Bye Bye Birdie

• Director: Gene Saks
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Musical
• Movie Type: Musical Romance, Musical Comedy
• Main Cast: Jason Alexander
• Release Year: 1995
• Country: US
• Run Time: 131 minutes
• MPAA Rating: PG

Plot

Seinfeld's Jason Alexander stars in this made-for-television remake of the 1963 classic musical. Alexander stars as Albert J. Peterson, a man hoping to make his fortune and get the girl by promoting the big send-off for a newly drafted pop star named Conrad Birdie (Marc Kudish). A song-and-dance movie, actress-dancer Ann Reinking served as choreographer of this film. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide

Review

Television adaptations of Broadway musicals received a brief revival of sorts in the 1990s, led by the Bette Midler version of Gypsy. Although their quality varied, most were notable for being very faithful adaptations. The 1995 Bye Bye Birdie is no exception. Three new (and not very good) songs were added, and a few lyrics were changed here and there, but for the most part this version preserves the stage script and score intact. And that's one of the problems. On-stage, the musical zooms by; onscreen, it's less consistently zippy, perking up every so often (especially when Vanessa L. Williams is singing or dancing) and then trudging along for a while (often during production numbers that go on too long). Another problem is that director Gene Saks often uses the material to comment upon the 1950s or 1960s in general rather than on the specific subjects being satirized -- a perspective that robs the material of much of its heart. That said, the production does benefit from a generally strong cast. Williams is an absolute knockout, whirling through a shriner's ballet and spitting out "What Did I Ever See in Him" with delectable gusto. Jason Alexander is not a perfect Albert -- his charm and sincerity are forced rather than natural -- but he sounds good and is well paired with Williams. Chynna Phillips is a disappointing Kim, but the rest of the supporting cast is solid. Overlong and occasionally pokey, this Bye Bye Birdie still entertains. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

Cast

Jason Alexander - Albert J. Peterson; Karen Austin - Parent #1; Jay Brazeau - Mayor; Gary Chalk - Maude; Jackson Cole - Bowling Boy #3; Tyne Daly - Mae Peterson; Rochelle Greenwood - Train Girl #4; Bruce Harwood - Reporter #1; Sheelah Megill - Mrs. Merkle; Chynna Phillips - Kim MacAfee; Robert Rozen - Shriner #3; George Wendt - Harry MacAfee; Vanessa Williams - Rose Alvarez; Nicole Robert - Mayor's Wife; Suzanne Ristic - Mary; Andrew Johnson - Policeman; Gerard Theoret - Shriner #6; Alec Willows - Shriner #2; Frank Cassini - Reporter #2; John Payne - Shriner #1; Andrew Wheeler - Shriner #5; Gary Jones - Reporter #3

Credit

Lynne Carrow - Casting, Mary E. McLeod - Costume Designer, Gene Saks - Director, Charles Strouse - Composer (Music Score), Glen MacPherson - Cinematographer, Robert Halmi, Sr. - Producer, J. Boyce Harman, Jr. - Producer

Similar Movies

State Fair; The Music Man