SYNOPSIS
In Alan Parker's adaptation of William Wharton's acclaimed novel, the title character is a Vietnam vet hospitalized for postwar trauma. Lying in a state of amentia, Birdy (Matthew Modine) fantasizes about birds in flight, an obsession that has haunted him since childhood. Now this fascination acts as a barrier to reality and the pain of his years in Vietnam. After doctors’ efforts fail to cure him, his childhood friend Al (Nicolas Cage)--also a discharged soldier nursing wounds from the war--is brought in to try to coax Birdy out of his hallucinations.
BIRDY, told largely in stark, lyrical flashbacks from Al's point of view, is both a heartrending examination of the psychological consequences of war and an ode to the spiritually rejuvenating powers of friendship and imagination. The two young leads turn in powerful, humane performances. Parker (MIDNIGHT EXPRESS) provides innovative direction, most notably in the film's stunning, controversial ending.
REVIEWS
“Quiet, thoughtful, and really quite touching. Cage and Modine do some great work together. And that Peter Gabriel score!”
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com
“There's something truly beautiful about this friendship story, the adaptation is wonderful, the music brilliant, and the ending sublime.”
Gregory Weinkauf
ÜberCiné
“An audacious movie about friendship and survival in a world of varied violations to the human spirit.”
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice
CAST AND CREDITS
| Actors
|
|
|
Matthew
Modine
|
Birdy
|
| Nicolas Cage
|
Al Columbato
|
| John Harkins
|
Dr Weiss
|
| Sandy Baron
|
Mr Columbato
|
| Karen Young
|
Hannah Rourke
|
| Bruno Kirby
|
Renaldi
|
| Nancy Fish (II)
|
Mrs Prevost
|
| George Buck
|
Birdy's Father
|
| Dolores Sage
|
Birdy's Mother
|
| Robert L. Ryan
|
Joe Sagessa
|
| James Santini
|
Mario Columbato
|
| Maud Winchester
|
Doris Robinson
|
| Marshall Bell
|
Ronsky
|
| Elizabeth Whitcraft
|
Rosanne
|
| Sandra Beall
|
Shirley
|
| Victoria Nekko
|
Claire
|
| Crystal Field
|
Mrs Columbato
|
| Joe Lerer
|
Military Doctor
|
| Alice Truscott
|
Mother on Train
|
| Ed Taylor
|
Zimmy the Human Fish
|
| Irving Selbst
|
Fairground Announcer
|
| Steve Lippe
|
Junkyard Proprietor
|
| William Clark
|
Policeman on Beach
|
| James Pruett
|
Emergency Doctor
|
| Howard Kinsley
|
Mr Tate
|
| Robert Diamond
|
Maloney
|
| Bud Seese
|
Drunk in Jail
|
| Erskine Morgan
|
Hospital Orderly
|
| Maurice Frizzell Jr
|
Nuts-and-Bolts Patient
|
| Richard Mason
|
Injured Soldier
|
| Chuck Tamburro
|
Helicopter Pilot
|
|
|
|
|
Directors
|
|
|
Alan
Parker
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
Writers
|
|
|
William
Wharton
|
Novel as Source
Material ("Birdy")
|
| Sandy Kroopf
|
screenplay
|
| Jack Behr
|
screenplay
|
|
|
|
|
Producers
|
|
|
David
Manson
|
Executive Producer
|
| Alan Marshall
|
Producer
|
| Ned Kopp
|
Associate Producer
|
|
|
|
|
Camera,
Film & Tape
|
|
|
Alan
Disler
|
1st assistant camera
|
| Ralph Nelson Jr
|
stills
|
| Kerry Hayes
|
stills
|
| Larry McConkey
|
Steadicam Operator
|
| Ted Churchill
|
Steadicam Operator
|
| Charlie Hammerschmidt
|
Steadicam Operator
|
| Michael Seresin
|
Director of Photography
|
| David L. Butler
|
Camera Operator (aerial
photography)
|
|
|
|
|
Editors
|
|
|
Clive
Barrett
|
Assistant Editor
|
| Richard Hymns
|
Assistant Editor
|
| Leonard Green
|
Assistant Editor
|
| Jeremy Strachan
|
Assistant Editor
|
| Richard Candib
|
Assistant Editor
|
| Daniel Candib
|
Assistant Editor
|
| Stephen Janisz
|
Assistant Editor
|
| Gerry Hambling
|
Editor
|
|
|
|
|
Casting
|
|
|
Juliet
Taylor
|
Casting
|
|
|
|
|
Production
Management
|
|
|
Alice
Tompkins
|
Script Supervisor
|
| Nancy Giebink
|
Unit Production Manager
|
| Chris Soldo
|
Assistant Director
|
| Tom Davies (II)
|
2nd Assistant Director
|
|
|
|
|
Art
Department
|
|
|
Armin Ganz
|
art direction
|
| Stu Campbell
|
art direction
|
| Geoffrey Kirkland
|
Production Designer
|
|
|
|
|
Wardrobe,
Hair & Makeup
|
|
|
Barbara
Kelly (II)
|
Makeup
|
| Paul Leblanc
|
hairstyles
|
| John Caglione
|
special makeup
|
| Kristi Zea
|
Costume Designer
|
|
|
|
|
Sound
|
|
|
David
MacMillan
|
sound recording mixer
|
|
|
|
|
Music
|
|
|
Peter
Gabriel
|
Music
|
|
|
|
|
Visual
Effects & Animation
|
|
|
Cliff
Wenger
|
Special Effects
|
| Bob Harman
|
Special Effects
(flying)
|
|
|
|
|
Physical
Effects
|
|
|
James M.
Arnett
|
Stunt Coordinator
|
|
|
|
|
Engineering,
Electrical & Grips
|
|
|
Gary Gill
|
Key Grip
|
|
|
|
|
Publicity
|
|
|
Tom Gray
|
Unit Publicist
|
|
|
|
|
Props
|
|
|
George
Ziminsky
|
Props
|
|
|
|
|
Animals
|
|
|
Gary Gero
|
bird trainer
|
|
|
|
|
Other
Crew
|
|
|
Maureen
Murphy (II)
|
production secretary
|
| Donna Lindemann
|
production secretary
|
| Rory Enke
|
locations
|
|
|
|
|
Worldwide
Distributors
|
|
|
TriStar
Pictures
|
Theatrical Distributor
|