The Birdcage

Directed by Mike Nichols

The Birdcage (1996) is a comedy film directed by Mike Nichols, and stars Robin Williams. It is a remake of the 1978 film La Cage aux Folles, by Jean Poiret and Francis Veber starring Michel Serrault and Ugo Tognazzi.

Val Goldman and Barbara Keeley are engaged to be married, and have decided to have their families meet. Val's father, Armand Goldman, owns The Birdcage, a South Beach gay club, with his lover Albert, who appears regularly as "Starina," the show's star drag queen. Barbara's father, however, is ultraconservative Republican Ohio Senator Kevin Keeley, co-founder of the right-wing "Coalition For Moral Order" and up for re-election this year. Fearing their reaction if they learn the truth about Val's parents, Barbara tells her parents that Armand is a cultural attaché to Greece, that Albert is both a woman and a housewife, and that they divide their time between Greece and Florida; she also changes the family's last name from Goldman to Coleman to hide their Jewish background. After much persuasion, Val eventually convinces Armand to go along with the farce. The Keeley family head to South Beach for dinner and the charade begins.

Director

Mike Nichols

Writers

Jean Poiret (play)

Elaine May (screenplay)

Cast

Robin Williams … Armand Goldman

Gene Hackman … Sen. Kevin Keeley

Nathan Lane … Albert Goldman

Dianne Wiest … Louise Keeley

Dan Futterman … Val Goldman

Calista Flockhart … Barbara Keeley

Hank Azaria … Agador

Christine Baranski … Katherine Archer

Tom McGowan … Harry Radman

Trivia

• The original working title of the film was "Birds of a Feather" and the first drafts of the script still bear this title.
• Robin Williams was originally cast as Albert, but he wanted a change from flamboyant characters, and asked to be cast as Armand. Mike Nichols agreed, and re-cast him.
• 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 two actors are known for).