The Birdcage [Region 2] | ![The Birdcage [Region 2]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ekkSoaisL._SL500_.jpg) | Director: Mike Nichols
Actors: Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, Dan Futterman
Category: DVD
Buy New: $64.82
as of 3/19/2010 09:03 EDT details
New (2) Used (2) from $7.95
Seller: --cdzone-uk--
Rating:  166 reviews
Sales Rank: 129045
Format: PAL
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), German (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), Dutch (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Finnish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Norwegian (Subtitled), Polish (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Swedish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), German (Dubbed), Italian (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Running Time: 117 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 7321900560337
ASIN: B00004CZES
Theatrical Release Date: March 8, 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com essential video
The great improvisational comedy team of Mike Nichols and Elaine May reunited to (respectively) direct and write this update of the French comedy La Cage Aux Folles. Robin Williams stars as a gay Miami nightclub owner who is forced to play it straight and ask his drag-queen partner (Nathan Lane) to hide out when Williams's son invites his prospective--and highly conservative--in-laws and fiancée to a meet-and-greet dinner party. Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest play the straight-laced senator and his wife, and Calista Flockhart (from television's Ally McBeal) plays their daughter in a culture-clash with outrageous consequences. May's witty screenplay incorporates some pointed observations about the political landscape of the 1990s and takes a sensitive approach to the comedy's underlying drama. Topping off the action is Hank Azaria in a scene-stealing role as Williams's and Lane's flamboyant housekeeper, "Agador Spartacus." --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 166
 A CLASSIC EVERYONE SHOULD OWN WHO LOVES MOVIES March 17, 2010
Patricia K. Matthews (Morgantown, WV United States)
We bought it for our 84 year old aunt who has watched it many times and marvels at how good the acting is as well as how FUNNY and talented the cast.
Absolutely no complaints! February 14, 2010
Amber Denison
DVD was delivered within 3 days of placing the order and have absolutely no complaints!
The Birdcage January 19, 2010
Margaret D. Harris (Tarpon Springs, FL)
The video arrived quickly, and in great condition. My widowed mother is enjoying a laugh every time she plays it.
 Hilarious Performances January 12, 2010
Joshua Miller (Coeur d'Alene,ID)
The Birdcage is the Americanized remake of La Cage Aux Follies, a French film, yet it's a film that is not so much about the material that's written but how it's carried by its cast and what makes The Birdcage continue to be a popular film over ten years after its release is the way the terrific cast carries the film. Essentially falling into the genre of "screwball comedy," it's the absurdity of the story and the characters that makes this movie such a charming one.
Robin Williams plays Armand Goldman, the owner of a drag club in South Beach called the Birdcage. Armand's partner is Albert (Nathan Lane), the star drag queen at the club. Armand is sensible, somewhat reserved while Albert is a drama queen, almost always in a state of near-hysteria. Armand's son Val (Dan Futterman), the product of a one-night stand, soon arrives with the news that he's getting married. Armand isn't terribly supportive of the marriage, but neither are the girl's parents. The girl is Barbara (Calista Flockhart), whose father Senator Kevin Keeley (Gene Hackman) is an ultra-Conservative politician and the Vice-President for the Coalition of Moral Order. It's not until Keeley's co-founder is found dead in the bed of an underage prostitute, that his wife (Dianne Wiest) points out that a white wedding between Val and Barbara could help restore Kevin's public image. Val asks his father to send Albert away and pretend to be straight to impress the senator. Armand refuses at first, but reluctantly agrees reaching out to Val's mother (Christine Baranski) to pretend to be his wife.
The screwball set-up is filled with terrific, witty one-liners throughout. The script and direction are both fine, the script being particularly witty, but it's the cast that will draw you in. It's essentially an ensemble piece and the quality of the material is significantly heightened by how well the actor's play off of each other. You would expect Williams to be completely maniacal and over-the-top playing a gay man, but it's Williams who is actually rather subdued, playing it straight to Lane's Albert. Both Lane and co-star Hank Azaria (hilarious and underrated as the housekeeper, Agador) are flamboyant, (intentionally) over-the-top, and hilarious. Hackman gives an understated performance as the Senator, being the only actor playing it completely straight. It's the chemistry of the cast that works so well, but it is Nathan Lane and Hank Azaria who both stand out in my mind...Lane's performance is very nuanced and while not always subtle, it's impressive and moving at times. It's his scenes with Hackman that are the true highlights of his performance and the film itself. Lane is always applauded for his work here, but Azaria is hilariously funny and memorable...The moment he's on-screen, you'll be laughing.
The Birdcage is not a great film, but when it is a film with wonderful bits of absurdist/screwball comedy that works really well much of the time. Those involved in making it were clearly having fun and their enthusiasm shows. With the comedic energy that this film absolutely bristles with, it's hard not find enjoyment here. Portions of the script drag, but the film is a performance piece and you'll find it difficult to walk away from this film without a newfound appreciation for all the actor's involved.
GRADE: B
 One side of the DVD doesn't play October 18, 2009
Amy M. Difrancesco (Minneapolis, MN)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I received this DVD on time as promised, however, the widescreen side of the disc doesn't play at the end. VERY DISAPPOINTING!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 166
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