Directed by:
George SidneyScreenplay:
Irving BrecherCinematography:
Joseph F. BirocComposer:
Johnny GreenCast:
Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret, Maureen Stapleton, Bobby Rydell, Paul Lynde, Robert Paige, Bryan Russell, Ed Sullivan, Kim Darby, Mary LaRoche (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
This entertaining musical, based on the Broadway hit inspired by the hysteria surrounding Elvis Presley's induction into the army, traces the shock waves a drafted rock & roll star, Conrad Birdie (Jesse Pearson), creates when he comes to a small town to kiss adoring fan Kim McAfee (Ann-Margret) good-bye on national TV. A fiesty secretary, Rosie DeLeon (Janet Leigh), has put the whole plan in motion, hoping that Birdie will sing a song composed by her beau, Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke), enabling Rosie's boyfriend to finally break free of his domineering mother (Maureen Stapleton) and marry her. Meanwhile, Kim's new steady, Hugo (Bobby Rydell), is less than pleased about the spotlighted embrace, as are her parents (Paul Lynde and Mary LaRoche)--at least until they get in on the action too. Ed Sullivan appears as himself, Ann-Margret is her usual perky, gyrating self, Van Dyke amply displays his wealth of talents, and Lynde and Stapleton nearly steal the whole production with their hilarious supporting roles. Director George Sidney, who would soon collaborate with the real King in the Presley tour de force VIVA LAS VEGAS, tightens the Broadway original without losing any of its verve and charm to create a rollicking uptempo joyride through a candy-colored early 1960s pop-culture landscape. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Janet Leigh
USA
Best movies:
Psycho (1960)
Touch of Evil (1958)
Little Women (1949)
Dick Van Dyke
USA
Best movies:
Mary Poppins (1964)
Columbo (1971) (series)
Never a Dull Moment (1968)
Ann-Margret
Sweden
Best movies:
Interstate 60 (2002)
Any Given Sunday (1999)
The Tenth Kingdom (2000) (series)
Maureen Stapleton
USA
Best movies:
'Weird Al' Yankovic: The Videos (1996) (video compilation)
The Fugitive Kind (1960)
Airport (1970)
Bobby Rydell
USA
Best movies:
Marco Polo Jr. (1972)
Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story (1999) (TV movie)
The Comedian (2016)
Paul Lynde
USA
Best movies:
Producers' Showcase (1954) (series)
Hugo the Hippo (1975)
Charlotte's Web (1973)
Robert Paige
USA
Best movies:
Hellzapoppin' (1941)
The Flame of New Orleans (1941)
Follow the Boys (1944)
Bryan Russell
USA
Best movies:
How the West Was Won (1962)
Emil and the Detectives (1964)
The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967)
Ed Sullivan
USA
Best movies:
Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
Kim Darby
USA
Best movies:
The X Files: Closure (1999) (video compilation)
The Strawberry Statement (1970)
True Grit (1969)
Mary LaRoche
USA
Best movies:
The Lineup (1958)
The Ladies Man (1961)
Gidget (1959)
Harold Miller
USA
Best movies:
Song of Love (1947)
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
Arthur Tovey
USA
Best movies:
The Sting (1973)
Back to the Future (1985)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Dick Winslow
USA
Best movies:
To Each His Own (1946)
Airport (1970)
Test Pilot (1938)
Michael Evans
UK
Best movies:
Producers' Showcase (1954) (series)
Oliver Twist (1974)
Time After Time (1979)
Cyril Delevanti
UK
Best movies:
Limelight (1952)
Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
Teacher's Pet (1958)
Elaine Joyce
USA
Best movies:
Funny Girl (1968)
Lost Flight (1970) (TV movie)
The Music Man (1962)
Frank Sully
USA
Best movies:
Fury (1936)
Captains Courageous (1937)
Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)
Milton Frome
USA
Best movies:
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Columbo (1971) (series)
The Young Lions (1958)
Charles Morton
USA
Best movies:
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
The Invisible Man (1933)
4 Devils (1928)