|
''Bye Bye Birdie'' is a 1963 American musical comedy film from Columbia Pictures.〔''Variety'' film review; April 10, 1963, page 6.〕 It is a film adaptation of the stage production of the same name. The screenplay was adapted from Michael Stewart's book for the musical by Irving Brecher, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams. Directed by George Sidney, the film version starred Dick Van Dyke, reprising his Broadway role as Albert Peterson, along with Maureen Stapleton as Mae Peterson, Janet Leigh as Rosie DeLeon, Paul Lynde reprising his Broadway role as Harry MacAfee, Bobby Rydell as Hugo Peabody, and Ann-Margret as Kim MacAfee. The story was inspired by the phenomenon of popular singer Elvis Presley being drafted into the United States Army in 1957. Jesse Pearson plays the role of teen idol Conrad Birdie, whose character name is a word play on another pop singer of the era, Conway Twitty.〔(Conway Twitty website biography )〕 Presley himself was the first choice for the role of Birdie, but his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, rejected the idea as he did not want Presley in any roles that were parodies of himself. Ed Sullivan appears as himself, host of the popular, long-running CBS TV variety show. The film is credited with making Ann-Margret a superstar during the mid-1960s, leading to her appearing with the real Elvis in ''Viva Las Vegas'' (1964). ''Bye Bye Birdie'' opens with Ann-Margret singing a title song written especially for the movie. The soundtrack was released by RCA Victor in 1964. In 2006, the film was ranked number 38 on ''Entertainment Weeklys list of the 50 Best High School Movies.〔(AMC Filmsite - 50 Best High School Movies )〕 ==Plot== Conrad Birdie (Jesse Pearson), a popular rock and roll star, receives an Army draft notice, devastating his teenage fans across the nation. Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke) is an unsuccessful songwriter, the family business, although he has a doctorate in biochemistry. He schemes with his secretary and long-suffering girlfriend Rosie DeLeon (Janet Leigh) to have Birdie sing a song Albert will write, but Birdie's conscription puts a halt to the plan. Rosie, however, convinces Ed Sullivan to have Birdie sing a song Albert will write called "One Last Kiss" on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'', and then kiss a randomly chosen high school girl goodbye before going off to the Army. Once that is a success, Albert will feel free to marry Rosie, despite his widowed, meddlesome mother Mae's (Maureen Stapleton) long history of ensuring nothing will come between her and her beloved son. Sweet Apple, Ohio, is chosen as the location for Birdie's farewell performance. The random lucky girl chosen is Kim MacAfee (Ann-Margret), who is thrilled. Kim already has a high school sweetheart, Hugo Peabody (Bobby Rydell), who is not so thrilled. The teenagers of Sweet Apple, blissfully unaware of their town's impending fame, are spending the "Telephone Hour" catching up on the latest gossip: Kim and Hugo have just gotten pinned. Kim feels grown up, and declares "''How Lovely to be a Woman''". On the day Birdie arrives in town, the teenage girls sing their anthem to him, "''We Love You Conrad''", but the boys despise him for their girls' love for him ("''We Hate You Conrad!''"). Sweet Apple becomes a very popular place, but some of the local adults are unhappy with the sudden celebrity, especially after Conrad shows off his hip-thrusting moves while his "''Honestly Sincere''" causes every female to faint. Under pressure from the town's notable citizens, Mr. McAfee is unwilling to allow his daughter to kiss Conrad on television, but Albert placates him by telling him that their "whole family" will be on Sullivan's TV show ("''Hymn for a Sunday Evening''"). Albert reveals to Mr. McAfee that he is actually a biochemist who has developed a miracle supplement for domestic animals that will make a hen lay 3 eggs a day; they test it on the family's pet tortoise, which speeds off out the door. McAfee, a fertilizer salesman, sees a great future for himself in partnership with Albert marketing this pill. Hugo feels threatened by Conrad; Kim reassures him that he is the "''One Boy''" for her. Rosie, meanwhile, feels like Albert does not appreciate her, so Albert persuades her to "''Put on a Happy Face''". Albert's mother shows up, distressed to find Albert and Rosie together. Harry (Paul Lynde), Kim's father, is also agitated, not liking the way Conrad is taking over his house. They lament what is wrong with these "''Kids''" today. During rehearsal for the broadcast, an impatient Conrad kisses Kim and she faints. Hugo is hurt and ends the relationship. Albert is told that, for unknown reasons, the Russian Ballet has switched to a different dance that needs extra time, therefore eliminating Conrad's song and farewell kiss to Kim. Their plans for the future could be ruined, so Albert goes to the Ballet manager to request to have their performance shortened so that Conrad Birdie could sing his song. The arrogant manager, probably unable to understand the importance of the song's inclusion, refuses to have it shortened, believing that cutting time would mean "artistic sabotage" to such a classic piece of work. A defeated and dejected Albert decides to drown his sorrows at Maude's Madcap Café and finds his mother there, playing canasta with Mr. Maude, the cafe's owner and a widower himself. Rosie, fed up with Albert and his mother, also goes to the café for "a night to remember". After ordering three drinks (but only gulping down one), Rosie goes into another room where a Shriners convention is taking place. She starts dancing and flirting with the men ("''Sultans' Ballet''"), but when the scene gets too wild, Albert rescues her from the crazed Shriners. Next day, Rosie comes up with the solution to get back Conrad's spot on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' that evening. She slips one of Albert's pills into the milk of the orchestra's conductor which speeds up the ballet, amusing the audience, offending the Russians and placing Birdie back on the show to sing "''One Last Kiss''". However, just as Birdie is about to kiss Kim, Hugo runs onstage and knocks him out on the live telecast. Kim and Hugo reunite. Albert is free to marry now ("''Rosie''") and his mother agrees, revealing that she is now married to Mr. Maude. All three couples live happily ever after. Kim, now wiser, bids Conrad a fond goodbye in "''Bye Bye Birdie (Reprise)''". 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bye Bye Birdie (film)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|