Rewind to 1996: “The Birdcage” (30th anniversary)

For the film’s 30th anniversary, the Dietrich Theater will be showing the comedy “The Birdcage” on June 7 (4:00 pm) and June 10 (7:00 pm). And, since the film is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, I decided to add it to my ongoing Rewind Series.

“The Birdcage” opened on March 5, 1996 to positive reviews and significant commercial success. It debuted at the top of the domestic box office and stayed there for three weeks. It has also been seen as ground-breaking because it was one of few films from a major studio to feature LGBT characters at its center.

When Val Goldman asks Barbara Keely to be his wife, he can’t possibly envision the chaos it will create between their parents. Val’s dad is gay nightclub owner Armand and his “mother” is Armand’s life partner, Albert, better known by his stage name Starina.

Barbara's parents, Senator Kevin Keely and his wife Louise, want to meet Val’s “parents,” who decide the best plan is for Albert to pose as a woman.

Audiences have loved “The Birdcage” for its incredible comedic timing between the late Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, its heartwarming depiction of a loving same sex couple, and its sharp, satirical humor. The chemistry between Williams and Lane is easily one of the stand out highlights of the film and without their great comedic chemistry, the film wouldn’t have been as entertaining as it is. While Williams delivers an unusually grounded performance, Lane really captivates the audience by his physical comedy and his ability to balance over the top dramatics with deep, vulnerable emotion.

This ground-breaking 1996 comedy has quite a few moments that are truly memorable and hilarious. One of the funniest scenes is the “How to Act Like a Man” lesson, where Armand attempts to teach the ultra-effeminate Albert how to walk, sit, and eat like a traditional man. The instruction sequence where Albert dramatically fails to smear mustard on toast - piercing the bread and crying out in public - remains one of the top

comedic highlights.

There’s also a very humorous moment in the kitchen where Armand accidentally slips and falls hard on the floor. In the scene, we actually see all of the actors involved trying so hard not to break character as Williams seamlessly got back up and continued the scene with heightened intensity (director Mike Nichols loved the slight blooper so much he kept it in the film). There’s also a few moments where Gene Hackman (who rarely has comedic bits in any of his roles) can really give us a good chuckle (especially towards the end where his family has to sneak out of Armand’s house due to the press following them).

Between the frantic lies and farce, audiences can feel how believable Albert and Armand were as a long-term couple. Another aspect of the film that’s great is that despite the eccentric premise, the film is fundamentally about the lengths parents will go out of unconditional love for their children. It reframed “family values” through a progressive, inclusive lens.

“The Birdcage” is widely celebrated as a masterful, hilarious, and culturally significant farce. Critics and audiences universally praise the chemistry between Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, and its bold balance of chaotic physical comedy with progressive, subversive themes about family and acceptance. Today, it remains a beloved comfort-watch, discovered by new generations across streaming platforms.

MPA: Rated R for language   (runtime 117 minutes)

Since the Dietrich Theater is celebrating its 25th anniversary of their re-opening this year, for my Rewind Series, I will be checking out some films that are also celebrating their 25th anniversary for the June 10th, 17th and 24th editions!

Initial release date: March 8, 1996

Streaming services: YouTube/Tubi/PlutoTV/The Roku Channel/MGM+/various PVOD services  (as of writing this review)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_C9eZ7LOSY

• Mike Nichols required that Nathan Lane and Robin Williams filmed at least one good take of each scene sticking to the script before he would allow them to improvise (something both of the actors are known for).

• Robin Williams was originally cast as Albert, but he wanted a change from flamboyant characters. Also, with his character, dressing in drag, the film would've basically been a repeat of William's earlier film Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). Thus, he asked to be cast as Armand, after Steve Martin, who was originally cast as Armand, dropped out. Mike Nichols agreed, and re-cast him. Martin later regretted this choice, as he never ended up making a film with Williams.

• Robin Williams's slip and fall during the shrimp scene (at around 1h 35 mins) was not planned. Williams really fell, and he, Hank Azaria, and Dan Futterman are holding back laughter. Williams can even be heard holding back laughter telling everyone to "Go" out of the kitchen.

• Director Mike Nichols had to be covered by a sound blanket during the toast scene because he was laughing too loud.

• Breakthrough movie role of American Broadway actor Nathan Lane.

• On his 30th birthday, Hank Azaria worked on Heat (1995) until 6 a.m. then headed to this movie. When Mike Nichols found out it was his birthday and that he had been working for 18 hours straight, he sent Azaria home.

• While filming The Birdcage, Hank Azaria's good friend Billy Bob Thornton was working on the production of his film Sling Blade. As both characters had distinctive voices and behavior, the two friends used to work on their character's voices by driving around pretending Agador and Karl Childers were in a buddy cop film together.

• Steve Martin has since gone on to say he regrets turning down the opportunity to be Armand in this movie because he was very close friends with Robin Williams and although the two did perform on stage together during their careers, they had never appeared in a movie together before Williams' death from suicide in 2014. Originally, Martin was to play Armand with Williams as Albert, but Martin was busy with Sgt. Bilko (1996) which was released a couple weeks after this film.

• The screenplay is based on the well-known French farce La Cage aux Folles (1978).

• According to Hank Azaria, Robin Williams loved performing in front of anyone, be it just Azaria or an audience. When they were filming at Paramount Studios, Azaria said most actors tend to avoid trams of visitors touring the area but Williams couldn't resist, so he could put on an act for the tourists.

• Robin Williams' seventh film to gross over $100 million in the U.S.

• Included among the American Film Institute's 2000 list of the 500 movies nominated for the Top 100 Funniest American Movies.

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