La Cage aux Folles 1979

Birds of a Feather

Critics Consensus

La Cage aux Folles is a fine French-Italian farce with flamboyant, charming characters and deep laughs.

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Movie Info

Renato (Ugo Tognazzi) and Albin (Michel Serrault) are happy that their son, Laurent (Rémi Laurent), is getting married. Unfortunately, the bride's father (Michel Galabru) is a die-hard conservative -- and Renato and Albin are rather conspicuously gay. To ensure that the marriage goes off without a hitch, Albin uses his skills as a drag performer to play mom for a meeting with the in-laws. But, before long, both men learn that playing it straight isn't as easy as it seems!

Rating:

R
Genre:

comedy
Original Language:

French (Canada)
Director:

Edouard Molinaro
Producer:

Marcello Danon
Release Date (Streaming):

Jan 30, 2017
Runtime:

1h 31m

Cast & Crew

Ugo Tognazzi
Renato Baldi

Michel Serrault
Albin Mougeotte, Zaza Napoli

Michel Galabru
Simon Charrier

Claire Maurier
Simone

Remy Laurent
Laurent Baldi

Benny Luke
Jacob

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for La Cage aux Folles

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (20) | Rotten (1)

As an artifact, La Cage Aux Folles remains fascinating. As a film... Well, it plays like a fascinating artifact. Though pokily staged up to its final act, it manages some real laughs.

September 11, 2013 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Keith Phipps
The Dissolve
The comic turns in the plot are achieved with such clockwork timing that sometimes we're laughing at what's funny and sometimes we're just laughing at the movie's sheer comic invention. This is a great time at the movies.

October 23, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
It's clear that if it hadn't been for the work of the actors, the satire and possible critique would have vanished in an instant. [Full Review in Spanish]

August 5, 2019 | Full Review…

Jesús Fernández Santos
El Pais (Spain)
This adaptation of Jean Poiret's play is as moving as it is hilarious in its depiction of moral hypocrisy and familial love.

April 23, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Christopher Machell
CineVue
Charming and frothy, the movie proves to be about as tame as any old-fashioned bedroom farce, which of course went a long way toward allowing it to be embraced by Americans who generally steered clear of foreign films, gay films, and gay foreign films.

October 5, 2013 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing
Renato and Albin shared the same hopes and fears as heterosexual parents and (were) both willing to sacrifice anything for the sake of their child.

September 9, 2013 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…

Christopher Long
Movie Metropolis
At once dated and timeless.

May 18, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
Fun & gay, literally, based on hit Broadway show.

March 8, 2008 | Rating: 4/5

Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com
Quote not available.

March 8, 2008 | Rating: 4/5

Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
Of all the versions, imitations, and sequels, the first 1978 French picture is the best and funniest, a fresh look at machoism and drag queens; the gay couple is superb.

April 16, 2007 | Rating: A- | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Quote not available.

June 1, 2005 | Rating: 5/5

Michael Szymanski
Zap2it.com
Quote not available.

February 18, 2005 | Rating: 3/5

Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

View All Critic Reviews (21)

Audience Reviews for La Cage aux Folles

Apr 22, 2012

Decent movie overall, maybe I'd have enjoyed it more if it watched back when it first came out because, like with another old French comedy La Chevre, I thought this movie was only sporadically funny. There's some really funny scenes here, but there's also a whole lot of nothing in between those funny scenes. Michel Serrault is really entertaining in his role but it wasn't enough to make it good and, realistically, he was the main reason to watch this movie. And seeing how he interacts with the more conservative couple. Really it feels just like a sitcom, quite frankly. It's not bad and while it did nothing for me, I'm completely aware that others would probably enjoy this movie more than I did.

Jesse O Super Reviewer
Aug 09, 2010

This film along with the later "Birdcage" should be compulsory viewing for all late teen agers at school. I found both films enjoyable but then I had already been to see the Stage show the films are based on, about 22 times at latest count. The show/film is a study of true love between two gay men being tried and tested and shown to be true. I can recommend both films, but I do SO wish they would make a true film of the stage show, after all, the story the film is based on is actually a Musical. Remember, the Supreme Gay Anthem << "I am what I am!" >> is taken from the musical stage production. Watch either of the two films and come away with satisfaction, see the stage show and weep with joy. Having said all of that, I did find "La Cage 2" made me cringe a bit. sorry.

Cassandra M Super Reviewer
Feb 08, 2009

Deserves it's classic status. Not only it is funnier than the more well known American remake (The Birdcage) but it is just a better movie in my opinion. One of the first films that shows homosexuals as real people and suffer from the same problems that heterosexual couples do.

Alec B Super Reviewer
Sep 18, 2008

Forget about the Birdcage-see the original-hysterically funny without trying so hard.

Audrey L Super Reviewer