cant they leave. The birdcage is a 1996 american comedy film directed by mike nichols, adapted by elaine may, and starring robin williams, gene hackman, nathan lane, and dianne wiest.