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La Cage aux Folles

Original title: La cage aux folles
  • 1978
  • R
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Michel Galabru, Michel Serrault, and Ugo Tognazzi in La Cage aux Folles (1978)
Watch Bande-annonce [OV]
Play trailer2:49
1 Video
69 Photos
FarceSatireComedy

The manager of a Saint-Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and his star attraction, are a gay couple. Madness ensues when his straight son brings home a fiancée and her ultra-cons... Read allThe manager of a Saint-Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and his star attraction, are a gay couple. Madness ensues when his straight son brings home a fiancée and her ultra-conservative parents to meet them.The manager of a Saint-Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and his star attraction, are a gay couple. Madness ensues when his straight son brings home a fiancée and her ultra-conservative parents to meet them.

  • Director
    • Édouard Molinaro
  • Writers
    • Jean Poiret
    • Francis Veber
    • Édouard Molinaro
  • Stars
    • Ugo Tognazzi
    • Michel Serrault
    • Claire Maurier
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Édouard Molinaro
    • Writers
      • Jean Poiret
      • Francis Veber
      • Édouard Molinaro
    • Stars
      • Ugo Tognazzi
      • Michel Serrault
      • Claire Maurier
    • 51User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 5 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Bande-annonce [OV]
    Trailer 2:49
    Bande-annonce [OV]

    Photos69

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    Top cast35

    Edit
    Ugo Tognazzi
    Ugo Tognazzi
    • Renato Baldi
    Michel Serrault
    Michel Serrault
    • Albin Mougeotte dit Zaza Napoli
    Claire Maurier
    Claire Maurier
    • Simone Deblon
    Rémi Laurent
    • Laurent Baldi
    Carmen Scarpitta
    • Louise Charrier
    Benny Luke
    Benny Luke
    • Jacob
    Luisa Maneri
    Luisa Maneri
    • Andréa Charrier
    Michel Galabru
    Michel Galabru
    • Simon Charrier
    Venantino Venantini
    Venantino Venantini
    • Le chauffeur de Charrier
    Carlo Reali
    • Le videur
    Guido Cerniglia
    • Le médecin
    Angelo Pellegrino
    • Un assistant de la boîte de nuit
    Nicola D'Eramo
    • Un artiste du cabaret
    Vinicio Diamanti
    • Henri dit Mercédès
    Liana Del Balzo
    Liana Del Balzo
    • Madame Charrier
    Piero Mazzinghi
    • Un journaliste
    Walter Lucchini
    • Salomé
    Bruno Sgueglia
    • Le caissier du cabaret
    • Director
      • Édouard Molinaro
    • Writers
      • Jean Poiret
      • Francis Veber
      • Édouard Molinaro
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews51

    7.212.5K
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    Featured reviews

    9MonikaCzwornog

    great comedy about gay lovers

    The first time I saw "La Cage ax Folles" was in my French film class and I loved it. Michell Serrault became my favorite French actor after watching this comedy. He is really great and I could not stop laughing. You don't even have to speak nor understand French too much, because just looking at him makes you laugh. Another factor that contributes a lot to the good acting of the two lovers are fabulous costumes. My favorite one was the heart-shaped one worn by the butler, but they were all great. I have also seen the American remake of this film "The Birdcage" and I have to tell you that it doesn't even compare to the original. There are more part of La Cage aux Folles, but the first one is the best of all and I would definitely recommend it.
    otter

    Hilarious farce, much better than the sequels or remake ("The Birdcage").

    Absolutely classic French bedroom farce, hilarious from start to finish. Oft-told tale about two gay lovers whose son wants to marry a politician's daughter, and the lover's attempt to straighten out for one night. So far there are two sequels, a musical version, and an inferior American remake ("The Birdcage" with Nathan Lane and Robin Williams), but this is the original, the only, the funniest, the best.

    Don't let the subtitles intimidate you, this is hilarious, this is the best, this movie RULES.
    8Vigilante-407

    A truly wonderful international comedy

    I don't care what country you are from or what your sexuality is, La Cage Aux Folles is an endearing comedy the likes of which comes around perhaps once a decade.

    Michael Serrault is the centerpiece of the film, as the star of the La Cage revue and the "mother" of the young man wishing to marry the daughter of an incredibly "moral" politico. The toast scene had me rolling on the floor...Serrault's high-pitched nervous yelps punctuate the film's comedy.

    One of the few cult films really deserving of that status, La Cage is not one to be missed.
    Quinoa1984

    One of the best comedies (not only foreign films) ever made

    I say that exept in a few cases, the original never disapoints. This is a prime example of that. The perfect French comedy about a gay couple, who have a son (It's one of theirs) who is getting married. Since the son's in laws are stuck up rich people, they have to hide they're gayness for one night. Great (anf hilarious) entertainment may have been later re-done, but it can never be mathced. One of the best foreign (and comedic) films ever made. A+
    Bucs1960

    C'est drole!

    This cult classic deserves its reputation. I saw it many years ago at a film festival and have loved it ever since.....I grabbed up a video as soon as it became available. It appears, that in the last few years, some critics are finding fault with the film but in my opinion it has held up well.

    The two main characters and the actors that play them are priceless. Ugo Tognazzi, one of my favorite Italian actors,is so suave and world-weary as Renato, the stronger of the couple. Michel Serrault is a nervous, overwrought, insecure prima donna who squeals and minces his way through life and will have you falling off the couch with delight. Although there is not a lot of affection shown between the two, the underlying strength of their relationship is evident.

    One warning......do not see the dubbed version of this film!! It is most unsatisfactory. The sub-titled version at least retains the voices of the actors which is part of the appeal of the film. If you speak French, please see the original...many of the lines do not translate well to English and contain nuances that are not present in the translation. Whichever version you see (sub-titled or original), it will be a viewing experience that will bring tears of laughter....it's a joy!

    More like this

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Actor Ugo Tognazzi refused to speak most of his lines in anything but Italian, which caused no end of problems for director Édouard Molinaro, according to an interview on the Criterion release. He says he was forced to re-write Tognazzi's French dialogue to match his lips speaking in Italian and bring in a French voice actor to re-dub the lines.
    • Goofs
      When Renato pours champagne for Laurent, his glass overflows with champagne and foam, but when the camera cuts to Laurent after Renato asks his fiancee's name, the glass he is holding is empty. In the next shot, the glass is full to the top with champagne again.
    • Quotes

      Albin Mougeotte: He's being taken from us, and we won't have any others.

      Renato Baldi: Unless there's a miracle.

    • Alternate versions
      Showtime presented both subtitled and dubbed versions many years ago. The dubbed version had scenes that weren't in the subtitled version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Real Life, La Cage aux Folles, Over the Edge, The Seduction of Joe Tynan, Rich Kids (1979)

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    FAQ

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 13, 1979 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Italy
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Birds of a Feather
    • Filming locations
      • Rue de l'Ormeau, Saint-Tropez, Var, France
    • Production companies
      • Da.Ma. Cinematografica
      • Les Productions Artistes Associés
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • FRF 7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $20,424,259
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $18,709
      • Apr 1, 1979
    • Gross worldwide
      • $20,424,259
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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