THE BIRDCAGE
US, 1996, 114 minutes, Colour.
Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, Diane Weist, Dan Futterman, Calista Flockhart, Hank Azaria, Christine Baranski.
Directed by Mike Nicholls.
A remake of the French 70s comedy La Cage aux Folles. Provocative in its day, with its tilting at homophobia, it
made many audiences laugh with, rather than at, two gay men and their predicament when one man's son wants his future in laws to come to dinner. The question is to be out or not to be out. The farcical comedy of the dinner where one man pretends to be the mother was very funny. The complication was that the prospective father-in-law was a politician campaigning on strong moral stances.
The original led to two sequels and a Broadway musical (very popular in Australia). This American remake, directed by Mike Nichols and written by his old comedy partner, Elaine May, seems unnecessary except to show how Hollywood of the 90s handles the themes. It has also been made topical and pokes fun at Bob Dole and the Republican campaign as well as the double standards of some of the Moral Majority. It is obviously a plea for tolerance and understanding. A controlled Robin Williams is effective contrasting with Nathan Lane's flamboyance and impersonations as his partner. Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest show great comic timing as the in- laws. The film seems a bit too obvious at first with the drag acts at the night club. But gradually it becomes quite funny, very funny at times.
1. The popularity of La Cage Aux Folles? This film as an Americanised version? Comparisons, differences?
2. The Florida setting, the opening with the camera going over the water into the city? Into the Birdcage? The Florida atmosphere and locations? The contrast with northern states - as explained by Senator Keeley? The musical score? The songs, especially the finale?
3. The nightclub itself, the drag queens, the performances, Armand as director, Albert as star, the rehearsals - and the gum-chewing dancer? The drag queens?
4. The film and its attitude towards homosexuality, tolerance and understanding? The couple for twenty years? Their bringing up the son? The contrast with the conventional family, the Keeleys, the son's mother and her life? The film's commenting on how well he was brought up?
5. The film's shots at the moral majority? The campaign for morals - and the interviews on television with the founder, the irony of his death with the under-age black prostitute? The media's response? Senator Keeley and his being part of the campaign? His reaction to the death? His concern about his re-election? The plan that the marriage would divert attention? His listening to Albert pretending to be Mrs Goldman? The discussion about traditional values and his warm response? The irony of his having to leave the club dressed as a woman, his wife as a man? The facetious remark about white making him look fat? His wife and the man saying that he had never danced with a man before? The comic touch on serious issues?
6. Armand, a subdued Robin Williams (except for his discussion about various dancing styles, for example Madonna, Twyla Tharpe, Bob Fosse)? His owning the club, his direction? His warmth for his son? The absent mother? The story of performance with Katherine, her reminiscences about their night together? His deal and giving her money, taking custody of Val? Bringing him up with Albert? Love for Albert, being able to put up with his tantrums? Val telling him the news about the marriage, his joy, his having to deal with Albert? Sending Albert away, Albert's reactions? Going to see Katherine and Albert's further tantrums? His locking himself in his room? Armand coaching him to walk and talk like a man, like John Wayne? His reaction to the Keeleys, trying to cope, exasperated going to the kitchen? Exasperation with Agador? The meal, getting the soup, the predicament with the designs on the soup bowls? Albert coming in as the mother? Coping with the meal, Katherine's arrival? The revelation of the truth? His getting the Keeleys out of the club? The happy ending at the wedding?
7. Albert, effeminate, effeminately mannered? His being the wife and mother? Bringing up Val? Performance, rehearsals, tantrums? Being insulted, being frightened and screaming, going to Katherine's and seeing Armand and Katherine and drawing the wrong conclusions? Training to be a man? Coming out as Mrs Goldman, his carrying it off with great aplomb, the conversation, charming Senator Keeley, the singing of I Could Have Danced All Night, his political views and the senator's response? The wig falling, their going into the bathroom to fix the wig, Katherine's arrival? The truth? His crying at the wedding?
8. Val and Barbara, the lies to the Keeleys, the story about the Greek cultural attaché and the housewife? Val and his persuading his father to meet the Keeleys, the transformation of the apartment, getting rid of all the gay icons? His nervousness, the arrival of the Keeleys, conversation, going out to the kitchen, Albert coming in as his mother, Katherine's arrival and his telling the truth? Barbara, her trying to explain things to her parents, travelling to the dinner, at the dinner, coping with Albert? The revelation of the truth? The happy ending with the wedding?
9. Gene Hackman and Diane Weist as the Keeleys, their comic timing? The senator, his conservative stances, being outspoken, on the television interviews, watching them? His treatment of Louise? Her trying to make the best of everything? The decision about the wedding, Louise's plan? The travel? The arrival, coping, feeling on edge, his warming to Mrs Goldman, sharing political views, dancing? Louise and her being upset at his behaviour? Coping with the meal? Bewildered by the revelation? Having to get out dressed as a woman, Louise as a man? At the wedding? The satire on right-wing senators?
10. Agador, the clothes that he was wearing around the house, doing the housekeeping, being cheeky? Having to cook the meal, having to wear shoes, falling down, the soup and his experimentation? Singing?
11. Katherine, her past relationship with Armand, the money, setting up her own business, the bimbo-looking secretary reading Nietzsche? Her agreement with Armand, their reminiscences, reminiscing in dancing, her being stuck in traffic, her arrival, wanting to do the best for her son, meeting him, the truth, at the wedding?
12. The transferring of the situation from France to the United States, especially the role of the senator in American society and its conservative sexual attitudes? The humour, the farcical aspects of the film, the comic sequences? Coming together and working well for a wide audience?
