The French film, which later became a successful Broadway musical with Harvey Fierstein, and then a Mike Nichols Hollywood movie, made fun of macho pretensions. The story of a gay couple (played by Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault), who run a nightclub, in which Serrault has a drag act, was a new theme in the 1970s, untouched by most mainstream American movies. It would take at least another decade until the industry makes gay-themed pictures.
The whole movie is based on one premise that gets numerous permutations: Misunderstandings and complications that arise from Tognazzi’s son bringing home his fiancé and her very straight parents.
When the movie was released, it was something of a novelty with its subject matter and comic invention, even if the humor was always too broad
The vet actors make it work, shining in a “John Wayne” and “Luci and Desi” routines.
The characters, gay and straight, were too stereotypical, and some of the jokes were stale even back then, but viewers liked the farcical flamboyance, the costumes, ans the good-natured and liberal message of the movie.
Impact
The movie has not held up well, ad it feels antiquated even by standards of Craig Russell’s Outrageous, which was released a year earlier. Comparisons between the two films were inevitable.
The two French sequels were less appealing commercially.
It had influence on a sub-genre of gay movies and plays, like “Norman, Is That You?”
However, Mike Nichols’ American version, “The Bird Cage,” with Robin Williams, was quite commercially successful.
Oscar Nominations: 3
Director: Edouard Molinaro
Screenplay (Adapted): Francis Veber, Edouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, Jean Poiret
Costume Design: Piero Tosi and Ambra Danon
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
In 1979, “Kramer Vs. Kramer,” won the Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay awards. The Costume Design Oscar was won by Albert Wolsky for Bob Fosse’s musical, “All That Jazz.”