Unfortunately, the brides father michel galabru is a diehard conservative and renato and albin are rather conspicuously gay. Serraults highpitched nervous yelps punctuate the films comedy. But albin gets more than he bargains for when the fly he catches in his web is actually a spy, who uses him as an unwitting courier of secret microfilm. Zaza michel serrault thinks that he is no longer attractive to renato ugo tognazzi, and to make him jealous sets out to the local caf in magnificent dragwhere she is promptly picked up by a spy who is fleeing from enemy agents. Albin michel serrault decides to leave renato ugo tognazzi for good. Like the play upon which it is based, the film tells the story of a gay. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or instore pickup. One of the most successful comedies of all time, this best foreign film award winner inspired the birdcage and stars michel serrault and ugo tognazz. The story is about a gay couple, renalto baldi ugo. And although the source material is about 20 years old, its still funny as hell. In the november 12, 1998 abctv network airing of the birdcage 1996, approximately minutes of added footage was restored to the film. Armand goldman robin williams is the owner and musical director of the film s eponoymous.
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. Download the drop a hint site key to send a hint to a friend with a personal gift suggestion. Staring michel serrault, ugo tognazzi, claire maurier and luisa maneri. Download this subtitles from our download location, see more details bellow. 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. Tropez, his transvestite lover, and how the owner reacts after his son returns home one day and announces hes going to marry.
I love the american version, the bird cage too with robin williams and nathan lane but i dont see it in the watch now section. Orignal french version of the bird cage this french movie made me love the drag culture when i was only a kid. Theres some really funny scenes here, but theres also a. The wall street journal,this wildly hilarious independent film journal french farce is. To ensure that the marriage goes off without a hitch, albin uses his skills as a drag performer to play mom for a meeting with the inlaws. It is cowritten and directed by edouard molinaro and stars ugo tognazzi and michel serrault. In this version robin williams plays the gay owner of a florida nightclub who learns his straight son dan futterman is coming home and is engaged to be married. Two of europes most virile male stars, michel serrault and ugo tognazzi, portray two very flamboyant, aging gay gentlemen. 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. One of the most successful foreign films ever shown in the u.
However, he was unable to secure the rights to the film and was forced to settle for the rights to the original play only. Tropez have their lives turned upside down when the son of one of the men announces he is getting married. The original french play ran for 1800 performances, from 1973 to 1978, at the theatre du palais royal in paris. Birdcage shows growth in older audiences power the new. In a move to make his partner, renato, jealous, the flamboyant albin waits in a local cafe dressed as a woman hoping to be picked up. The comedy that comes out of the closet two gay men living in st. 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. Local drag club star albin michel serrault marketing in st. They try to conceal their lifestyle and their ownership. My first viewing was back in 1979, when i was a closeted senior in college, and it was the first film that i had ever seen that treated the subject of homosexuality with sympathy.
The film, based on a play by jean poiret, was a wildly successful venture, ultimately earning over forty million, spawning two. The movie has original scenes that were explored in a different manner from the 90s version. See the article in its original context from may, 1979, page 0. Print instantly, or sync to our free pc, web and mobile apps.
Jerry herman, a tony awardwinning composer whose contributions to the broadway stage included such enduring classics as hello, dolly. But with its hilarious performances and aheadofitstime social message, theres nothing like the audacious, dazzling original movie. It is directed by edouard molinaro and stars michel serrault as albin stage name zaza, the female impersonator star of a gay nightclub revue, and ugo tognazzi as renato, his partner of over 20 years. While the premise may seem somewhat precious, its execution is nearly flawless.