Comedy | 117 min | R
Mike Nichols
Screenplay by
Elaine May
Music Composed by
Jonathan
Nunick
Theatrical Release Date
March 8, 1996
DVD Release Date
March 26,
1997
Production Companies
MGM,
Nichols, United Artists
Distribution Company
United Artists
Armand Goldman owns a popular drag nightclub in South Miami Beach. His long-time lover Albert stars there as drag queen Starina. "Their" son Val (actually Armand's son by his one heterosexual fling, twenty years earlier) comes home to announce his engagement to Barbara Keeley, daughter of U.S. Senator Kevin Keeley, the vice president of the Committee for Moral Order. The Senator and family descend upon South Beach to meet Val and his father and "mother"... and what ensues is comic chaos.
Albert
Never mind about my feelings. Never mind about my suffering.
It's just about "your show". Not even "our show". "Your show".
I want a palimony agreement and I want one now.
Armand
Well, I don't have a palimony agreement on me right now. Is
tomorrow all right?
Albert
Don't use that tone to me! That sarcastic, contemptuous tone
that means you know everything because you're a man, and I know nothing
because I'm a woman.
Armand
You're not a woman.
Albert
Oh! You bastard!
Armand
What are you doing? Why are you giving him drugs? What the
hell are Pirin tablets?
Agador
They're aspirin. With the "A" and the "S" scraped off.
Armand
No! My God! What a brilliant idea.
Agador
If you do that I will tell him that you're seeing someone
else while he is on stage.
Armand
I have two words for you: Green Card.
Armand
What is this? Sludge?
Agador
Yes. I thought it would be a nice change from coffee.
Albert
Well, this is impossible. Either I'm an artist or I'm just
some cheap drag queen playing it straight so he can get laughs.
Armand
Let's just try and get through it...
Albert
You always ask so much of me, I have to understand every
nuance of a song, I have to rehearse in full costume. But everyone else can just
"get through it". I mean... he's chewing gum!
Celsius
Chewing gum helps me think.
Albert
Sweetie, you're wasting your gum.
Armand
Get rid of everything over the top. And get yourself a
uniform. You'll have to dress like a butler.
Agador
I'll look like a fag.
Armand
Maybe. But you'll look like a fag in a uniform.
Robin Williams
Armand
Goldman
Nathan Lane
Albert
Goldman/Starina
Hank Azaria
Agador
Spartacus
Gene Hackman
Kevin Keeley
Dianne Wiest
Louise Keeley
Dan Futterman
Val Goldman
Calista Flockhart
Barbara
Keeley
Christine Baranski
Katherine Archer
The Birdcage Main PageProduction Notes ::: The BirdcageInterview ::: Mr. DoubtfulInterview ::: The Birdcage
Come as you are.
Dates
April 24, 1995 -
July 24, 1995
Locations
Fort
Lauderdale, FL
Miami, FL
Los Angeles, CA
Spain
April 15, 1996
Australia
April 18, 1996
Argentina
April 25, 1996
UK
April 26, 1996
France
May 1, 1996
Portugal
Sweden
May
3, 1996
Denmark
Finland
May
10, 1996
South Korea
May 11, 1996
Netherlands
May 15, 1996
Germany
May 16, 1996
Poland
May 17, 1996
Hong Kong
May 23, 1996
Philippines
June 5, 1996
Hungary
June 20, 1996
Turkey
October 18, 1996
Japan
December 14, 1996
Romania
Cabaret în familie
Canada
La Cage Aux Folles
(French title)
Portugal
Casa de Doidas
Greece
Ftera Kai Poupoula
Spain
Una Jaula de Grillos
Venezuela
La Jaula de las
Locas
Argentina
La Jaula de los
Pajaros
Poland
Klatka dla ptaków
Turkey
Kus Kafesi
Sweden
Birdcage - lånta
fjädrar
Finland
Lainahöyhenissä
Hungary
Madárfészek
Italy
Piume di Struzzo
Slovenia
Pticja Kletka
Brazil
A Gaiola das Loucas
Germany
The Birdcage - Ein
Paradies für schrille Vögel
This title is available on:
DVDVideoCDBookPoster
Robin was originally cast as Albert, but having already played drag roles in several other films, he asked to be recast as Armand. Director Mike Nichols agreed to the change.
Gross
$124,060,553 (USA)
$61,200,000 (international)
$185,260,553 (total)
Opening Weekend
$18,275,828 (1,950 theaters)
Widest Release
2285
theaters
In Release
about 14 weeks
Academy Awards
Nom - 1997
- Best art direction; set decoration
American Comedy Awards
Won
- 1997 - Funniest actor (Nathan Lane)
Won - 1997 - Funniest supporting actress (Dianne Wiest)
Blockbuster Entertainment Award
Won - 1997 - Favorite supporting actor (Gene Hackman)
Won - 1997 - Favorite supporting actress (Dianne Wiest)
Casting Society of America
Nom - 1997 - Best casting for feature film
GLAAD Media Award
Nom -
1996 - Outstanding Film
Golden Globes
Nom - 1997 -
Best Motion Picture - Comedy
Nom - 1997 - Best performance by an actor (Nathan Lane)
Golden Satellite Award
Nom
- 1997 - Best performance by an actor (Nathan Lane)
Nom - 1997 - Best performance by an actor (Gene Hackman)
MTV Movie Award
Nom - 1997
- Best Comedic Performance (Robin)
Nom - 1997 - Best on-screen duo (Robin & Nathan Lane)
Screen Actors Guild Award
Won - 1997 - Outstanding performance by a cast
Nom - 1997 - Outstanding performance by an actor (Hank Azaria)
Nom - 1997 - Outstanding performance by an actor (Nathan Lane)
Writers Guild of America
Nom - 1997 - Best Screenplay based on existing material
Top of Page