Bye Bye Birdie (1995 film)

Last updated
Bye Bye Birdie
Genre Musical
Comedy
Based on Bye Bye Birdie
by Charles Strouse
Lee Adams
and Michael Stewart
Written byMichael Stewart
Directed by Gene Saks
Starring
ComposersCharles Strouse
Lee Adams
Country of originAmerica
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producer Robert Halmi Sr.
Producers Tim Bell
J. Boyce Harman Jr.
Production locations British Columbia
Vancouver
Cinematography Glen MacPherson
EditorEric Albertson
Camera setup Multi-Camera
Running time135 mins
Production company RHI Entertainment
Original release
ReleaseDecember 3, 1995 (1995-12-03)

Bye Bye Birdie is a 1995 musical comedy television film directed by Gene Saks with a screenplay by Michael Stewart based on his book of the 1960 stage musical of the same name. It features music and lyrics by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams respectively. It stars Jason Alexander and Vanessa Williams and features Chynna Phillips, Tyne Daly, Marc Kudisch, George Wendt, and Sally Mayes. It was produced by RHI Entertainment and released by ABC on December 3, 1995. [1] It is the second film adaptation of the musical, the first being in 1963.

Contents

Plot

In 1959, it is announced that Conrad Birdie (loosely based on Elvis Presley), the most popular rock and roll singer, is to be drafted into the army, upsetting teenagers across the country. Included in this group is Albert Peterson, Birdie's manager and songwriter, and Rose 'Rosie' Alvarez, his long-time girlfriend. Rose tells Albert that she wants him to leave the music and study to become an English teacher at NYU ("An English Teacher"). However, Albert's mother, Mae, wants him to continue managing Al-mae-lou, the music studio she and Albert created. Rosie comes up with an idea for one final public stunt before Birdie's drafting. She plans to pick a girl from a stack of names and send Birdie to kiss her and sing one final song on live television. Kim MacAfee from Sweet Apple, Ohio is chosen but all the phone lines there are busy. This is due to the news that Kim got pinned to Hugo Peabody ("The Telephone Hour").

In Sweet Apple, Kim has decided to mature herself into a grown woman ("How Lovely To Be A Woman") but quickly loses this mentality when she learns that she will be kissed by Birdie. Albert and Rosie arrive in Sweet Apple and Albert confronts a girl about being too old to date Birdie when he comes back from war ("Put On A Happy Face"). Conrad arrives and Albert and Rosie feed reporters false stories in an attempt to clean up his past ("A Healthy, Normal American Boy"). Hugo worries that Birdie's arrival will cause Kim to break up with him, but she assures him that Conrad means nothing to her ("One Boy"). Though everyone is ablaze about Birdie's arrival, Rosie is still upset about Albert's career choice ("Let's Settle Down").

Birdie is awarded a key to the city by the mayor of Sweet Apple but the ceremony breaks into chaos when he begins singing ("Honestly Sincere"). Harry MacAfee, Kim's father, is frustrated about all the commotion in the town and in their house, as Birdie is now staying in their home, but Albert makes him feel better by promising that he and the rest of the MacAfee's will all be featured on The Ed Sullivan Show ("Hymn For A Sunday Evening (Ed Sullivan)"). During the broadcast ("One Last Kiss"), Hugo, with the help of Rosie, punches Conrad before he kisses Kim. Rosie goes back to the MacAfee home and packs her things as she regrets her relationship with Albert ("What Did I Ever See In Him"). Kim wants to join Rosie but she doesn't allow it. However, Kim sneaks out anyway to go on a date with Birdie and hang out with the rest of the teens. The parents of Sweet Apple soon learn that all their children are missing and Harry reminisces over a time where children obeyed their parents ("Kids").

Rosie has ended up in Maude's Bar where she tells the men sitting at the counter that she is single ("Spanish Rose"). Albert calls the bar, begging Rosie for her forgiveness ("Talk To Me") but gets none from her. Meanwhile, Kim and Conrad are hiding from their parents in "the ice house" but she leaves when Conrad begins to pressure her into sexual intercourse. Albert and Rosie, looking for the teens, are stopped by Mae who tries to convince Albert to stay in the music business again. He finally stand up for himself and she dramatically says her goodbyes to the world ("A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore"). He proudly leaves his mother alone ("A Giant Step") and continues to search for Kim. Meanwhile, Conrad is arrested by the police for statutory rape. Sometime later, Conrad (dressed as Rosie) and Albert are seen at a train station where they are expecting Mae. His mother arrives and he puts them both on a train out of Ohio, left alone to bicker with one another. Rosie comes rushing in, worrying that they have missed the train but Albert assures her that it was part of a plan. He tells her that he plans to take a teaching position in Pumpkin Falls, Iowa and proposes to her, claiming that he must be married to take the position. She happily accepts and he reflects on all her wonderful qualities ("Rosie").

Cast

Teens

Musical Numbers

Reception

The TV movie won an Emmy Award in 1996 for Outstanding Music and Lyrics, and was nominated for Outstanding Music Direction and Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Special. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Lynde</span> American comedian and actor (1926–1982)

Paul Edward Lynde was an American comedian, actor and game show panelist. A character actor with a distinctively campy and snarky persona that often poked fun at his closeted homosexuality, Lynde was well known for his roles as Uncle Arthur on Bewitched, the befuddled father Harry MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie and a regular "center square" panelist on the game show The Hollywood Squares from 1968 to 1981. He also voiced animated characters for five Hanna-Barbera productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Von Tilzer</span> American songwriter

Albert Von Tilzer was an American songwriter, the younger brother of fellow songwriter Harry Von Tilzer. He wrote the music to many hit songs, including, most notably, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Egan</span> American actress, singer, and dancer (born 1970)

Susan Farrell Egan is an American actress, singer and dancer, known for her work on the Broadway stage. She is best known for originating the role of Belle in the Broadway musical adaptation of Beauty and the Beast (1994), for providing the voices of Megara in Hercules (1997) and Rose Quartz in Steven Universe, and for voicing the English dubs of Madame Gina in Porco Rosso and Lin in Spirited Away.

<i>Bye Bye Birdie</i> 1960 musical

Bye Bye Birdie is a stage musical with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, based upon a book by Michael Stewart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chynna Phillips</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1968)

Chynna Gilliam Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is a member of the vocal trio Wilson Phillips and is the daughter of the Mamas & the Papas band members John and Michelle Phillips and half-sister of Mackenzie and Bijou Phillips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maureen Stapleton</span> American actress (1925–2006)

Lois Maureen Stapleton was an American actress. She received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Tony Awards, in addition to a nomination for a Grammy Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chita Rivera</span> American actress, dancer and singer (1933–2024)

Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero, known professionally as Chita Rivera, was an American actress, singer, and dancer. Rivera received numerous accolades including two Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, and a Drama League Award. She was the first Latina and the first Latino American to receive a Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. She won the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Kudisch</span> American stage actor (born 1966)

Marc Kudisch is an American stage actor, who is best known for his musical theatre roles on Broadway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kay Medford</span> American actress (1919–1980)

Margaret Kathleen Regan, better known as Kay Medford, was an American actress. For her performance as Rose Brice in the musical Funny Girl and the film adaptation of the same name, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Kaye Henning</span> American actress and singer

Linda Kaye Henning is an American actress and singer most notable for starring in the 1960s sitcom Petticoat Junction.

<i>The Belle of New York</i> (musical) Musical

The Belle of New York is a musical comedy in two acts, with book and lyrics by Hugh Morton and music by Gustave Kerker, about a Salvation Army girl who reforms a spendthrift, makes a great sacrifice and finds true love.

<i>Bring Back Birdie</i> 1981 Broadway musical

Bring Back Birdie is a 1981 musical with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams, and a book by Michael Stewart. It is a sequel to the 1960 musical Bye Bye Birdie, which was written by the same team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dee Hoty</span> American actress

Dee Hoty is an American actress known for her work in musical theatre. Over the course of her career, she has appeared in numerous Broadway productions and earned three Tony Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical, for The Will Rogers Follies (1991), The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public (1994), and Footloose (1999).

<i>The Dolly Sisters</i> (film) 1945 film by Irving Cummings

The Dolly Sisters is a 1945 American Technicolor biographical film about the Dolly Sisters, identical twins who became famous as entertainers on Broadway and in Europe in the early years of the 20th century as Jennie and Rosie Dolly, Hungarian-born entertainers. It starred Betty Grable as Jenny, June Haver as Rosie and John Payne as Harry Fox.

<i>Bye Bye Birdie</i> (1963 film) American musical romantic comedy film by George Sidney

Bye Bye Birdie is a 1963 American musical romantic comedy film directed by George Sidney from a screenplay by Irving Brecher, based on Michael Stewart's book of the 1960 musical of the same name. It also features songs by composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Lee Adams, and a score by Johnny Green. Produced by Fred Kohlmar, the film stars Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret, Maureen Stapleton, Bobby Rydell, Jesse Pearson, and Ed Sullivan. Van Dyke and featured player Paul Lynde reprised their roles from the original Broadway production.

Tim Cummings is an American actor and author.

William Orie Potts was an American jazz pianist and arranger.

Sally Lee Mayes is an American actress and cabaret and concert singer.

Alexandria "Allie" Trimm is an American singer and actress, active on Broadway, in regional theater and on television. She began performing in professional theatre in her native San Diego, California at age nine.

Mallory Bechtel is an American musical theatre actress based in New York City. She has performed as lead and understudy in several musicals including the Tony Award-winning musical, Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway. She has also appeared in multiple television shows and films. In 2022, she starred as twins Karen and Kelly Beasley on Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.

References

  1. Saks, Gene (1995-12-03), Bye Bye Birdie (Comedy, Drama, Musical), Jason Alexander, Vanessa Williams, Chynna Phillips, Tyne Daly, RHI Entertainment, retrieved 2020-11-21
  2. "Bye Bye Birdie". Television Academy (Emmys.com). Retrieved 20 April 2020.