The Birdcage (1996)
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.
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Cast & Crew
Top Billed Cast
-
Armand Goldman -
Senator Keeley -
Albert -
Louise Keeley -
Val Goldman -
Barbara Keeley -
Agador -
Katharine -
Harry Radman -
Photographer -
Chauffeur -
Stage manager -
Celsius
-
Goldman Girl -
Full cast
Director:
Mike NicholsWriters:
Jean Poiret (play), Francis Veber (earlier screenplay), Édouard Molinaro (earlier screenplay), Marcello Danon (earlier screenplay), Jean Poiret (earlier screenplay), Elaine May (screenplay)All Cast & Crew
Reviews & Commentary
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Parents Guide
Did You Know?
Trivia
David Alan Grier was originally cast in the role of butler, but the racial implications and cultural differences from the play caused the production to combine the butler role and Hank Azaria's character.
Quotes
Cyril:
Agador! Where is Starina? She goes on in 5 minutes!
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.
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.
Soundtracks
La virgen llorabaWritten by La Lupe (as Lupe Yoli)
Performed by La Lupe
Courtesy of Sonido Records
Storyline
Plot Summary
Synopsis (WARNING: Spoilers)
Genres
ComedyDetails
Release Date:
8 March 1996Language
English
Country of Origin
USAFilming Locations
MacArthur Causeway, Miami, Florida, USABox Office
Budget:
$31,000,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend USA:
$18,275,828 10 March 1996
Gross USA:
$124,060,553
Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$185,260,553
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