Rating: 
Summary: Good Movie, but I love the American Version better...
Review: I am a HUGE fan of 'The Birdcage' and have been for several years, so I finally got a chance to watch 'La Cage Aux Folles', which, as everyone knows, is the French version and the original for the American 'Birdcage'.I have been reading so many reviews here that talk about how much better this one is from the American version. I am going to give an opinion that is not going to be popular. To be honest, I really liked 'The Birdcage' much better than 'La Cage Aux Folles'. Although this is a very good movie, the American version flows so much better. The actors, to me play the characters much better. This version seemed very choppy to me and did not flow very well from one scene to another. I will say Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault did a marvelous job playing their characters. I can see why the movie was so extremely popular and still is today, as well as 'The Birdcage'. I did enjoy watching this film, and watching the obvious similarities between this one and the newer version. Everyone is allowed their opinions, and Although I liked 'The Birdcage' version much better (as I love the over the top performances of Robin Williams, and Nathan Lane', I still HIGHLY recommend watching this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie, but I love the American Version better...
Review: I am a HUGE fan of `The Birdcage' and have been for several years, so I finally got a chance to watch `La Cage Aux Folles', which, as everyone knows, is the French version and the original for the American `Birdcage'. I have been reading so many reviews here that talk about how much better this one is from the American version. I am going to give an opinion that is not going to be popular. To be honest, I really liked `The Birdcage' much better than `La Cage Aux Folles'. Although this is a very good movie, the American version flows so much better. The actors, to me play the characters much better. This version seemed very choppy to me and did not flow very well from one scene to another. I will say Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault did a marvelous job playing their characters. I can see why the movie was so extremely popular and still is today, as well as `The Birdcage'. I did enjoy watching this film, and watching the obvious similarities between this one and the newer version. Everyone is allowed their opinions, and Although I liked `The Birdcage' version much better (as I love the over the top performances of Robin Williams, and Nathan Lane', I still HIGHLY recommend watching this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Serrault is the best!
Review: I would have given La Cage Aux Folles three marks at best, for while it is a pleasent French comedy, not different in style to many French comedies of the period, it has one major asset that distinguishes it from all others, Michel Serrault.
He plays the camp 'queenie' star of the show La Cage Aux Folles to perfection..He is simply great.
The first La Cage..is the best, the sequel I believe was made because of the huge success the original had, but still Serrault gives his best in every scene, while dont bother with the third installement, it is simply lame..
Yet beware of the American remake 'Birdcage', if you want the same story with no subtitles, because it is simply awful, and stick to the original, even if you do not understand a word of French, Serrault's genuis performance will be more than enough to make you laugh very hard!
Rating: 
Summary: The original and the best
Review: If you saw the grotesque parody which was "The Birdcage" with Robin Williams, then watch the original and see how much better it was done the first time.
Rating:
Summary: French Sophistication at its Best
Review: It's a movie that only gets better after repeated viewing. The music alone makes La Cage a delight.
Look for the subtlety in Michel Serrault's performance, which is deeply classical in its texture. Albin seems like a helpless drag queen, but underneath his hysterical tantrums he's quietly running the whole show.
Wonderful touches with Jacob, the black manservant/maid. Contrast Jacob to the chauffeur to get some sense of what the movie is really about.
P.S. The American version is dreadful and embarrassing.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Fabulous!!!!
Review: La Cage Aux Folles is a hilarious French farce that spawned two sequels, a Broadway musical, and an equally good, but almost scene for scene remake (The Birdcage). Some people have said the film has stereotyped gay characters and that Serrault's constant screaming is annoying. I disagree--I found nothing offensive about the characters (gay men like Serrault exist, we've all met them!) and his screaming is actually very funny and brilliantly duplicated by Nathan Lane in the remake. This is a great film, funny, touching, and simply wonderful. It was nominated for 3 Academy Awards and won the Golden Globe for best Foriegn Film. How many gay-themed films can you say that about? P.S. Please ignore the R rating--the subject matter, which was pretty risky for 1978, has gotten rather tame. By today's standards, the film would easily get a PG-13.
Rating:
Summary: Hysterically funny -- a comedy classic.
Review: One of the funniest films ever made. Tognazzi and Serrault are well matched in the lead roles, and Benny Luke as Jacob the maid steals every scene. Years after first seeing the film, I still chuckle remembering Luke's line, "I cannot wear shoes; they make me fall!" Laughter is great therapy, and this classic favorite is genuine feel-good fun.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie, Substandard Transfer
Review: Since others have already expounded on the enduring comic nature of the movie itself, I'll restrict my comments to the DVD. I'd give the movie about 4 stars, but the DVD transfer I would award only 2. Why? The film quality is not only substandard, but on occasion the frame jumps, as if somebody had bumped the telecine during the process. Additionally, the audio is VERY poor, not only varying in loudness, but at times the French audio track is not even synchronized with the lip movements on screen. This would be worthy of a re-do by Criterion or other reputable production company...please?
Rating:
Summary: The perfect champagne comedy.
Review: There are films that connect one to the joy of laughter, and this film is one of those. It's actually hard to write a review about something that I adore as much as this film.
I even went out to buy the film score on CD just to have the joyous memory of this film with me when I'm driving about town at times. (It's a great mood lifter.)
I love this original French version, and I think the American version was a beautiful homage to this work as well. They are different - as expected they should be - and both have delicious moments.
Again, I'm too much of a devoted lover of this film to write a decent review. It is so hard to write about something that speaks to the joy of my soul as much as this does.
Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault have such chemistry together. They are one of the great screen couples of all-time. I would recommend this film for any good marriage counseling course. Few couples are as well-matched.
Daniel Murray
Rating:
Summary: FRENCH COMEDY
Review: This is hysterically funny. I loved it and you would too.
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