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| Nathan Lane and Robin Williams make a beautiful duo in 1996’s “The Birdcage.” |
However The bird cage is a film from 1996, it is still relevant today. Interestingly, almost three decades later, we are fighting again over “real” American values, gays and drag queens. La Cage aux Folles has been continually reinvented: first as a 1973 French comedy; the farce became a hit musical in 1983; and finally came this Americanized comedy, directed by Mike Nichols.
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| Guess who’s coming to dinner? The left-wing conservative family is invited to come together the groom’s people “ungayed” in the 1996 farce, “The Birdcage.” |
Mike Nichols is a great director of actors and he gives everyone in this film moments to shine. The film moves at a brisk pace, the verbal and physical comedy is inspired and the laughter at the characters’ weaknesses is balanced. Much of this is the fine hand of one of cinema’s smartest directors, Mike Nichols. This film is among Nichols’ best skills: a mainstream but intelligent cinematic comedy.
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| Robin Williams is the gay father of Dan Futterman’s Val in 1996’s “The Birdcage.” |
Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are the gay couple, Armand and Albert Goldman, owners of the title drag nightclub. Their straight son, Val, played by Dan Futterman, wants to bring home his fiancée to meet them – Calista Flockhart in an early role. Unfortunately, she brings some baggage.
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| How do you handle a problem like Val’s “mother”? Nathan Lane steals the show as Albert, dramatic drag queen and doting parent, in 1996’s “The Birdcage.” |
On Barbara’s side of the family is Republican Senator Kevin Keeley, played by Gene Hackman, who exploits all the rhetoric of the religious right. Louise, the seemingly docile and optimistic Republican wife, is a perfect match for Dianne Wiest.
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| Calista Flockhart in an early role as Gene Hackman’s daughter Barbara conservative senator in the 1996 comedy “The Birdcage.” |
Nathan Lane was the real scene-stealer here as Albert and should have been nominated for an Oscar for his memorable turn. But The bird cage was essentially shut out by the Academy, but was a box office home run.
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| Like Dustin Hoffman’s “Tootsie,” Nathan Lane’s “Mother” Goldman misses you when his character is unmasked — er, wigless — in the 1996 comedy, “The Birdcage.” |
And Robin Williams, often cast as the comical clown, is the straight man (pun intended!) in The bird cage. He certainly has his share of funny moments, but here he is the voice of reason and just as adept at serious moments as he is at comical moments.
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| Robin Williams and Christine Baranski as Val’s biological parents, reminiscent of a soft shoe number from their college years, in the charming 1996 comedy, “The Birdcage.” |
Hank Azaria is improbable but hilarious as Agador Spartacus. He is funny both physically and verbally, trying to walk in shoes and looking masculine. The scene where he joins in the joyful family song “I Could Have Danced All Night” is both hilarious and sweet.
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| Hank Azaria, a riot as Agador, the Goldmans’ irrepressible servant, in “The Birdcage.” |
Gene Hackman, who Nichols had to fire many years ago The graduation– as Dustin Hoffman’s father! – is rewarded here with a superb comedic villain role and his drag scene where he looks like a latter-day Dorothy Malone!
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| Let’s be real, Gene Hackman in drag can only be used for comedic effect! The gene appears wearing Dorothy Malone’s old “Peyton Place” wig in 1966’s “The Birdcage.” |
Dianne Wiest always reminded me of René Zellweger. In her comedic moments as a “pleaser” woman adorably scrunching up her face, well, someone has to introduce them as mother and daughter. Yet Wiest also has difficult times, when everyone around her panics. Dianne is awesome in both modes!
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| Dianne Wiest is at her best as a “good” political wife/mother in “The Birdcage.” |
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| Renée Zellweger would have been perfect in the role of Dianne Wiest’s daughter, but Renée was busy filming a star movie, “Jerry Maguire”, that same year! |
Dan Futterman is well cast as Williams’ son. There is a resemblance, the twinkle in the eyes, very devious. Futterman holds his own as a normal young man whose plan to dehomosexualize his parents is derailed. Calista Flockhart, as shown later Ally McBealalso has a gift for pranks.
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| Dan Futterman is a charmer as Val in 1996’s “The Birdcage.” Today, Dan is on the other side of the camera, writing and producing. |
The 24-hour news cycle, tabloid journalism, political piety, and dramatic gays and drag queens are all good-naturedly spoofed. There are so many memorable scenes, the best of which is Williams trying to teach Lane how to be more masculine, by walking like John Wayne. Through it all, an old woman in a jogging suit watches them silently, it’s priceless. The soft shoe number between Williams and his ex and also Val’s mother, Christine Baranski, who remembers their years in the theater, is a gem. The dinner scene where everyone
peering into the erotic pattern of the porcelain is a hoot. Perhaps my favorite part is Nathan Lane’s Barbara Bush-inspired drag as “Mother” Goldman to Val for their family dinner.
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| Nathan Lane portrays himself as “mother’s little helper” – white wine – who causes his charade to go awry in the 1996 comedy “The Birdcage.” |
The bird cage is a very fun and intelligent piece of mainstream entertainment that evolves into a wonderful clip, with director Mike Nichols at his comedic best.
The bird cage goes well with the 1982s Tootsie! My review of this classic here: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2018/06/tootsie-1982.html
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| Nathan Lane’s Albert as the drag diva, in 1996’s “The Birdcage.” |
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| Who wore it best? Alexis by Joan Collins in drag “Dynasty”! |
