Bye Bye Birdie 1963

     The setting of this film is the 1960’s and it is based on a Broadway show.  Conrad Birdie is a rock & roll star and he’s the biggest star of this period.  Everyone is worried that Birdie will be drafted.  Albert F. Peterson is convinced he can make a fortune and also marry his girlfriend if he gets Conrad on the Ed Sullivan show.  The plan is that Conrad will kiss a high school girl goodbye before he leaves for his military service.  The girl will be selected in a contest.  Albert’s mother is trying anything she can to break up Albert and Rose. 

     I am not much of a fan of musicals and I think this film can really get on your nerves with the repetitive lyrics!!  I also think it’s very dated and not enjoyable unless you are specifically interested in looking back on this time period.  2 ½* (This movie is so-so)

112 min, Comedy directed by George Sidney with Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret, Janet Leigh, Maureen Stapleton, Bobby Rydell, Jesse Pearson, Paul Lynde, Mary LaRoche, Michael Evans, Robert Paige, Gregory Morton, Ed Sullivan.

Note:  Imdb 6.6 out of 10, 92% critic 67% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 345 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Universal City, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, New York City and Washington DC.  The motorcycles in this film are British 750cc Norton Atlas models and Bo Derek’s father, Paul Collins, provided them.  This film is somewhat based on Elvis Presley going into the army in 1958 at the height of his career.  Everything changed a few months after this was released when the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show.  There is another version of this film that was released in 1995.