Bye Bye Birdie

Bye Bye Birdie
by Gene Saks

Bye Bye Birdie
List Price: $3.86
Our Price: $3.82
You Save: $4.12 (52%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD details


(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD details

Actor: Chynna Phillips, Jason Alexander, Marc Kudisch, Tyne Daly, Vanessa Williams
Director: Gene Saks
Brand: ALEXANDER,JONATHAN
Cinematographer: Glen MacPherson
Editor: Eric Albertson
Producer: J. Boyce Harman Jr.
Producer: Robert Halmi Sr.
Producer: Tim Bell
Writer: Michael Stewart
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 135 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-11-19
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: 40708
Studio: Allumination
Product features:
  • Rock-and-roll icon Conrad Birdie mesmerizes audiences with his electric voice and energetic presence. Drafted into the Army, Conrad's manager Albert (Alexander) arranges for him to travel to a small Ohio town to make a farewell television performance and kiss his biggest fan on "The Ed Sullivan Show". Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR Age: 084296407088

DVD Reviews of Bye Bye Birdie

DVD Review: A 27 year old playing a 16 -18 year old?
Summary: 3 Stars

There are pros and cons about this version as there is with the 1963 version. Ann Margret was 22 when she played the teenage Kim. She could pass for a high school teenager much better than 27-year-old Chynna Phillips. Ironically this role should have gone to Chynna's younger half sister, Bijoux, who was 15 at the time this movie was made.
I feel Chynna Phillips was mis-cast as the teenage Kim, because she photographed looking like a thirty-something housewife trying to dress like a fifties teenager; she has an old-looking face as opposed to the fresher, softer face of the 22-year-old Ann Margret. Phillips has a nice singing voice but her portrayal of the character was very weak and unconvincing, as if she herself were uncomfortable playing a high school girl at age 27. A much younger actress/singer should have played Kim.

This version is more true to the play and focuses more on the relationship between Rosie and Albert, especially in the latter half of the film, whereas the 1963 version tended to focus more on Kim, Hugo and their friends, culminating in the kiss between Conrad and Kim, with Hugo's intervention. That particular section appeared in the middle of this updated version. At the time Ann-Margret was hot so I supposed that's the reason more emphasis was placed on her character in general and on the Birdie Kiss scene.

This 1995 version has a lot of great singing and dancing--the people cast knew how to sing and their voices blended beautifully. Jason Alexander surprised me at how well he sang and played Albert, though I'm always going to have a great fondness for Mr. Dick Van Dyke's portrayal.

I have to say that Vanessa Williams' portrayal of Rosie was superb, strong, sassy, and full of pizzazz; she handled the singing and dancing wonderfully compared to poor Janet Leigh in the 1963 version, who was not a singer and did not even FAINTLY resemble a Latina character; she was forced to wear a cheesy black wig over her blonde hair which made it even more apparent she was dreadfully mis-cast for the role of Rosie. Rita Moreno would have been PERFECT in the role, so it's surprising she was passed over for the non-singing non-Latin Janet Leigh. Guess the old Hollywood practice of casting known caucasian stars of European descent in roles of color was still going on, even in 1963.

If you're a fan of the original play, this movie will especially be your cup of tea. I have never seen the play, so my point of reference was originally the 1963 movie release. Now that I've seen something closer to the original Broadway play, I must say I enjoy this version a lot more, because there are more great songs included. Still, I will always love the 1963 release, so I think it's an asset to have BOTH version of Bye Bye Birdie in your DVD library.
More Bye Bye Birdie reviews:
1 2 3 4

Description of Bye Bye Birdie

No Description Available.
Genre: Musicals
Rating: NR
Release Date: 21-SEP-2004
Media Type: DVD
Bestsellers in DVD
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] ImageThe Story of Jeremiah [VHS]
Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS] ImageWresting With God [VHS]
by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: $19.99
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS] ImageStudy Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]
Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops: $44.00
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS] ImageTempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]
HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops: $9.98
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/Party Video [VHS] ImageTempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]
HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Strike the Original Match [VHS] ImageStrike the Original Match [VHS]
New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: $14.95
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] ImageMedjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]
JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008 ImageMayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008
by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops: $1,463.24
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single User ImagePediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single User
by Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops: $1,463.24
Cost Accounting [VHS] ImageCost Accounting [VHS]
by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Bye Bye Birdie: Vocal Score ImageBye Bye Birdie: Vocal Score
HL USA; Hal Leonard Corporation; Published: 2003-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $47.39
Price in other shops: $65.00
Annie ImageAnnie
Buena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2000-05-30; DVD
Best price: $5.66
Price in other shops: $14.99
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying ImageHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Sony; Release date: 2000-04-18; DVD
Best price: $7.19
Price in other shops: $14.98
Bye Bye Birdie: The New Soundtrack Recording (1995 Television Cast) ImageBye Bye Birdie: The New Soundtrack Recording (1995 Television Cast)
Release date: 1995-11-07; Music CD
Best price: $23.95
Once Upon a Mattress ImageOnce Upon a Mattress
Buena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2005-12-20; DVD
Best price: $4.95
Price in other shops: $14.99
Bye Bye Birdie! ImageOriginal 1960 Broadway Cast Recording - Bye Bye Birdie!
Release date: 2009-05-05; Music CD
Best price: $6.84
Price in other shops: $11.98
Bye Bye Birdie ImageBye Bye Birdie
Release date: 2009-12-01; Music CD
Best price: $2.70
Price in other shops: $6.99
Bye Bye Birdie (1963 Film Soundtrack) ImageBye Bye Birdie (1963 Film Soundtrack)
Release date: 2003-09-09; Music CD
Best price: $6.48
Price in other shops: $8.99
Meredith Willson's The Music Man (TV Film) ImageMeredith Willson's The Music Man (TV Film)
Buena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2003-11-11; DVD
Best price: $3.48
Price in other shops: $9.99
Bye Bye Birdie ImageBye Bye Birdie
BowTie; Release date: 1999-07-13; DVD
Best price: $6.90
Price in other shops: $14.99
Compare prices and read customer reviews for more than one million DVD titles.
Oscar 2005 Winners