Latest / The Art of Costume Podcast / The Birdcage

Transcript

The Birdcage · The Art of Costume Podcast

0:06
Hello, welcome to the Art of Costume podcast.
0:08
I'm Elizabeth Joy Glass. And I am an employee at the Bird
0:12
Cage Spencer movie. Yes, that seems like a really
0:17
fun place to work. Yeah, just a just a bartender,
0:20
though. Oh yeah, yeah.
0:23
Not not performing, just no serving the drinks.
0:28
My back hurts too much to be performing.
0:30
Oh. Same that kids once you hit 30,
0:39
stretch, exercise. Seriously, Elizabeth, good to
0:43
see you. How the heck are you?
0:46
You know, I'm doing all right. I'm doing pretty fine.
0:50
Can't complain. Actually, I could complain, but
0:53
I'm not going to. Oh, well, yeah, same, same,
0:56
same, same. Good to see you.
0:58
We have a great episode for you because we are visiting a cult
1:03
classic, one that I have not seen in a hot minute.
1:07
I honestly, I thought I knew everything about this movie and
1:11
I went back to watch it last night and I was actually kind of
1:14
like, I don't remember anything about this movie.
1:17
Honestly, it's been so long since I've seen it.
1:19
I'm like, I think I might have last time I seen it, it might
1:22
have been on Avhs tape. Honestly, it's been so long.
1:25
I I had never seen it. I didn't even know about its
1:28
existence till I was much older. Like who put this one on the
1:34
schedule? Was it me or was it you?
1:36
I don't even. Remember, it was me.
1:38
OK, well 'cause I first I found out about it because of
1:42
Pinterest. I think it was when we did our
1:47
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Well, yeah.
1:50
Episode it started suggesting images from the bird cage and I
1:56
was like what is this? Hey, it's a great way to start
1:59
Pride month, so. It really, it really is.
2:04
Happy pride month, Spencer. What a happy Pride month to you,
2:08
thanks it. I'm excited we we actually have,
2:12
we don't always have a good pride month like line up.
2:18
We have a good one this month though, starting with the
2:22
Birdcage. We didn't mean to, but we do.
2:26
But we'll get into that maybe later, so let's just dive right
2:33
into it 'cause we have some fun costumes to talk about.
2:36
I will start us off with a summary.
2:40
The Bird Cage was directed by director Mike Nichols.
2:45
You'll know him for his notable work.
2:48
You will know who's afraid of Virginia Woolf, The graduate
2:52
Silkwood Working Girl and the Remains of the day.
2:57
Then for our summary in South Beach, flamboyant nightclub
3:02
owner Armand Goldman runs The Birdcage, A wildly glamorous
3:07
drag club where his dramatic partner Albert performs nightly
3:12
as a fabulous star, Rina, usually while having Alice one
3:16
emotional crisis backstage. The two share an apartment above
3:20
the club with Agador, their chaotic housekeeper whose
3:23
talents include singing, interpretive dancing and making
3:27
sour peasant soup. Life is already one non-stop
3:30
theatrical production before our mom's son announces he's
3:33
marrying the daughter of an ultra conservative senator
3:36
obsessed with family values. Suddenly this household must
3:40
attempt the greatest performance of all, pretending to be
3:44
straight long enough to survive dinner without anyone having a
3:47
breakdown, losing a wig or setting something on fire.
3:51
And that is the bird cage. That is the bird cage.
3:55
If you have not seen it go on MGM Plus, that was a surprise
4:00
for me. I have an MGM Plus subscription
4:02
right now. To watch.
4:04
To watch from and I like on my Roku, I 'cause I was like, I
4:08
don't know where to watch this movie.
4:11
Put it in search my Roku and it was like MGM plus.
4:14
And I was like, thank you. It's probably because we had it
4:17
from another episode. Honestly because I've I've
4:19
cancelled my MGM plus probably from another episode.
4:23
The new season of From is on. I'm there.
4:27
I am. There.
4:29
But let's meet our costume designer, one of the greats and
4:35
Roth. You will know her work from the
4:38
Oscar nominated Places in the Heart, The English Patient, for
4:43
which she won an Oscar. The Talented Mr. Ripley, for
4:49
which she received another Oscar nomination.
4:53
The Hours, for which she got another Oscar nomination.
4:58
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, for which she won another Oscar. 9
5:04
to 5. Silkwood, Mamma Mia, Julie and
5:09
Julia, the girl on the train and she was in the Barbie movie.
5:14
Spencer, that's what I'm talking about.
5:17
She was the lady on the bench. She.
5:20
Was the lady on the bench? That's the biggest brag of them
5:23
all honestly. Like, talk about a compliment.
5:28
Talk. About a compliment.
5:30
Barbie told her she's beautiful. Yeah, honestly, she is.
5:35
And she has a beautiful body of work, one of which is the bird
5:42
cage. Oh yeah, I was not expecting
5:46
this movie to be as stressful as it was.
5:49
I thought we were getting ready to sit down for a fun, colorful
5:53
drag film where it's just going to be lots of like, clubbing and
5:57
dancing. I thought, I put it on in bed
6:01
just expecting to lay down and just get cozy and watch a fun
6:04
drag film. I was up stressed, my blood
6:07
pressure was high. I was like, am I getting ready
6:10
to watch a hate crime right now? Like the entire dinner scene was
6:13
like 45 minutes long. I was stressed, I was sweating.
6:19
It's so stressful. It's so stressful.
6:22
I was kissed at their son from beginning to end.
6:28
Spencer. I was sitting on my couch being
6:30
absolutely livid. The entire time Christine
6:34
Baranski was on her way, I know she's going to walk in.
6:37
There's no way she's not going to walk in at some point.
6:41
Exactly. I was just freaking out the
6:44
whole time and I know I've seen this movie, but I remembered
6:48
absolutely none of it. I remembered none of it.
6:51
The only part I remembered from this movie is the part when
6:55
Albert tries to get into the car and accidentally the alarm goes
6:58
off and Albert does a little scream though every time the
7:02
alarm goes off. That's all I remembered.
7:06
I knew nothing. I thought it was just going to
7:09
be a fun romp from beginning to end.
7:13
It is not what I got. Exactly.
7:16
It is fun, but it's it doesn't let you enjoy your fun without a
7:20
little bit of high blood pressure though.
7:23
No, but Spencer, I think after a little breaky break so we can
7:28
center ourselves, we should dive straight into the bird cage.
7:33
I'm so excited. I am excited to go clubbing,
7:37
sort of. I'm not a clubber but you know,
7:40
I I could pretend to go clubbing for a little bit.
7:43
We've never been clubbers, but you know what, I wouldn't mind
7:47
going to a bar at a club and like watching the young folks,
7:52
although apparently they don't dance anymore.
7:54
So that's. That's what I've heard, but.
7:56
Yeah, they don't dance. They.
7:58
Don't drink. Yeah, actually the last club I
8:01
remember, remember when you and I went to like a Stranger Things
8:05
club night, it was like costume related.
8:08
So that's the type of club I go to did.
8:11
I go to that. Oh, you weren't there.
8:15
Let's go to break. We are back from break and
8:26
Elizabeth and I have discussed a clubbing situation and it was
8:29
that ABBA night, not a Stranger Things night, just to clarify.
8:33
No, we. Were both happened but Elizabeth
8:36
was present for ABBA night, not Stranger Things night.
8:41
I was I I was not wearing shoulder pads.
8:44
I was wearing my blue velvet bell bottoms.
8:51
Yeah, anyways. But you know where I would go
8:55
clubbing Spencer, where I give him the bird cage.
9:00
They start with We are family. Everyone is just wearing the
9:06
cutest drag. They all look so cute in this.
9:09
First scene, typical 90s drag. I mean if I I mean I know 90s
9:16
drag which is 2 AT this. Is it right here?
9:22
It's also very Miami 'cause it's very colorful, of course, but I
9:26
mean this, I could just pinpoint 90s drag from a mile away.
9:30
It's so much fun. It's just so much fun to see
9:35
them all. But they also all have their own
9:37
different personalities stuff 'cause they're this is.
9:41
The Spice Girls of Drag Queen. Yeah, it's clearly like the
9:45
closing number. So they're all coming out and
9:48
they're different uniform, different costumes, and it's a
9:52
great way to start the film. You know, it's just like, it's a
9:55
great way to like get the excitement up.
9:57
You see all this energy, all this color, that South Beach,
10:02
which is a very fun, energetic place to be.
10:07
It gets excited. It sets you up for this fun,
10:09
exciting film, not letting you know that it's actually been
10:13
quite stressful, but you know. And I love against all this
10:19
color is contrasted Armand Goldman, played by the legendary
10:25
Robin Williams. He he is the club owner and the
10:31
director of the drag shows. And he has like such a club
10:39
owner look on like the tailored. I I don't know if it's velvet or
10:47
just like silk. Like it, it's like a suit
10:52
jacket, but it also almost feels tailored, like a waist, like,
10:57
like a smoking jacket. Yeah, but I think it's just a
11:00
suit jacket. It's got this beautiful
11:02
embroidery, his gold necklaces, as he's off to go, you know,
11:10
take care of his man's meltdown. I can't even describe what it is
11:16
about Armand, but when you see him in his costume, you
11:21
immediately know he's the bar or club owner.
11:24
Oh, he's in charge. Like, I don't, but like, I guess
11:28
it's because like everything about the bird cage in South
11:32
Beach is so colorful. So seeing him in the black and
11:35
the gold is just like, he stands out because he's so dark and so
11:40
tailored. And the mustache, I mean the
11:43
mustache is, I mean, is it the mustache that's saying I run
11:47
this joint? I think so, like your girl is
11:52
not a fan of a mustache in general.
11:56
Robin Williams in this movie pulls it off like nobody's
12:00
business. Yeah, he looks good in a
12:03
mustache. He he does.
12:06
And then even more to contrast his seriousness in this
12:11
situation, we have Agador, played by Hank Azari.
12:19
Hank Azaria is just this character is just absolutely
12:23
wild. I just, it's just all over the
12:27
place. It's so crazy he doesn't.
12:30
He does not crack once though. No, not once.
12:34
I've never seen this character for Hank Azaria before ever.
12:39
It's so wild. He's the housekeeper but of
12:42
course he has to walk around and like the very shortcut shorts
12:46
and the Croft tank top. I know it's South Beach but like
12:52
I think. That's just Agador style.
12:54
Honestly. It's just.
12:56
Style, but almost feels like it's his uniform too at the same
12:59
time. Like this is his housekeeper
13:02
uniform. He definitely has dreams of
13:06
being like the cute pool boy. That has an affair.
13:10
That's where I'm getting to he's at.
13:12
He's at the wrong house for that.
13:15
Yeah, yeah, totally wrong house. I'm not even sure if they have a
13:18
pool, but he is on the path. Oh, OK.
13:21
He's on the path to being a pool boy, though.
13:24
He really is. But you know, nothing is going
13:29
to come between Armand and Albert, played by Nathan Lane.
13:34
Oh my gosh, you like, you don't get to see Nathan Lane in roles
13:41
like this too often. And it's just like, it's so
13:49
perfect. It's so good, so, so good.
13:53
I I mean, just the from the first like mental breakdown to
13:58
that moment when you finally see Albert as Starina in that first
14:02
costume with like the cheetah print, like have like coneish
14:06
hat. That's almost like a little
14:08
Grace Jones a little bit with the gloves and the cheetah print
14:12
boots. It is one of the coolest things
14:15
ever. It's a little bit like late 80s,
14:17
early 90s, like supermodel catwalk Vogue.
14:21
I mean, like immediately I'm like teleport.
14:24
I'm locked in. I'm sold.
14:25
I'm like suddenly Starina's biggest fan.
14:29
And it's like he's playing like the ultra wealthy divorcee.
14:35
Like like, like, like I understand the diva.
14:39
All of a sudden I'm I'm a fan, I get the mental breakdowns like
14:43
This is why she demands so much attention and perfection.
14:48
Because you are perfection. She is perfection and she has.
14:53
I would have. I would love to see Starina's
14:55
entire performance because she ends in a clown outfit.
15:04
Like how did we get from there to there?
15:08
Answer questions I need answers to.
15:12
And you know, I don't get them. But you know who gets answers to
15:19
questions they weren't asking? It's Albert.
15:22
He's so excited their son is home and he I love his little
15:26
shopping montage where he is just like Albert is the coastal
15:32
grandmother. Aesthetic.
15:36
Like the printed vest with the crisp white button down and the
15:42
flowing like coral pants, his little sunglasses, the leather
15:49
like Oh my gosh. And he is just floating about
15:52
town, clearly out, buying all of their son's favorites.
15:57
And then he comes home to Armin, who's just grumpy in his, like,
16:05
just one of the most fabulous robes.
16:07
We haven't seen a robe this good since Only Lovers Left Alive,
16:10
Spencer. Yeah, Armand like he's like the
16:13
opposite. He's like the sophisticated,
16:15
like Miami Gianni Versace type guy who's like by the pool just
16:21
yeah, he's like literally it's like the Versace type like just
16:25
by the pool with like the cigarette.
16:27
I don't even though he's not smoking, but like just like has
16:30
that pool, the tank top still like looks like he could be like
16:34
a club owner. Like he like he keeps that
16:37
character through line day and night, you know, and almost kind
16:42
of gives like, I mean, I hate bringing up this guy, but like
16:46
kind of like a Hugh Hefner type style, like day in and day out.
16:50
That was like. That was so 90s though.
16:53
That was so 90s. Yeah.
16:56
And meanwhile, Albert is just like mixing together all these
17:01
prints. Yeah, patterns just clashing all
17:04
together. It just feels like just, it's
17:07
always like this, like tornado, just walking through the House
17:11
of Emotions and Prince and just energy.
17:13
He is a tornado of sunshine. Yeah, and Agador is just not
17:19
wearing anything. Yeah, I I love how Armand is
17:22
like, put clothing on. Like, like this is not part of
17:30
your job, put a shirt on. Although I do wonder if part of
17:35
the reason he tells him to put a shirt on is because his lame son
17:40
is home. Yeah.
17:42
I did not enjoy Val. No.
17:45
Val is being rude to his father's.
17:49
Yeah, tomato, Tomato. Everyone hates Val Boo.
17:53
He never, he never apologizes properly and for a man who was
17:58
raised by these two men, his style is terrible and this is
18:03
the only one of the only sides you will see him in because
18:08
there is literally nothing to talk about.
18:10
He he's in a fraternity in the 90s like he's a bro and I don't
18:19
enjoy it. Probably committing the hate
18:21
crimes that we are trying to prevent.
18:24
Yes. Like.
18:28
How many hazings has he been a part of?
18:30
Too many. Yeah, too many sucks.
18:33
It's it is really frustrating that this whole film is about
18:36
trying to like set up a Val like so many positive ways.
18:41
But that's like life though, isn't it?
18:43
Like, like, you know, people like going out of their way
18:48
trying to, like, take care of people who don't deserve it, you
18:51
know, underprivileged taking care of the privileged anyways.
18:56
But still. Armand pulls out another good
18:59
rope, though. When Val comes over, though,
19:01
that looks like a different rope.
19:02
Yeah, right. Another good rope.
19:05
It's it's one of his like Versace tops.
19:08
Oh OK, yeah, it's another good rope or tops.
19:15
He just keeps the good looks coming.
19:19
Armand has this great linen striped pant and top set that he
19:27
wears to the beach with Albert. It's kind of wild honestly.
19:32
It feels like this looks a little too young for him
19:35
honestly. He feels like he could be
19:37
skateboarding at the beach. Beach culture is so wild,
19:41
especially like Florida beach culture.
19:45
But Anne Roth so nailed just like Florida 90s South Beach
19:52
culture, though, it's so much it's just hyper neon colored.
19:59
Just the color palette is just so on point.
20:03
It's so on point. I love Albert in these scenes.
20:07
He has this great pink and white like again like checkered shirt
20:12
coastal grandmother. He's got like white on the red.
20:15
Like, it's so true, but it's it's so true.
20:21
I like the sun hat, the floppy sun hat.
20:24
Like, come on. But it's funny because he cycles
20:28
to grandmother, because we know where this, the end of this film
20:31
is going because it fully is the evolution of where Albert ends
20:36
up going. Yes, and we also have Agador
20:42
just pulling out like great ridiculous looks like his little
20:49
short shorts with like the sheer like tie top when they're
20:56
completely redecorating their apartment per their son's
21:00
request, which. Is ridiculous.
21:04
It's so ridiculous and I love how Agador is silently
21:08
protesting with his straight looking verbage.
21:13
Tank top. It's such a good one.
21:16
That's one of the best licks of the entire film.
21:19
Like. As he's hanging the ridiculously
21:23
huge crucifix. Over their fire play.
21:28
So funny. It's so funny.
21:30
It's so stupid. Like it just says everything.
21:36
You know, he's stealing in that moment, which is like, this is
21:40
silly. I don't know why we're doing
21:42
this, but I did trade a moose's head for this.
21:48
He's like, I am having fun with it, but this is ridiculous.
21:53
Yeah, so many good looks. So many good looks and they keep
21:57
coming because Val has decided he needs his mother, who he has
22:04
not seen since the day he was born, to show up.
22:08
I know I was like irritated about this until we walked into
22:11
the office and I was like, who's the mother?
22:15
And. Christine Baranski.
22:16
There she was, Christine Baranski.
22:19
And if you've listened to this podcast over the years, you know
22:23
how I feel about some Christine Baranski.
22:28
Yes, I love her. She, she's so good.
22:34
She's so good in this. She's good, she's great.
22:38
I love her. And I, you know, I was like, OK,
22:42
I want her to be my mommy, too. Yeah, and like, I love her.
22:47
Her look, her look in this is so 90s.
22:50
It's so Florida. Yeah, kind of the 90s Florida
22:54
businesswoman, you know, she's clearly running in office here.
23:00
Like pearls? I think she I think she has
23:03
Pearl earrings, Pearl necklace, Pearl bracelet, blacktop floral
23:09
skirt like. Because.
23:12
Clearly she's just able to like, sit at her desk and be like,
23:14
yes, I'm a businesswoman, all right, it's hot.
23:17
I have a skirt on. Let's get going.
23:19
I want to look cute and Beachy when I walk out of my office.
23:23
Meanwhile, Armand has like the busiest blouse you could ever
23:27
see tucked into his white pants. It's just like he goes from like
23:33
all black sophisticated club owner to like the busiest neon
23:38
South Beach, Florida top you could ever see.
23:42
It's so busy and like only in Florida would you see this top.
23:47
Only in Florida and I love how Albert is clearly kind of trying
23:51
to match him. Yeah.
23:54
Because it's like Arvon's got the white and yellow in his top.
24:01
Albert is all in white and yellow as he's waiting for him
24:06
to broker this deal. And I love because obviously
24:15
maybe him and Catherine get a little too close, especially
24:20
when Albert walks in and he rightfully has a little bit of a
24:25
meltdown. Like Albert deserved this one.
24:29
He's been under a lot of stress. I guess I mean if I mean he
24:34
didn't really give a chance to explain, but I don't know.
24:37
But also, she was being handsy. Let's be.
24:41
It's Christine Baranski. I mean I.
24:44
Know. But you're saying that's why
24:48
there's cause for concern, Yes. And it's like, it's not like
24:55
because they had like a little bit of a relationship.
24:57
It wasn't like she was. If you see me in an office with
25:02
Christine Baranski, Emily, you all know that there should be
25:04
cause for concern. Yeah, and I'm turning around and
25:08
walking away, so I'll have nothing to report back to your
25:11
girlfriend. Like no.
25:13
You should report to my girlfriend is what I'm saying.
25:16
No, I will report to. Your girlfriend.
25:18
You don't want me? To keep that under wraps.
25:20
OK, well. No, I mean, that's not OK.
25:24
Cut from the episode I'm. Like I know you don't want me to
25:33
do you a bro solid and let you just have your way with
25:36
Christine Baranski this. Is getting too dark.
25:44
Anyway, what are we even talking about?
25:53
OK, Albert has a melted song, rightfully so.
25:59
And you know him, him and Armand really talk out.
26:04
It seems like some things they needed to talk about.
26:09
Yeah, I mean, this relates to my favorite scene when Albert,
26:12
like, tries again the car and the car scares him and he
26:15
screams. It's so funny.
26:36
Yeah, I can watch this game over and over.
26:37
I'm. Like, oh, you do not drive Very.
26:41
Much. No.
26:42
Albert's a passenger Princess. That's why he has the scarf
26:45
over. He probably wears it in the car
26:47
over his head. Good to keep his hair right,
26:51
even though he doesn't. He's wearing a baseball cap, and
26:54
he's wearing a baseball cap just over the top.
26:57
Always. Always over the top, but he
27:03
finds out Armand's never going to leave him because Albert owns
27:06
all of their assets. Yeah, so there you go.
27:11
Armand's like everything's in your name, don't worry about it.
27:14
But they do have to worry about the Keely's Spencer.
27:21
Man, let's talk about the Keely's.
27:25
Spencer The way I was laughing my ass off at them from
27:31
beginning to end because I knew people like this from back home.
27:37
Like I. Grew up with people like this.
27:41
Yeah, they're scary, especially when it's sweet, like Diane Weis
27:45
Weist, who we love from like, Edward Scissorhands, who's like,
27:51
we know it's like such a sweetheart, but seen her in this
27:53
role. Sweetheart.
27:55
So spooky. Like that's so like like
27:59
soulless dark as like tight can be like just, you know, like so
28:05
stuffy. And they're like most like, like
28:10
just evil looking. How do you describe it, since
28:14
you know these people? It is the the look of dark
28:21
conservative overlords. In terms of costume.
28:27
In terms of costume it is their dark conservative overlords, but
28:32
no it is very high class church lady like you are not seeing an
28:40
inch of skin. It is probably designer.
28:45
She probably spent a lot of money on it, but you can't be
28:49
flaunting your wealth like that, at least not in the 90s.
28:52
You couldn't be doing that in the 90s.
28:54
People couldn't be fair. Like it does look sophisticated.
28:58
Like it looks cool. They had to be able to walk into
29:03
church and everyone knew immediately they had the most
29:06
money in the room, but they couldn't, they couldn't be
29:10
flaunting their wealth. And like Senator Keeley, he's
29:16
just, he's a, he's a dumb senator.
29:18
I. Loved their their version of
29:21
them. What I mean, they're clearly
29:24
from like somewhere in New England, somewhere up there.
29:32
Yeah. That's why they had to drive so
29:36
far. I was being sarcastic.
29:40
I was like, of course they're dumb, but continue.
29:43
Are probably they're probably like in Maryland actually,
29:46
because if he's a senator they probably live in Maryland
29:49
anyway. That's East Coast geography
29:53
doesn't matter but yeah, he's such an idiot.
29:58
He's just like going with the whims of his party.
30:04
I love they're not moral majority moral majority in this
30:12
and just like the way they were just pulling from like the
30:16
headlines of their time. Yeah, they're just dummies.
30:22
It's so crazy. And then they're dot OK.
30:27
One thing I will give all the parents in this movie is the way
30:31
they were like at 18 and 20, you should not be getting married.
30:38
Like they all said it. Even though her mother was like,
30:41
oh, we can use our daughter as a political pawn.
30:43
Though at the beginning they were like, what are you doing?
30:49
You're you're freshly 18. What are you doing it?
30:54
Was a bit concerning, but. It was a lot concerning.
30:58
But if I was marrying into the fun Bird cage family, I would
31:02
probably would be a little excited too, unless I was
31:05
marrying that dork, which, you know, Yeah.
31:09
I mean, you know, wet sandwich, but.
31:11
There's only one option for marrying into that family and
31:14
unfortunately it's him but. That's a whole other discussion.
31:19
It's a whole other discussion, but I do love Barbara's look for
31:25
the dinner because it's kind of a 90s grunge that kind of like
31:31
not fitted baby doll look, but it's still like very
31:35
conservative. You know, I'm sure that skirt
31:39
goes to the tips of her fingers. You know, she's fully, she's
31:45
fully buttoned up. She looks very conservative to
31:50
please her parents, but you can kind of see her like rebellious
31:55
nature. Yeah.
31:57
In in the color and kind of the the fit of that dress.
32:01
And you're so right about the grunge thing.
32:03
Honestly, I was, she was reminding me of like Christina
32:06
Ricci a little bit watching her. And then like as we get into,
32:10
we'll talk about it I'm sure later.
32:12
But when we get into like the end of the film and you see her
32:14
drag persona, it also felt very grunge too.
32:18
So I think that was like something that Anne Roth very
32:21
much is thinking about when dressing.
32:23
Barbara was just like grunge undertone with her character.
32:29
Even though like it's not probably something that's
32:31
expressed much. I think that was something she
32:33
was thinking about as like this rebellious teenager with this
32:36
very like high strung conservative family.
32:39
It's probably her back story going into it, even though it's
32:42
not something we really explore in this film.
32:44
There wasn't a lot of time, but you know, that's something maybe
32:48
that Anne created. And also I know that the
32:51
Birdcage is actually based off of or is a remake of another
32:57
film or story I want to see. Yeah.
33:00
IA French story or? I think it's based off another
33:03
French film. You're right.
33:05
I think it's like the American remake.
33:08
Yeah. So maybe, maybe there is some
33:10
back story to it there. But yeah, interesting.
33:13
We'll check that out. But yes, I want to say that
33:16
maybe that was like some grunge back story that Anne Roth had.
33:20
I I think so it makes sense for the time.
33:25
I did love when Albert comes in as the mother.
33:31
Coastal grandmother strikes in real fashion now.
33:35
Oh yes, and Spencer, this isn't just coastal grandmother.
33:42
This is the church lady. This is the church lady.
33:50
The big ass bow, the pearls, all the pink, the long skirt, the
33:56
like perfectly quaffed hair. Oh my gosh.
34:02
It's so funny. It was so funny and like the
34:06
moment Albert walks in as the mother, I was like, why did you
34:10
all not think of this in the first place?
34:13
I know. But then, like, it was
34:15
hilarious. But as soon as Albert walked
34:16
out, I immediately was like stressed.
34:19
Like I felt my blood pressure rise.
34:21
I was like, Oh no, like there's no way this is going to work.
34:25
It's so scary. I'm just like, OK, like this is
34:30
another one of the things that like annoys me about their son.
34:34
Their son almost acts like Albert was a late addition to
34:39
his life. And it's like, clearly Albert
34:43
has been there the entire time, like since Val was a baby.
34:49
And like, he's just leading him out of like he's leading Albert
34:54
out of all these decisions, acting like he doesn't matter in
35:01
these proceedings. And I'm like, if you had just
35:04
trusted your mother and brought her in as the part of the
35:09
family, you all would have gotten to this solution a lot
35:14
quicker and with a lot less stress.
35:16
Yeah, Albert would have. I mean, obviously Albert was
35:19
killing it. The The senator was obsessed.
35:23
The senator loved Albert. As the mother, yeah, it's so
35:30
funny. It was actually.
35:32
If anything it was our mom who was blowing it with him being
35:35
stressed out so much. Yes, yes, 'cause their stupid
35:38
son can't just tell his teenage girlfriend to tell her parents
35:44
the truth, yeah. But.
35:48
The moment Catherine walks in. Oh yeah, then it's over and I
35:54
knew it was coming. I just, I was so stressed.
35:57
I was like, it's gonna happen any minute now.
35:59
I was watching this out like midnight at this point, like
36:02
fully sitting up in bed being like, well I guess I'm not
36:04
sleeping tonight 'cause I'm stressed this is.
36:08
This is what we're watching. And she also walks in in a very
36:12
church lady look. Yeah, we're, we're just all
36:15
doing church lady. Yeah, I was like, so I was like,
36:19
this is not how I remembered the movie at all.
36:21
I thought we were going to be Spain.
36:22
This entire episode talking about drag, drag queen looks
36:26
talking about the history of drag and we ended up talking
36:29
about church lady looks and coastal grandmother looks almost
36:32
entire episode. Like it was so funny.
36:34
When preparing for this episode, I was just like, this is not how
36:38
I remembered the bird cage at all, no no.
36:42
And like, Oh my gosh, the stress and the comedy of the reporters
36:47
being right outside the entire time.
36:51
I'm like, Oh my gosh, of course the reporters fuck this up in
36:54
the end. Like.
36:56
But we did get a little bit of drag though at the end.
36:59
Though we did and I love they end with we are family again and
37:06
I love the more coordinated look of of the Queens this time.
37:12
It's very like space Agey. Space age, Lots of silver
37:16
metallic, some black as well. Everything is shining as a our
37:24
conservative family makes their way through the crowd.
37:29
They made, I'm not sure, I'm guessing and Roth designed the
37:34
drag looks for the principal actors.
37:37
I'm going to guess the drag actors brought their own looks.
37:39
That's just my guess. That's that's pretty typical of
37:43
drag actors. But for the principal actors,
37:47
they made a Gene Hackman look so old.
37:52
Oh my gosh, they made Gene Hackman look so old.
37:56
They did Gene so dirty. They did.
38:01
You look so bad, He looks sorry. I can't you in front.
38:07
He looks so bad, he. Looks so wild and.
38:12
Like. But I'm like, it almost makes
38:14
sense because I'm sure he was like fighting it the entire
38:18
time. So he was on that dance floor
38:21
and he was like, don't leave me. I don't want to be the only girl
38:23
not dancing. Also, why should Arman and
38:26
Albert hook them up with good drag anyways?
38:30
Like he could put a wig on and just do what he needed to do.
38:33
Get him out the door. We're not going to.
38:35
And they give them all the good stuff.
38:37
So, you know, I get it. Like, we're not going to hook
38:41
them up with the good stuff. I just thought it was hilarious.
38:43
When I saw Gene Hackman, I was like, man, you look rough.
38:47
I mean, like even the hair color I was like, is that Gray hair?
38:52
I was like, they didn't even try to make you look good.
38:55
No, they didn't. But his wife, Missus Keeley.
39:01
Yeah. She looked so good.
39:03
She was giving dominatrix. She was especially because.
39:07
Like at the. End.
39:08
She's the first one to realize what is happening.
39:12
And. She's like, OK with it, kind of
39:17
like she gets it and she's like, OK, like I'm not going to make a
39:21
scene like this is just how it is.
39:23
Why can't you understand what's happening?
39:26
Diane Weiss was unrecognizable, actually.
39:30
I was confused when she first walked out like that.
39:34
I was like who? I thought.
39:36
I thought that was Gene Hackman at first.
39:40
Like for a hot 2nd, because I think you see her first and then
39:45
you see Gene Hackman. Yeah.
39:48
And I was like, wait, is that Gene Hackman?
39:50
Who is that? And then I was like, oh, wait,
39:52
no, no, no, yeah. There's like 1 angle where she
39:55
looks. I, I remember seeing her like
39:57
turn at one point. I was like, oh, OK.
39:59
Like I do, I recognize her like face on point.
40:02
But yeah, it took a second. But the daughter though,
40:05
Barbara, she does feel like she's like kind of, I feel like
40:09
they gave her like a little bit more extra time so she could
40:12
live out her. Grunge fantasy a little.
40:15
Bit I think she was super into it.
40:18
I think her and Albert were bonding and having fun.
40:22
I think so. She wants to hang out, be with
40:24
her new family. They had a good time.
40:25
They got to pick out the wig definitely was like maybe
40:29
looking at some like magazines a little bit.
40:31
Got to pick out like some of her like favorite supermodels or
40:34
maybe like looking at favorite movies or favorite like albums,
40:38
some like, you know, artists that she looks up to, maybe some
40:41
Joan Jett or something. I don't know.
40:44
I got to have like a good time. Oh, there is a lot of Joan Jett
40:47
in this. Yeah, so they had fun with
40:51
Barbara. I'm like, I'm like with the
40:54
senator where they clearly was like, we're going to get you out
40:56
of here, but also to get caught on the street.
40:58
That's also your problem. Exactly.
41:01
And it ends with their wedding. Everybody is family.
41:07
I couldn't. I couldn't find any good
41:09
pictures of the wedding. Oh my God, Albert crying at the
41:12
wedding. Albert crying at the wedding,
41:17
Catherine Christine Baranski being one row back and just like
41:20
dabbing at her eyes. And then like all the performers
41:25
being being guests. I was like, yes, OK, Val, I
41:30
guess you you figured it out in the end, I guess.
41:35
Maybe. Maybe.
41:36
Maybe. I hold, I hold.
41:38
I'll try to believe it. I'm having a hard time, but for
41:41
the sake of this movie being 1,000,000 years old, I'll
41:44
believe. It.
41:45
Yeah, I think he was supposed to, like, have turned a corner
41:50
at the end when it's revealed that, like, Albert's a man and
41:54
he like, you know, it's like, yes, this is my mother, but I'm
41:59
like he he didn't do enough apologizing.
42:02
That's what we are led to believe as movie watchers, yes.
42:06
Yeah. But us knowing that this movie
42:10
takes place in the 90s, that's probably not what happened.
42:13
But. Yeah, yeah, I.
42:16
Like this? Is such a 90s movie, but it's
42:22
but you know, for the time like they they did a lot.
42:26
Yeah. It it's excellent.
42:29
I'm so glad I watched it. I'm glad you watched it too,
42:32
especially for you not having seen it before.
42:35
I couldn't remember. I was like, I don't remember who
42:37
put this on schedule because I I didn't remember doing it.
42:40
So I was surprised when he was like, no, I put it on.
42:42
I was like, OK, good for you, Elizabeth, because it's a good
42:44
one. It's a classic.
42:47
Yeah, I was like, we need some classics here.
42:50
I was like, I love a Robin Williams film.
42:53
I love Nathan Lane. He's like one of my favorites
42:56
and only murderers in the building.
42:58
Mr. McAllister. Mr. McAllister, like, like, love
43:05
him. So I was like, yeah, I'll like
43:07
watch some early Nathan Lane. Absolutely.
43:11
But Spencer, it is time for us to leave the birdcage.
43:14
Are you ready for a little break?
43:16
I am ready. I I got to put on my dancing
43:19
shoes to get ready for our one costume.
43:21
Rule them all and all that jazz. We'll.
43:28
Be right back, Spencer, Are you ready to give the Birdcage A
43:36
stitch review? I am.
43:40
I gave the bird cage three out of five stitches.
43:48
No, but now that I'm saying out loud, it feels kind of low, but
43:51
I don't know, like it's a solid, like it's just right down the
43:54
middle for me. Like I had a good time.
43:56
I I don't know, it's like a good cozy watch.
43:59
It's a classic. It's not like my favorite film,
44:02
but I also like in it. Not like it.
44:06
That's fun, that's good. I like it.
44:08
I'll probably, if it's ever on TV, I'll watch it.
44:11
Their costumes are phenomenal. Obviously it's Robin Williams
44:15
and Nathan Lane, like the perfect duo.
44:18
There's like some parts that are like kind of drag.
44:21
I don't know, I guess. I guess all the scenes that
44:23
don't involve Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are the parts that I
44:26
could see Fast forward through. Yeah, there aren't many of
44:31
those. Though there aren't.
44:32
But when they're on, you definitely feel them, you know,
44:35
So it's like it's like a solid, I don't know, maybe it's like a
44:39
3.5 though, 5, just to show that's on the positive side of
44:43
the scale. Honestly I'll give it a a 3.5 as
44:47
well. I think maybe some of our modern
44:51
sensibilities are a little like nowadays.
44:55
I I would love a modern birdcage like.
44:59
Honestly. A remake?
45:04
I would actually love to see that that'd.
45:10
Be so hard to cast though. Oh my gosh.
45:15
But I hear you though. Like the the premise of the film
45:18
is so much fun though. But what if RuPaul was one of
45:22
the dads? I don't know.
45:27
I don't know. I have to think this through.
45:29
Maybe I don't know. Maybe I need a seasoned actor,
45:37
RuPaul. I think he could.
45:40
I think he could pull off Albert.
45:45
Yeah. I think so.
45:50
Does RuPaul Productions get Get wild real quick?
45:54
That's True Allah, the new film Stop That Train.
45:57
That's true. OK, maybe not.
46:01
Maybe not. But yeah, I think 3.5 is is a
46:08
good place to be at for a 90s for a 90s flick.
46:14
But I know there are tons of great costumes though, so I
46:18
really play one costume rule them all.
46:20
Oh yeah, hit it, Spencer. The one costume to rule them
46:26
all. For me, it was real easy to sell
46:33
in a costume. Like right off the bat.
46:35
It was that first costume we see Starina in that black like
46:39
sequin look where we see the cheetah print gown that kind of
46:45
remind me of like Grace Jones. It was just so theatrical, so
46:49
over the top, because at first they're like, who is this person
46:53
having the mental breakdown? This person's going to be such a
46:55
pain. And he see Albert in full glam
46:59
and you're like, OK, I get it. Yep.
47:01
Just as sets up the whole film, you're like, OK, I'm locked in,
47:05
you know? It's just so good.
47:07
It it really, really is. I will say it is such a lot.
47:10
You're right. It's such a lock in moment.
47:12
Yeah, when Starina comes on and you're like, oh, OK, I get it.
47:19
But personally, my one costume to rule them all is Albert's
47:26
mother drag. Like the the way he just comes
47:34
in and kind of like exactly who he is as Val's mother, obviously
47:41
playing up the like we're conservative side of things in
47:47
the funniest way possible in a way that makes these people like
47:51
fall in love with him. Yeah, 'cause really, this is who
47:55
Albert has been, the role Albert has been playing all these
47:58
years. Now, does Val's like from.
48:01
All right, I'm going to put this on full display.
48:03
Val, this is what you've been asking for for all these years.
48:07
Just it's in costume now. It's in costume.
48:10
It is church lady. It is like the cherry on top of
48:15
that ridiculous dinner. Yeah, it's so good, so much fun.
48:22
I'm so glad we finally got to watch The Bird Cage.
48:26
Please e-mail us at theartofcostume@gmail.com.
48:29
Let's know what your favorite Bird Cage costumes were, yes?
48:34
Or just let's know what your favorite Robin Williams and
48:37
Nathan Lane movies are. There's so many good ones to
48:39
choose from. Can't believe that was our first
48:42
Robin Williams film. There's so many.
48:45
Gosh, I think it was. That's crazy.
48:48
Yeah. But you know, there's more and
48:50
maybe there's more on our schedule coming up too.
48:53
I don't know, maybe. As always, follow us on
48:57
Instagram at The Art of Costume Pod Tick tock at The Art of
49:00
Costume. Check our merch store,
49:03
theartofcostume.com OD store, leave us a five star text review
49:07
on Apple Podcast or rate US on Spotify.
49:10
It really does help. Go check out the costume house.
49:15
Listen to some of our interviews.
49:16
We have a bunch coming out 'cause you know, it's TV season.
49:19
So we're interviewing all the costume designers that we can
49:22
squeeze in without me losing my absolute mind.
49:27
And of course, I check out my Netflix special if you haven't
49:31
done that yet. And Elizabeth, what are we
49:35
watching in the next episode? I know you are bursting at the
49:39
seams just to reveal it. I am so excited, Spencer.
49:44
We are watching what is a cultural moment, what is
49:52
bringing me hope in these times. Here we go.
49:58
We are watching heated rivalry everybody we're going to the boy
50:04
aquarium. Are you OK since I?
50:12
Didn't even joke in my water there on that one.
50:17
I. I was Elizabeth's been talking
50:21
about this episode for months now.
50:24
I'm not joking when I say that she's so excited for this
50:28
episode. I'm so excited.
50:30
I'm so excited to make you watch it.
50:32
We're going to have a watch party with our friend Avisha.
50:36
Well, we can't get on that because I know.
50:38
I was actually. As soon as she's back, I'm going
50:41
to text her. I'll text you what day I'm
50:43
thinking and then we'll get on that.
50:49
Yes, I'm so excited. Our favorite hockey players, we
50:55
are going to discuss them. Ilya and Shane Spencer, I can't
51:00
wait for you to feel. The love.
51:04
I'm excited. I'm excited to finally see the
51:06
show that everyone's been talking about.
51:09
I haven't seen it. I've obviously heard about it,
51:14
so I guess I'll be experiencing it together with all of your
51:17
costume nerds. What's it about?
51:19
It's about hockey and sports and stuff.
51:24
It is an Emmett. It is an enemy to lovers
51:30
storyline. OK, just like go to practice
51:35
and. It is about discovering who you
51:40
are under the microscope of fame and chasing what you want even
51:44
though you know it could lead to disaster and letting.
51:49
People just go on like coffee dates and stuff and.
51:54
I know they bang in secret, Spencer.
51:57
Oh, with that, I'm so excited. Be ready for that if you haven't
52:06
seen Heated Rivalry yet, and we'll see you all in their next
52:09
episode. See you all next time.