La Cage aux folles (1978)
An international comedy sensation based on a successful French
stage play, La Cage aux Folles depicts the farcical chaos
that results when a gay man attempts to pose as straight for
the benefit of his son's future in-laws. Renato (Ugo Tognazzi)
owns a popular nightclub and is the long-time lover of Zaza
(Michel Serrault), a female impersonator who is the club's
main attraction. Unfortunately, Renato's son Laurent (Remy
Laurent) has told none of this to his future father-in-law,
an important figure in a morally conservative political organization.
Not wanting to ruin his son's chance of happiness, Renato
agrees to pose as a straight man, but he finds his familiar
habits, and those of the even more flamboyant Zaza, getting
in the way at every turn. Zaza is the one who comes up with
what he thinks is an ideal solution: he'll dress in drag and
pose as Renato's wife. Naturally, the plan does not pan out
as expected. La Cage aux Folles' pleasant, unthreatening comic
sensibility attracted a large mainstream audience in both
Europe and the United States, which was at the time unusual
for a film with a homosexual theme. Indeed, the film was popular
enough to inspire two remakes: a stage musical and, nearly
two decades later, the Hollywood comedy The Birdcage with
Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, and Gene Hackman.
Cast:
Michel Serrault, Ugo Tognazzi, Michel Galabru, Claire Maurier
Director:
Edouard Molinaro
La Cage Aux Folles II (1980)
Renato (Ugo Tognazzi) and Albin (Michel Serrault), the internationally
popular homosexual couple from La Cage Aux Folles, return
in this sequel directed by Edouard Molinaro. In this go-round,
Renato and Albin find themselves innocent victims of an espionage
ring and become involved with killers when several corpses
begin to turn up. They are sought for some missing microfilm
and through a series of convoluted circumstances are forced
to flee, hiding out with Renato's family on their farm. Once
there, Albin becomes an object of lust for a group of lonely
farmhands. Benny Luke and Michel Galabru also reprise their
roles from the first film.
Cast:
Michel Serrault, Ugo Tognazzi, Marcel Bozzuffi, Paola Borboni
Director:
Edouard Molinaro |
