Bye Bye Birdie (1995) (TV)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Gene Saks

Writer:

Michael Stewart (play)

Release Date:

3 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Musical

Plot:

Rock-and-roll icon Conrad Birdie is about to go into the Army, and plans are being made to arrange his final going-away concert. |

Plot Keywords:

Military Draft | Dancing | Rock Star | Based On Stage Musical | Singing

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Jason Alexander	...	Albert J. Peterson
Vanessa Williams	...	Rose Alvarez
Chynna Phillips	...	Kim MacAfee
Tyne Daly	...	Mae Peterson
Marc Kudisch	...	Conrad Birdie
George Wendt	...	Harry MacAfee
Sally Mayes	...	Doris MacAfee
Jason Gaffney	...	Hugo F. Peabody
Blair Slater	...	Randolph MacAfee
Vicki Lewis	...	Gloria Rasputin
Brigitta Dau	...	Ursula Merkle
Angela Brydon	...	Sad Face Girl
Shelley S. Hunt	...	Alice
Marlowe Windsor-Menard	...	Suzie
Brenna Quan	...	Penelope-Ann

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Columbia Pictures Television

Trivia:

Three songs were added for this version not included in any previous one. They include "Let's Settle Down", sung by Rosie to Albert, "A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore", Mae Peterson's admonishment to her son, and "A Giant Step", a love song for Albert to Rosie.

Movie Connections:

Version of Bye Bye Birdie (1963)

Soundtrack:

An English Teacher

Another one bites the dust -

In my humble opinion, this version of the great BDWY musical has only two things going for it - Tyne Daly and the fact that there is now a filmed version with the original script. (OK Vanessa Williams is good to watch.)But to me that's all there is. Most of the cast seem to be walking through the show - Chynna Phillips has no idea who Kim really is and no wonder people walk over Harry McAfee when it's played by George Wendt who looks like he'd rather be back on a bar stool in Boston. Jason Alexander is passable, but that wig has to go and I saw better dancing in Bugsy Malone. As I mentioned, it's good to have a version of the stage script now, but I hope the young out there, who have never seen a musical, DON'T judge them all by this.