Birds of a Feather

1978, Comedy/Lgbtq+, 1h 31m

21 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

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

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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, Lgbtq+
Original Language:

French (Canada)
Director:

Edouard Molinaro
Producer:

Marcello Danon
Writer:

Marcello Danon, Edouard Molinaro, Jean Poiret, Francis Veber
Release Date (Theaters):

May 13, 1978 original
Release Date (Streaming):

Sep 7, 2004
Runtime:

1h 31m
Distributor:

Criterion Collection, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists

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 Birds of a Feather

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

Full Review… Keith Phipps The Dissolve

Full Review… Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times

Full Review… Jesús Fernández Santos El Pais (Spain)

Full Review… Christopher Machell CineVue

Full Review… Matt Brunson Creative Loafing

Full Review… Christopher Long Movie Metropolis

Full Review… Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm

Full Review… Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com

Full Review… Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com

Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com

Full Review… Michael Szymanski Zap2it.com

Full Review… Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

View All Critic Reviews (21)

Audience Reviews for Birds of a Feather

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