After two friends return home from the Vietnam War one becomes mentally unstable and obsesses with becoming a bird.
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Title: Birdy (1984)
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3 wins & 1 nomination.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Matthew Modine | ... | ||
| Nicolas Cage | ... | ||
| John Harkins | ... | ||
| Sandy Baron | ... | ||
| Karen Young | ... | ||
| Bruno Kirby | ... | ||
| Nancy Fish | ... | ||
| George Buck | ... | ||
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Dolores Sage | ... | |
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Pat Ryan | ... |
Joe Sagessa
(as Robert L. Ryan)
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James Santini | ... | |
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Maud Winchester | ... |
Doris Robinson
(as Maude Winchester)
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| Marshall Bell | ... | ||
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Elizabeth Whitcraft | ... | |
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Sandra Beall | ... | |
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Philly boys Al and Birdy became friends in high school despite the extreme difference in their personalities, Al being the popular and athletic extrovert, Birdy the antisocial "weird" introvert. Al gave Birdy his nickname because of his fascination - obsession really - with birds, especially with flight. Al and Birdy have just completed their service of duty in the Vietnam War and have returned to the States. Al sustained some serious physical injuries, which required major reconstructive surgery to his face. Birdy, however, returned from Vietnam seemingly emotionally scarred. He was missing in action for one month. He has not spoken since he was found. Despite his own medical issues, Al travels to the institution where Birdy is being kept to see if he can assist in getting Birdy out of his near comatose state. Having always had issues with authority, Al is less than forthright with the doctors about Birdy's mental state prior to the war. As Al tries whatever he can to help Birdy ... Written by Huggo
Taglines:
A soaring experience unlike anything you've ever seen before.Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
21 December 1984 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Alas de libertad See more »Filming Locations:
46th Street Station, cnr Market & 46th Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA See more »Box Office
Budget:
$12,000,000 (estimated)Company Credits
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company contact information
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
In the novel, the veterans served in World War II. This was changed to Vietnam for the film. See more »Goofs
The position of Birdy's arm and hands change between shots. (at around 15 mins). See more »Quotes
Birdy: Flying is much more than flapping wings. A bird can flap its wings and not move an inch then when it wants to fly the slightest flick of its wings sends it up against the sky. You have to feel that air has substance and can hold you up. It's mostly a matter of confidence.See more »
Many critics rated this as one of the most overlooked films of the mid-eighties. The film has moments of deep seriousness blended with killer humour. The interplay of an extrovert and an introvert - the different ways that they think and react to situations - is often hilarious. The film can also be regarded as an intriguing psychological study, as Cage tries every technique his fast-paced mind can think of to snap his introverted friend out of his acute mental state - a condition caused by witnessing the horrors of warfare. It is extremely interesting to see what works in the end. Modine's physically-challenging performance is top-notch. Contains a great Peter Gabriel soundtrack as well. Although not to everyone's taste, I, for one, liked the "gag" ending. (10 out of 10)