User Reviews

This TV adaptation of Bye Bye Birdie has a few things going for it. Vanessa Williams is sensational, and Jason Alexander, surprise, surprise, is a good singer and adequate hoofer. It follows the original play far better than the film, although, it also takes liberties with it. And doesn't have to pull its punches to quite the same extent as the movie did (1963 was kind of crossover year, where attitudes and mores were beginning to loosen up, but American movies were still stuck in the fifties.The TV version also gets rid of that horrible sped-up ballet that nearly ruins the movie version (the play had another ballet entirely, which is not in either the film or the TV version).

On the minus side, as good as Jason Alexander is, he wasn't right for the part. I'm not sure Dick Van Dyke was either, but he was better. George Wendt adds nothing to the mix, especially when compared to Paul Lynde. The character of Kim McAfee is pared back down to its original content, which is just as well. Chynna Phillips is woefully miscast as a teenager and really can't compete with Ann-Margert (who could?). Marc Kudisch's Conrad is a good imitation of Conway Twitty, who was the original template for Conrad (not Elvis), although Jesse Pearson (who looked like he was imitating Elvis) was better.

On the balance, worth watching if you're interested in Broadway musicals and their adaptations, but it's not a must-see.

I would strongly recommend this film for any musical fan whose been dying to see a musical make a faithful transition from stage to screen. Sure it's long, but it's length is a testimony to how true to the original musical script the film is being. The sets and cast really make Sweet Apple, Ohio the place to be. Fosse protege Anne Reinking also does a splendid job with choreography giving the dances a nice small town, period feel.

The casting at a glance may look strange to some but they really are qute marvelous(reading "annonymous"'s comments on Jason Alexander's performance made me sick). In fact, his perforamnce literally steals the show. As Albert, he mixes his own unique blend of manic nervousness with Dick Van Dyke-esque charm to create a new and improved Albert. The fact that he can dance and sing like nobody's business doeesn't hurt either. George Wendt is another stand out, who improves upon Paul Lynde's take on Harry McAffe by making him less manic and more down to Earth and strict. His whole character and body language scream "over my dead body". Marc Kudisch takes the Elvis aspect of Conrad Birdie to new heights with his subtle insertion of a "thank you very much" in "Honestly Sincere". His physicality though harkens back more to young Elvis then the bloated, stubly Conrad of the original film. The fact is that this movie differs so greatly from the original film (which added drawn in happpy faces, turtles on speed and the Russian ballet!!!) what did any of taht have to do with Bye, Bye Birdie, I wonder? The only possible advantage the original version has over this one is Ann Margret. Otherwise the update is better in every possible way. Where the old version cut many songs and increased dance breaks nwhere there was no need for them (and for all intents and purposes ended the movie in the middle of the play), the new version has restored the original music score and has added some great new stuff as well ("A Giant Step" being the standout in that category). We know live in trying times but if you want to get your mind off your troubles and put on a happy face then this is one worth checking out.

Although I always loved the 1963 film version of Bye Bye Birdie I never realized how different it was from the Broadway production until I saw this remake on TV. This was an absolute joy to watch from beginning to end and more tuned to older audiences than the 1963 version which was aimed primarily at the younger set.

"Bye Bye Birdie" isn't one of the best musicals of all time, but it's great fun, and accessible to many audiences. The original film could have been wonderful, with Dick Van Dyke reprising his signature Broadway role, but instead they tinkered with the plot, so the film is very unsatisfying. This re-make, which aired on ABC in 1995, is far more faithful to the original script, and includes some original songs as well that were used in a national tour which this film took off from which starred Tommy Tune and Ann Reinking (who choreographed this film.)

Jason Alexander is a very different type from Dick Van Dyke, but he is well cast as Albert, (before his "Seinfeld" days, he started in Musical theater.) Vanessa Williams is a perfect fit for Rose. Their is also great work from Tyne Daly as Mae and Mark Kudisch as Conrad Birdie ( a role he played on the national tour).

This film is not without it's problems though. A major liability is Chynna Phillips, who, however appealing, simply looks and seems too old to be teenage Kim. And George Wendt is somewhat bland as her father, somewhat throwing the number "kids" away (a number original cast member Paul Lynde stole the show with.)

But all in all, this is a delightful, well-done film which the material deserved.

The 1963 film was not perfect, with a couple of dated references, two casting choices that seemed off and the story sometimes did suffer in a messy kind of way from the tinkering made. It was however colourful, energetic, witty and when the cast worked they were just wonderful. In short, I don't love it but there is much to like about it and gets a bad rep from those who have the mindset that anything that makes changes from the source material is immediately to be put down upon.

People will love that this film from 1995 is closer to the stage version, especially in the dialogue and story. However, those who loved the energy, colour and wit that the 1963 film had might find themselves short-changed. I fall into that camp I'm afraid to say, and I also feel that being more faithful doesn't always mean it's better. It does have good things certainly, the songs are wonderful and I did like two performances.

Vanessa Williams was the best asset, she is not just charming but is much more of a spitfire than Janet Leigh was, and her singing is heavenly especially in What Did I Ever See in Him, also the best individual rendition. Tyne Daly is also deliciously overbearing and immensely fun to watch, she and Maureen Stapleton are about equal here. However, I didn't care for the rest of the cast. Jason Alexander does give his all and he can sing, but he also tries too hard and has little of the effortless sham charm that Dick Van Dyke brought to Albert.

Whereas the performance of Harry from Paul Lynde was one of the 1963 film's high points, it was one of the things in this version that was less good. George Wendt lumbers his way through it and has very little comic timing, when he does show it it doesn't feel very natural. Marc Kudisch is a slight improvement over Jesse Pearsson, but neither of the Conrads worked in either version. Pearsson's performance suffered from that he did very little with a character that was underdeveloped in the film already, Kudisch has the better looks and voice but also came across as annoying to me from playing Conrad too broadly. Jason Gaffney is just as bland as Bobby Rydell, so like I said with Daly and Stapleton being equally good I'd deem Gaffney and Rydell just as bad(Rydell gets a marginal point for being more believable as a dork).

Chynna Phillips was the worst though. She doesn't believe at all as a teenager, at least 10 years too old, and makes little if any attempt to act like one. She also struggles with the high notes, continually sounding strained, and is even worse as an actress. Ann Margaret(much of which the 1963 film revolved around) had charm, likability and command, Phillips just never seems sure what to do with herself.

The film doesn't look amateurish or anything, the scenery and costumes are very nicely done and it is competently filmed at least. The lighting is rather drab though and there was always a TV movie feel to it that was never quite shaken off. The dialogue that was delivered with such elegance and wit in the earlier version here despite being closer to that of the stage version didn't have anywhere near the same impact and sounded like the actors were reading rather than living the lines. The satire was also nowhere near as sharp or witty either. The story is more succinct, but I didn't feel as much of the farcical comedy of errors quality that the 1963 film did(even with the tinkerings) or the charm, colour or energy. The choreography was surprisingly dull, there is an effort at pizazz but done in a clichéd way and even in a way that sucks the film of vitality or warmth.

Overall, more faithful but also inferior, Williams, Daly and the songs are great but everything else falls flat. 3/10 Bethany Cox

When I was 17 my high school staged Bye Bye Birdie - which is no great surprise, since it is perfect high school material and reputed to be the most-staged musical in the world.

I was a music student and retained strong memories of the production and its songs, as well as a lingering disregard for the Dick Van Dyke movie version which had (deliberately) obscured the Elvis references and camped it up for a swinging 60s audience.

So, when the 1995 version starring Jason Alexander hit my cable TV screen, I was delighted with what I saw. Alexander turns in an exceptional performance as Albert, a performance in strong contrast to his better-known persona from a certain TV series. The remainder of the cast are entertaining and convincing in their roles (Chynna Phillips is perhaps the only one who does not look her part, supposedly a naive and innocent schoolgirl).

But best of all, the musical numbers familiar from the stage show are all preserved in this movie and performed as stage musical songs should be (allowing for the absence of a stage).

So, if you know the musical (and few do not), then check out this telemovie. It does the stage show justice in a way which can probably not be bettered, which is good enough for me. What is better than rendering a writer's work faithfully and with colour and style?

Poor BYE BYE BIRDIE! It can't get any respect.

A terrific unexpected hit on Broadway in 1960 (608p. April 14 - Oct. 7, 1961, at the Martin Beck, 54th Street & Shubert Theatres and reproduced by virtually every high school drama department in the country!), it was travestied as a 1963 film that threw out half the plot and tossed in a TOTALLY inappropriately old and slutty (except for libidinous teenagers and dirty old men) Ann Margaret as a supposed "teenager." At least IT had the good sense to retain most of the best of the Broadway Cast (except for the luminous Chita Rivera as "Rosie").

Now in 1995, falsely advertising itself as a "faithful" filming of the show, we are given for our sins a "cast by 'Q Ratings'" travesty (the supposedly innocent ...BIRDIE is set before "Loving vs. Virginia" and an interracial couple, Albert & Rosie, in Sweetwater, Ohio would have been more controversial than Conrad Birdie's supposedly worldly "bad influence") with three exceedingly dull songs replacing better ones and Michael Stewart's finely tuned book diluted by someone who seems to have thought the Rock Hudson/Doris Day movies were too challenging.

There are bright spots rising above the amateur re-writing and direction (can this possibly be the same Gene Sacks who gave us the original MAME on stage? Hollywood certainly didn't agree with him!): Marc Kudisch is a legitimately wonderful "Birdie," and the always superbly grounded Tyne Daly almost pulls off an appropriately cartoonish Mae (Albert's mother). Everyone else however is cast with as little concern for the characters they are playing as Ann Margaret was in the first movie version, but without the lecherous overlay, and consequently sink to new professional lows. Jason Alexander is a decent comic actor - always the "go-to guy" if you couldn't afford Nathan Lane (rather like Sally Ann Howes was to Julie Andrews), but if you remember Albert as a charismatic, lanky dancer like Dick Van Dyke, give this sad remake a very wide berth.

A very faithful adaption of the stage musical. My only criticism is that some of the dialogue should have been edited rather than the songs. It is cast very well. especially Jason Alexander who sings, dances and acts wonderfully. He plays the most lovable version of Albert I've ever seen. The comic timing was excellent. An absolute joy to watch from beginning to end.

Some individually talented people are miscast and mismatched in this strained dud. Jason Alexander and Vanessa Williams are not a match made in Heaven. Kim appears to be 30. And how do you screw up The Telephone Hour? They did.

when you add up all the aspects from the movie---the dancing, singing, acting---the only one who stands out as the best in the cast is Vanessa Williams...her dedication, energy and timeless beauty make Rosie the perfect role for her. Never have i ever seen someone portray Rose with such vibrancy! Vanessa's singing talent shows beautifully with all the songs she performs as Rose and her acting skills never cease to amaze me! Her dancing is so incredible, even if as some people say the choreography was bad---her dancing skills were displayed better than ever before! I'd recommend this version over the '63 just because i find that although lengthy the acting by Vanessa is superb-----not to mention the fact that Jason Alexander and the rest of the cast are very impressive as well (with the exception of Chynna Philips...what in hell were they thinking when they cast her?)

All in all I'd say this version is wonderful and I recommend that everyone see this version!

Needless remake, and it can't come close to capturing the charm of the original. The extreme length causes more than a few yawn inducing parts. This version is ridiculously politically correct. The film lacks style, and mostly it lacks talent, not just with the acting, but the direction, sets, costumes etc. are all below par. It has a blatant disregard for period detail. Vanessa Williams is the only cast member that shows any flair, Tyne Daly isn't too bad. They should have left well enough alone. The singing ranges good (Vanessa Williams) to poor (everyone else). Watch the original 1963 version and skip this one. There is not much here to recommend.

I was extremely impressed when I sat down to watch this movie in December 2002. It is a lot like the Broadway musical, and even better! And I loved the new songs - Let's Settle Down, A Giant Step, and A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore. Tyne Daly was extremely funny in her role as Mamma, I think this is the best thing she has ever done. Keep going!

I guess I am coming late to the party. I just saw this 1995 version of Bye Bye Birdy on Sky TV. I didn't know it existed and was fully prepared to see the 1963 film version when I turned it on.

I played Albert a long time ago and I am thinking of putting on an amateur production of the show because I remembered it as being so much fun to do. I was not impressed with this newer version. It just wasn't enough fun. It was not colorful. It lacked the exuberance of youth. The lighting was bad. No one seemed to mention this fact. This is not a moody musical, it is bright and up beat. The lighting decision was a poor creative choice.

Bye Bye Birdy is a farce, a comedy of errors. I got no sense of that in this version. The lighting was awful and it dulled the overall performances. The dance numbers seemed anemic as well. We do have music videos these day. At least the dance numbers should have measured up to some of the best of those, or how about some of the best of Broadway. The choreographer was asleep at the wheel it seemed.

Although all the actors were supremely talented, there were some really bad casting choices. Vanessa Williams is not Latin, and with so many talented Latin performers out there, wouldn't it have been more correct to cast one of them in the role of Rosie. Vanessa is African American, lovely and talented, but bad casting. Jason Alexander's effort was astounding, he always does intelligent work, but he just wasn't Albert. He was miscast and I think that is obvious to most people who see this version.

The medium of film is not the medium of stage. There needs to be translation from one medium to another. The exuberance and the flash of stage musical must be TRANSLATED to film. There is no merit being faithful to a stage script when it is being filmed. The spirit, the essence of the production must be brought forth. To me the 1963 film production of Bye Bye Birdy was bright and lively, while the 1995 production was as gloomy as the lighting and as lackluster as the dance numbers. It turned out to be an unfortunate waste of effort by many really talented people.

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.

It's not a minor problem that ten minutes into the opening, I had trouble buying the premise, that Vanessa Williams had waited eight years for Jason Alexander to become an English professor and marry her. In the original, Dick Van Dyke and Chita seemed like a match made in heaven, so I was on board from the word go. Otherwise, I thought the casting was great, although Chinna Phyllips didn't have the voice of either Susan Watson (stage) or Ann Margrett (screen), and she couldn't do her songs justice. I thought Reinking's choreography was a bit claustrophobic, although the kids were energetic and adorable and really evoked a sixties innocence. Strouse was about 30 when he wrote the music, which I think epitomizes the melodiousness of the best of Broadway musicals. Every number is catchy and so many remain in the canon of unforgettable theater hits. As for the book, the farcical treatment of small town America is hilarious, but I think you need to have been alive in the early sixties to appreciate it fully. Finally, if you need the best excuse to check out this version, it's Tyne Daley as Alexander's bullying mother. Having played in Birdie and Gypsy (as Mama Rose), she has established herself as the comic mother from hell, her franchise for all time. It's like she's possessed, and her performance is mesmerizing.

If I hadn't been forced to watch this for work reasons I never would have made it past the first 10 minutes. And even then I admit I fast forwarded through parts. The '63 film version was vastly superior in all regards. Yes, I've read this one is more faithful to the original play, but what a wise thing it was for the writer to change the script in '63! It's overlong, it drags, the songs that are in this version and not in the film version are boring and unimaginative. The version of "Kids" in the '63 version was very funny and a true classic of sarcastic parent humor. In this version the Kim is way too old, the Conrad is *absolutely horrible* to behold (when someone ripped his shirt off him I shuttered in disgust...the director of this version has no idea what sexy is.). This Conrad can't dance, can't sing (he can't even stay in tune) and is simply repulsive. If Elvis Presley had really been like that his career would have been over before it began. As for the other actors, well I kept waiting for Alexander's toupee to fall off as he danced and Daly was totally over acting as Momma. See Stapleton's performance in the film version to see the same role properly executed by someone who understands comic timing. This TV version is nothing but a total waste of anyone's time.

This is 10 times better than the original movie. A lot more songs, better sung than in the other movie. I can't compare it with the musical because I have never seen it in that form. However, all involved did such a great job. The only reason it doesn't deserve a 10 is because of the casting of Kim. They really couldn't find a younger girl? She doesn't look 16 by any stretch of the imagination. Everyone else was perfect. Vanessa Williams looks so Latina and her singing is right on point. Jason Alexander actually looks handsome. And I can't stop talking about how much better job they did with the music, the singing, the harmonies, etc. I can't believe I've never knew about this movie until today.

Having seen the original Broadway play (with my parents when I was about 14 . . . and to this day), Dick Gautier "was" Conrad Birdie! This guy . . . and the one they had play him in the movie . . . don't get it . . . and neither did the casting directors.

And, whoever played the Chita Rivera part . . . she's fine but flat.

Jason Alexander is OK but . . .

Paul Lynde was superb in the stage version . . . and so many others. Don't feel like researching it . . . need to type enough lines for this to get posted . . . and, if it doesn't . . . oh well.

Nice try.

I have always loved the original movie, but I decided to watch this version to see if this one was nearly as good. Although this version sticks closely to the stage play, and nearly keeps the same script, it is dull and I found myself fast forwarding many slow scenes. If you're going to watch the movie, watch the Ann-Margret version, which is absolutely wonderful. There are many MANY flaws with this one.

1. Could the dialogue scenes be any more boring?? This was not a problem in the original! Even some of the newer songs ("Giant Step", etc. just made it drag!)

2. You would think with Ann Reinking as the choreographer the dances would be brilliant. WRONG! The fast-paced songs consisted of the teens clicking their fingers. That's IT. Sure, sometimes they actually SKIPPED or something but basically songs like "American Boy", "Honestly Sincere", and "Telepone Hour" were standstill numbers.

3. Half the people in this movie can't act OR sing. Which you think would be one of the requirements when you are putting on a movie musical. Especially the females who play Kim and Mrs. MacAfee.

4. Casting Chynna Phillips as Kim was a TERRIBLE mistake. Sure, she's pretty but at the time of filming she was a 27 year old playing a 17 year old, and it shows! And she can't sing or act...and she's one of the leads!! I cringed when she opened her mouth to sing, enough said. This is a minor complaint, but isn't this Hugo just a little TOO cute to play a dorky teen like Bobby Rydell did in the original?

Now to the good parts! Jason Alexander is my new Albert Peterson!! He was BRILLIANT! And Vanessa L. Williams BLEW me away as Rosie!! Thank Goodness the director had some brains casting them!! They were amazing to watch. And even though people have complained about the girl who played Ursula - I thought she was the best teen in this whole movie - especially when she sings "Bye Bye Birdie" . She was a bubbly, obnoxious teen - which is what Ursula should be! That's another problem with this movie - they make the small songs like "An English Teacher" and "Bye Bye Birdie" the hits of the movie and the MAIN songs - well, boring. The last hour or so of the movie they should have cut, it was so boring! And don't even get me started on Conrad! Do they not know he was supposed to be sexy??? Watch the first half hour for Jason and Vanessa - then turn the TV off!!!

Jason Alexander is a wonderful actor, but it's ridiculous to cast him as a cuddly romantic lead. The fact that he dances so well, croons so effectively, and throws himself into the part so completely somehow just made him seem all the more creepy. In his more cutesy moments (with the girl in the train station, in the final number with Rosie), I couldn't take my eyes off him he was so repellent. You keep expecting him to drop the nice-guy act and start snarling. Vanessa Williams was the real star, the only performance that was better than the 1963 movie. By the way, if you see a production of the stage musical, the 1963 movie and this 1995 movie, you'll see three versions that have more revisions (different songs, same songs assigned to different characters and in different situations) than any other musical I've ever seen.

I have adored the 1963 film version of "Bye Bye Birdie" for years, but had always been disappointed at the fact that they cut out most of Rosie's songs. I bought this movie last night, vaguely remembering having seen it when I was little. Now I understand why my memory was so vague.

Although this included the original score (plus three new songs that I personally did not enjoy) and was far closer to the Broadway play than the first film, there was something very bland to me about this remake. Perhaps Dick Van Dyke and Ann-Margret have pampered me... I don't know. Jason Alexander is a great performer, but he's just not an Albert. Chynna Phillips, as most people have said, looked way too old to play seventeen year old Kim (two years older than Kim was supposed to be on Broadway and a year older than in the previous film). Along with that, her vocals had more of that Wilson-Phillips mainstream edge than than that of a Broadway or earlier movie musical performer. As much as I love George Wendt, he wasn't nearly as funny as Paul Lynde. While I thought Tyne Daly did a good job portraying Albert's obnoxious mother, Mae, I must admit that it lacked a certain something Maureen Stapleton's performance had. Bobby Rydell was a far better Hugo, having that sort of "dorky naivete" that a Hugo SHOULD have. I mean... I even liked Mrs. MacAfee in the other film better! But the grossest miscasting of all was... yes, ladies and gentlemen... Marc Kudisch as Conrad Birdie. He was HORRIBLE. And while I know Birdie IS supposed to more or less "mock" Elvis, he could have done it far less grotesquely. His vocals, his dancing, his performance... it just annoyed me to no end. (So did Ursula, but this is another story.)

However, there is one exception.

Vanessa Williams as Rosie. Now THAT was a good bit of casting. Given, she still looks BLACK and not HISPANIC... but we can't all be Chita Riveras, right? Nor can we all be Janet Leighs who, though she's definitely NOT Hispanic and doesn't even have that dark of a complexion, they somehow managed to make look Hispanic in the other film. Vanessa played the role very, very, very well, and delivered the best performance of anyone in the entire cast. Hooray for Vanessa!

Aside from Vanessa, I would like to chalk one up for them keeping the score in tact. However, as I previously mentioned, I was not digging the three new songs, nor was I digging the "new" sound that the orchestra had. It just didn't have that big, brassy, Broadway musical flash. At the same time... when I saw that Fosse dancer Ann Reinking would be choreographing, I thought I'd be in for a musical treat. Joke. Numbers that totally screamed sass and class in the other film like "The Telephone Hour," "How Lovely to Be a Woman," "Honestly Sincere," "Lot of Livin' to Do," "Rosie" and... well, basically every other song... just lacked the spunk and vivacity needed here. Even Rosie's dance with the shriners came out like... well... like Fosse gone bad.

I know Dick Van Dyke and Paul Lynde just hated the 1963 movie, but I promise them that they did all right by me.

All in all, I honestly can't say that I recommend this film. I do, however, recommend it to people who would like to see Vanessa Williams do a terrific job as Rosie or would like to see "Bye Bye Birdie" in a version closer to the Broadway show.

I found this to be a charming adaptation, very lively and full of fun. With the exception of a couple of major errors, the cast is wonderful. I have to echo some of the earlier comments -- Chynna Phillips is horribly miscast as a teenager. At 27, she's just too old (and, yes, it DOES show), and lacks the singing "chops" for Broadway-style music. Vanessa Williams is a decent-enough singer and, for a non-dancer, she's adequate. However, she is NOT Latina, and her character definitely is. She's also very STRIDENT throughout, which gets tiresome.

The girls of Sweet Apple's Conrad Birdie fan club really sparkle -- with special kudos to Brigitta Dau and Chiara Zanni. I also enjoyed Tyne Daly's performance, though I'm not generally a fan of her work. Finally, the dancing Shriners are a riot, especially the dorky three in the bar.

The movie is suitable for the whole family, and I highly recommend it.

Saw this as previous viewer by accident, I have watched it twice now. I thoroughly enjoyed it, no silly thought provoking messages just plain good fun entertainment, good songs, good characters and a just a feel good film Highly recommended to those of us that just like to enjoy films and not dissect them Great Fun for all the family here. I didn't realise Rosie Alvarez is played by Vanessa Williams, she is excellent and very sultry. The songs like One Boy and One last Kiss are really enjoyable to listen to and to tap your feet to Jason Alexander is the complete contrast to his character in Pretty Woman ans is very good. Tyne Daley still sticks in my mind from Cagney and Lacey and her voice and accent still had that remembrance in it. Overall I just loved it and will be looking to purchase it if it is available