Bye Bye Birdie (1963)

Some will bicker that the film version bears little resemblance to the original stage musical and those who do may now compare the film with the 1995 made for TV version which strictly adheres to the stage libretto, contains all the songs plus some new ones, and lumbers rather than levitates. Still the 1963 film version delights and truly moves with youthful energy. Only eleven of the sixteen original songs are used but a new title tune is added to bring the bag up to an even dozen. Perfect casting prevails with Van Dyke, relatively an unknown then, repeating his stage role in his first feature film, Janet Leigh a perfect Rosie, and Ann-Margret in her star-making, breakthrough role (her third film appearance)the perfect Kim. Add to this the hilarious support of Paul Lynde and Maureen Stapleton and you have non-stop delight. The songs are all well performed and the plot elements never get in the way of the fun. In the original stage play the Ed Sullivan fiasco (without a Russian in sight) ended Act One. Act Two primarily consists of Albert trying to win Rosie. The film producers, rightly aiming the film version at the youthful audience, kept them in center stage and shunted Albert and Rosie to the background, building up the Ed Sullivan pressure to the end of the film - a much better choice. And who will ever get over that incredible opening with Ann-Margret in gold lighting against a blue screen singing the title song. Still gives me goose bumps. One of the screen's best musicals and best musical adaptations.

The songs: (BYE BYE BIRDIE, WE LOVE YOU CONRAD, THE TELEPHONE HOUR, HOW WONDERFUL TO BE A WOMAN, HONESTLY SINCERE, HYMN FOR A SUNDAY EVENING, ONE BOY, PUT ON A HAPPY FACE, KIDS, ONE LAST KISS, ROSIE).

One question though - with Rita Moreno fresh from her Oscar winning performance as Anita in WEST SIDE STORY, why didn't the producers cast her as Rosie - they make Janet Leigh up to look like Moreno's Anita, don't they? Just a thought.