Bye Bye Birdie Review

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

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Writer

jmdobies
Austin, TX

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Funny Kennedy-Era Musical Satire of Rock 'n' Roll and Elvis

parent of two, TV Personality, Radio Host, a man

Pros

Great Songs, Ann-Margaret is Hot, Paul Lynde is a Hoot

Cons

Somewhat Dated

AUG

2008

Number five in my Top Ten Movie Musicals of the '60s is Bye Bye Birdie from 1963, based on the long-running Broadway show, also the subject of hundreds of thousands of high school productions over the years. Though more than a bit dated, this send-up of rock 'n' roll and Elvis is still enormously entertaining.

The movie opens with the incredibly sexy Ann-Margaret singing the title song, and although she's great in the movie, she's probably a little too sexy for the role of high school girl Kim McAfee. Not that I'm complaining.

Also in the all-star cast are Dick Van Dyke as songwriter/biochemist/mama's boy Albert Peterson, Janet Leigh as his long-suffering girlfriend Rosie, Maureen Stapleton as his overbearing mama (actually the same age as Van Dyke), Ed Sullivan as himself, and Paul Lynde as the harried Harry McAfee. Jesse Pearson plays the title role, Elvis surrogate Conrad Birdie, whose rendition of "Honestly Sincere" is a comic highlight. Pearson never did another movie, but played a few roles on TV, including "Johnny Poke" on The Beverly Hillbillies, recorded narration on a Rod McKuen LP, and wound up directing porn (Pro-Ball Cheerleaders, The Legend of Lady Blue).

The weak link here is erstwhile teen idol Bobby Rydell as Hugo, Kim's jealous boyfriend. He's not completely awful, just bland, and not a very good dancer. Then again, it makes sense when Kim dumps him for the chance to kiss Birdie on national television.

Director George Sidney was an old pro who also worked with Ann-Margaret on Viva Las Vegas and The Swinger. He incorporates a little animation and some eye-catching tableaux into the proceedings.

While certain plot elements are ridiculously far-fetched, like the idea that Birdie, Albert, and Rosie would stay in the McAfees' home, and some would be anathema to the PC police, this is still a very enjoyable movie, harkening back to a vanished era, a simpler time.

Among the many memorable songs by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse are "Put on a Happy Face," "The Telephone Hour," "Kids," and "Got a Lot of Livin' to Do."

Also on DVD is the 1995 TV remake with Jason Alexander and Vanessa Williams, but it's not in the same league as this movie.

Available on DVD from Sony Home Entertainment.

Last edited on Aug 19, 2008