La Cage Aux Folles

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A likable 1977 French farce (and the basis for the 1996 American remake, The Birdcage), this popular comedy was one of the most successful international films of all time, and even spawned a Broadway musical and two sequels. It tells the story of a gay couple who--when one man's son from a previous liaison brings home his fiancée--masquerade as husband and wife for their prospective in-laws. The film is saved from becoming an exercise in silliness by the heartfelt characterizations of the gay nightclub owners. La Cage aux Folles is one of the funniest imports from Europe and a great comedy in any venue. --Robert Lane

Description

One of "the most successful foreign films ever shown in the U.S." (The Wall Street Journal),this "wildly hilarious" (Independent Film Journal) French farce is "giddy, unpretentious andan entirely lovable film" (Time)! When young Laurent returns to exotic St. Tropez, he bears big news for his beloved father, Renato. Laurent has found the girl of his dreams and they are engaged! What's more, she and her family are on their way over for dinner at Renato's home to meet the in-laws-to-be. This traditional meeting of families seems typical, but because this ultraconservative family will be expecting to meet Renato and wife, they'll never be prepared for the shock of meeting Renato and his flamboyant, campy, outrageous loverand dragqueenAlbin! So in agreat effort to please his son, Renato asks Albin for the performance of a lifetime'setting up an unforgettable evening that is charged and ready to detonate an explosion of zaniness and absurdity.

Customer Reviews:

La Cage Aux Folles.......2007-07-04

Before "The Birdcage" and the glitzy stage musical of the same name, Molinari's uproarious farce crossed boundaries to become a big international hit. Campy and outrageously off-kilter in the tradition of the best Hollywood comedies, "La Cage" thrives on the credibly affectionate performances of Tognazzi and Serrault, brilliant as the flamboyant Albin and his drag-queen alter ego, ZaZa. Adding to the fun is Michel Galabru, the snobby father-in-law-to-be who heads an organization called the Union of Moral Order. Through it all, Molinari's antic, assured direction keep the high-strung hysterics at a soulful pitch.

Wonderful.......2007-05-12

"La Cage aux Folles"

Wonderful

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

Looking back at my DVD collection, I realized I had never written a review of a gay classic, "La Cage aux Folles". I do not care if you are gay or straight or where you are from, this is one movie you will enjoy. It is one of those movies that sneaks around every once in a while and finds a home. It is funny, uplifting, gay positive and allows us to see that being gay is just fine. Watching it again last night it s not as funny as I once thought but it is still very enjoyable. After all it was made 1976, a long time ago. It is not a new story and the direction is nothing special but there is some great humor here and the actors give dynamite performances. The final scene still elicits a great many laughs.
The score by Ennio Morricone takes us into a very different world with its very sensitive music. You feel the softness and tenderness of the gentle music which is torn apart by the actions of the actors when the movie gets going. Let me say that the actors are not ridiculous characterizations but real people with real emotions. Unlike the American version of the film "The Birdcage" this movie is not a total farce. What appear as stereotypes in the American version are here humans who exist beyond stereotype.
"La Cage" is a brilliant exercise in comedy. Michael Serrault makes you laugh all of the time and never disappoints and Ugo Tognazzi as Renato, suave and debonair, successful and over the hill is just great as the more "male" of the two characters. His log time partner, Albin, or Zaza (Serrault) wit a volatile temperament and a mincing walk gives a performance of rarely seen caliber. Together the couple pulls off a major acting coup. It is next to impossible not to love these two characters.
Here is a wonderful French romp that all of us can empathize with--especially at the ridiculousness of the situations of our heroes. There is an underlying theme of sensitivity that is often overlooked in favor of the comedy. This is a must-see for the discerning movie goer as well as for the ma on the street.

simply french quality.......2007-05-08

I like the way the conversations, the way homosexual are described , i think is explicit, realistic and lovely. Tasteful.

Parley Vous ?.......2007-03-09

Once having viewed "The Birdcage" (Robin Williams/Nathan Lane) This Frenchy "La Cage " is a let down. Maybe half the laughs ? Only in English subtitle version. Acting is reasonably good, but comedy effort, if there at all ? is very subtle. Should a person buy his flick or should it be passed over ? It's a toss up. If you understand the French language, go for it !

LA CAGE is...TRES BIEN!.......2006-07-27

This review refers to "La Cage Aux Folles" DVD/MGM world Films..

If you will be viewing this film for the first time, and have already seen the more recent American version with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane("The Bird Cage"), you will find it very difficult not to compare this one to it. The Bird Cage was a wonderful and lavish production that paid homage to this original French Film, and did it quite well. I also consider that a 5 star film.

The stories although, BC has added some footage and a few more complications to the story, are just about identical. Young Laurent comes home to visit his father.Renato (Ugo Tognazzi)is the [...] owner of flamboyant cabaret, featuring some wonderful acts by drag queens. Laurent informs Dad, that he is getting married. Although very young, Renato is happy for his son. But wait..there's more; his fiancee's parents are ultra-conservative,more then that, her father's political career is based on high morals.Her parents are on the way to meet "the family", and Renato must tone down his apartment, and then there's Albin(Michael Serrault)...Reanto's very feminine lover..what to do with HIM?

The French humor, although a bit more subtle then it's American cousin, is a real laugh fest. Serrault is every bit, the whining, campy, drag-queen, we have come to love as Albert(Nathan Lane in BC). Tognazzi, is wonderful as the father trying to cope with both the moody Albin, the needs of his son, and the in-laws to be.

Director Edouard Molinaro is brilliant in his direction of this farce. I viewed this last night, after not having seen it for many years, and i am still smiling as I write this review. I loved La Cage as much as I did the first time.. If you loved Bird Cage, gives this one a try, it'll charm your socks off!

The DVD is not the most pristine transfer I have seen for a film of this age. Just a little grainy, and maybe the colors could have been brightened up a bit, but there wasn't anything that distracted me from the absolute joy of this film. There are no special features, other then a theatrical trailer.(If you view the trailer, you will see that the film has been restored to some extent). The sound is Dol Dig(mono). It may be viewed in French(original) or English, and has optional subtitles in English, French and Spanish.The film is presented in a letterbox format of 1.66:1, which is listed as the original theatrical release.

If you are a fan of French Films and humor, farces in particular, I highly recommend this film. Just want to check it out, to see the film Bird Cage was based on?...makes a great weekend rental.

Merci Beaucoup....Laurie

Average customer rating:

Refried Crepes
GREAT MOVIE
Modern is better
I still like the first better...
A great sequel

La Cage Aux Folles II
Starring: Michel Serrault , Ugo Tognazzi , Marcel Bozzuffi , Michel Galabru , and Paola Borboni
Director: Edouard Molinaro
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005BKZQ
Release Date: 2001-07-24

Description

"Even more funny this time around" (The Film Journal), Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault reprise their roles as the two madcap domestic partners from the hilarious hit La Cage Aux Folles. Having "become the most improbable of male screen heroes" (New York), Renato and Albin are this time taking on the secret service in an unforgettable cross-country - not to mention cross-dressingadventure. In a move to make his partner, Renato (Tognazzi), jealous, the flamboyantAlbin (Serrault) waits in a local café - dressed as a womanhoping to be picked up. But Albin gets more than he bargains for when the fly he catches in his web is actually a spy who uses him as an unwitting courier of secret microfilm! Now on the run from ruthless agents, Albin and Renato flee toItaly where they attempt to hide out on a farm with Albin posing as Renato's wife! Can Albin escapethe deadly pursuit of these relentless spies or does he have to sustain this charadeas a woman forever?

Customer Reviews:

Refried Crepes.......2007-03-09

You won't be able to "double your pleasure or double your fun " with La Cage 2. This flick is La Cage (deja Vou )Same players, different plot. If plagued with Insomnia, this one is guaranteed to put you to sleep. Something important is missing ? Funny?=no, entertaining?=no, boring?,=yes

GREAT MOVIE.......2007-02-13

before the movie "bird cage" this movie predates it by about 20 years.
Sadly the American public would not have allowed such a movie back in the 1970's, ITs a pleasure to see how very simlar these two movies are to one another. THIS movie really makes one laugh.

Modern is better.......2007-01-22

Not only because the new American version is modern and actual, but mainly the excellent cast and better timing. Is surprisingly alike but different in what I mentioned before. I still remember my joy seeing the original on tv before the new version, but I definitely prefer Robin William's one.

I still like the first better..........2005-08-02

Yes, this sequel is funny, but not as much as the first.

A great sequel.......2004-07-06

La Cage Aux Folles II is a terrific sequel, a rare treat that closely duplicates the charm of the original, while being a completely different film. This time around, the couple unwillingly get involved in a spy ring, with murder, mayhem, and one funne chase after another ensuing.

The casting is pricless, with Michel Serrault even funnier as Albin, the main attraction of the elegant cabaret, "La Cage Aux Folles." Ugo Tognazzi is also terrific as his partner Renato, and their comic misadventures are a pure joy to watch. This is 100 minutes of pure escapism; hilarious, entertaining, and touching. While the escapades are taken to the extreme, these are real people with real emotions, which makes them all the better to watch. Any gay man can relate to Albin's feelings of being unloved and unaccepted and Renato trying to be the macho man in a homophobic society.

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Customer Reviews:

La Cage Aux Folles.......2007-07-04

Wonderful.......2007-05-12

simply french quality.......2007-05-08

I like the way the conversations, the way homosexual are described , i think is explicit, realistic and lovely. Tasteful.

Parley Vous ?.......2007-03-09

LA CAGE is...TRES BIEN!.......2006-07-27

Average customer rating:

La Cage Aux Folles
Wonderful
simply french quality
Parley Vous ?
LA CAGE is...TRES BIEN!

La Cage aux folles [Region 2]
Starring: Ugo Tognazzi , Michel Serrault , Claire Maurier , Rémi Laurent , and Carmen Scarpitta
Director: Edouard Molinaro
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000066EC4

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Customer Reviews:

La Cage Aux Folles.......2007-07-04

Wonderful.......2007-05-12

simply french quality.......2007-05-08

I like the way the conversations, the way homosexual are described , i think is explicit, realistic and lovely. Tasteful.

Parley Vous ?.......2007-03-09

LA CAGE is...TRES BIEN!.......2006-07-27

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