Differences between Bye Bye Birdie Musical and Movie

We might be doing Bye Bye Birdie next year and I was watching the movie. My parents told me that the movie is different from the play so now I don't know what was in the play or whats not. I might go see it at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, but I know a lot of people who work there and say its not that good. Can anyone try to help me by telling me some differences. All I know is that not all the songs are used in the movie.

You might want to rent the not-so-popular TV Version of "Bye Bye Birdie" that aired in the 1990s. It isn't the greatest movie but it at least sticks to the plot of the musical than the older movie.

It's been a long time since I saw the movie, but I remember when I directed it, the kids who'd seen the movie kept complaining the show was very different. All I remember was that everyone seemed to remember Ann-Margaret singing "Bye Bye Birdie" which never happens in the stage show.

My advice (as someone who's directed high school musicals) is STOP doing so much detective work! It seems like young actors are more likely than most to tend to copy the performance they have seen and that won't help you in auditions. Maybe learn the songs and work on the ones that will be used for auditions but showing up doing an Ann-Margaret won't get you the part.

Yes, watch the TV movie with Vanessa Williams - it's not 100% faithful, but it's leagues better than the original with RAndolph's science experiments involving his turtle.

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I'm as big a gay man as they come (I lypsyched to A-M from the soundtrack, particularly her bit in "Gotta A Lot Of Leev Eeen To Do"...still do, in fact) but I can't get my eyes of her tits in her opening bit, particularly when she jiggles them and presses her arms together.

And the Speeded-Up Russian ballet always makes me laugh till I ache. It's SO STUPID but SO FUNNY!

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Updated On: 4/10/05 at 06:53 PM

As a black dude who went to high school with whites in the early 70's, there were white girls who acted like the Ann Margaret character (with the exception of the sexy beginning and ending "Bye Bye Birdie" number). They were usually cheerleader types. Especially in the scene where she's on the phone talking about getting pinned by Hugo, she reminded me so much of those girls who got excited about stuff like that. But, admitedly by 1973 most of these type white girls had turned into hippies, and dope addicts (not all of them of course). Also, people say Janet Leigh was not that good. But she was fine, and did a good job, totally different from her turn in Psycho.

Although is has practically NOTHING to do with the marvelous stage show it's based upon, the film of BYE, BYE BIRDIE is an absolute delight.

A couple of years ago, they showed BBB in Bryant Park. It was a GORGEOUS summer night, but my friend, with whom I had plans, didn't want to see it. So we took a walk around lower Manhattan and had a terrific time. We ended our night in Union Square and I decided, since it was still relatively early, to walk up to Bryant Park and see the end of the movie...if only for the magnificent Ann-Margret in the sassy yellow dress and perky bosoms. I got there just in time to see the cracked out ROSE ADAGIO, which is absurdly hilarious. The movie ended giddily with 'Rosie' and my excitement for that final number grew. And then, it happened. The sound cut out. Ann-Margret toyed, flirted and shimmied in complete silence. And no one moved. It was absolutely hilarious to see just how physically inappropriate she was as a young teenage girl...even when she WAS a young teenage girl!

Glorious film.

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THAT, Matt, is probably the best description imaginable of Ann-Margret's spectacular performance.

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I just saw a high school production of this play and it was horrible. I wont get into details, but they were riffing all over the place. Now, I enjoy my riffs, but the kids really couldn't sing!

And as far as Ann goes...Them lil' hot pants she wears are nice.

Best (and simplest) research, broadwayfan24, is to get a copy of the original cast recording. It is out in the Sony/Columbia Broadway Masterworks series (SK 89254) - The booklet has excellent notes on the history of the production and detailed synopsis. Best of all it has an $11.98 list price and can probably be found online for less.

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The Ann-Margret version of BBB is about a billion times better than the tv version, or the Broadway show, for that matter. It may have silly science experiments, but it also has an energetic cast (the tv version comes off like they all have iron poor blood and, frankly, Chynna Phillips looks older than Ann-Margret), and it also has Onna White's unmatched choreography! Every number is a joy to behold. I love the film; but agree that it isn't good source material for the show version.

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When we were first doing Birdie, the director brought in the original cast album. (That's how I discovered Paul Lynde did the father). The cast album still has the "I don't know how we beat the Russians" line. My question is, what are the asides now? Have they changed? I don't remember saying the "Russians" line but I can't remember what my lines were.

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I never liked the original movie. I always refer to it as "selections from act one of Bye Bye Birdie." I really enjoyed the made for tv movie which is much closer to the stage show. I believe that the current license for the show includes some of the new movie material (except for "Giant Step").