THE COMEDY THAT COMES OUT OF THE CLOSET!
Saint-Tropez nightclub owner Renato Baldi (Ugo Tognazzi) and his partner, dragshow performer Albin (Michel Serrault), face a challenge – convincing Renato’s son’s future in-laws that they are a perfectly normal, conservative family. A successful play became an even greater international hit as a movie. The material may look a little dated today, but still hilariously illustrates the difference between conservatism and liberal values in French society. It’s a simple farce, but director Edouard Molinaro keeps a frenzied pace and delivers the laughs. The two leads are wonderful together, not only funny but we also believe that they’ve been together for twenty years.
1978-France-Italy. 91 min. Color. Produced by Marcello Danon. Directed by Edouard Molinaro. Screenplay: Francis Veber, Edouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, Jean Poiret. Play: Jean Poiret. Costume Design: Piero Tosi, Ambra Danon. Cast: Ugo Tognazzi (Renato Baldi), Michel Serrault (Albin Mougeotte), Michel Galabru (Simon Charrier), Claire Maurier, Remy Laurent, Benny Luke.
Trivia: Followed by two sequels, starting with La Cage aux Folles II (1980). Remade in the U.S. as The birdcage (1996).
Golden Globe: Best Foreign Film.
Last word: “I only made those films because my previous film, ‘L’Homme PressĂ©’ [1977], a drama with Alain Delon, was a moderate success – I guess the audience preferred to see him in police thrillers. It resulted in unwillingly accepting to adapt the screenplay and direct the film version of Jean Poiret’s stage play of ‘La Cage aux Folles’ [1973], although it really was not a personal choice of mine. That’s how I got involved in it. After I had finished the film, I asked my friends not to see it (laughs).” (Molinaro, Film Talk)
