Birdy
Short description
Birdy is a 1984 American drama set around the Vietnam War. Two friends from the same Philadelphia neighborhood grow up close despite being very different: Birdy is withdrawn and fascinated by birds, even attempting to fly, while Al is outgoing and sociable. Both are changed by their service in the war. Birdy returns in a withdrawn, unresponsive state and is placed in a military hospital, where Al, himself wounded, is sent to try to reach him. As Al attempts to draw his friend back to reality, the story moves between their present confinement and memories of their shared past.
The film was directed by Alan Parker, its fifth feature after Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Fame and Pink Floyd: The Wall, from a screenplay by Sandy Kroopf and Jack Behr, adapted from William Wharton's novel. Matthew Modine plays Birdy and Nicolas Cage plays Sergeant Al Columbato, with John Harkins, Sandy Baron, Karen Young and Bruno Kirby in supporting roles.
Made for about 12 million dollars, the film took in roughly 1 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds 7.2/10 from around 27,000 votes, and on TMDB 7.1/10 from about 597 votes. A critics' rating of 7.5/10 from 45 reviews is slightly higher than those audience scores, suggesting a more favorable critical than popular reception.
What's left behind the scenes
- While preparing for the film, Nicolas Cage demanded that two of his teeth be pulled without anesthesia, just like his character.
- This film marked the first use of the SkyCam camera in a feature film. The camera was held by wires supported by four cranes and controlled by a computer to film the scene of Ptakha’s dream flight.
- The birds involved in the film are mentioned in the end credits.
- An adaptation of William Wharton's novel of the same name from 1978.
- The soundtrack was created and recorded in a few days. Peter Gabriel used tracks from his third and fourth albums as the basis for much of the music, including excerpts from “Not One Of Us,” “Family Snapshot,” “The Family and the Fishing Net,” and “San Jacinto.”
- Matthew Modine auditioned for the role of Al, but Alan Parker cast the actor as Ptakha instead.
- Ptakha's real name is never revealed, and it is not mentioned in the novel either.
- In the novel, the characters served during World War II; in the film, they returned from Vietnam.
Similar movies
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
