This French Film Was the Inspiration For One of Robin Williams’ Best Movies

Armand Goldman is many things: a drag club owner, a loving father, and a faithful partner. One thing he is not is straight, and when he needs to pose as such, he’s forced completely out of his comfort zone. Released in 1996 to conservative audiences in the United States when the AIDS crisis was going on for nearly two decades, The Birdcage showcases one of Robin Williams’ best comedic roles in one of his best comedies. It is a heartwarming story about accepting non-traditional families. The Birdcage was as much of a box-office hit as the original 1987 comedy that the movie is based on — La Cage aux Folles — a film that was also released during a pivotal time for the LGBT community. But while the two movies are similar, the 1996 American film is not a scene-by-scene remake of the 1987 French film; the key difference between the two is the tone of the comedy.