“The Birdcage” is a 1996 comedy movie directed by Mike Nichols. It stars Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, and Nathan Lane in lead roles. The movie is about a gay couple, Armand Goldman and Albert, who run a nightclub in South Beach, Miami. Armand’s son, Val, announces that he is engaged to the daughter of a conservative senator, and the two families decide to meet. However, the senator and his wife are vehemently opposed to homosexuality, so Armand and Albert must pretend to be a straight couple to impress them.
Awards:
The movie was nominated for one Academy Award for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and won several other awards, including the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and the American Comedy Award for Funniest Motion Picture.
Overall, “The Birdcage” was well-received by critics and audiences alike for its hilarious performances, witty dialogue, and message of acceptance and tolerance. The movie was a commercial success, grossing over $185 million worldwide, and has since become a beloved classic in the genre of LGBTQ+ comedies.
| Directed by | Mike Nichols |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Mike NicholsNeil A. Machlis |
| Screenplay by | Elaine May |
| Based on | La Cage aux Folles by Jean Poiret |
| Starring | Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, Dianne Wiest, |
| Music by | Jonathan Tunick |
| Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki |
| Edited by | Arthur Schmidt |
| Production company |
United Artists Nichols Film Company |
| Distributed by | MGM/UA Distribution Co. |
| Release date | March 8, 1996 |
| Running time | 117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $31 million |
| Box office | $185.3 million |