I love this movie so much

It is a performances centric movie

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

This film is inclined to wear out its welcome halfway through. Nevertheless, it certainly opens in splendid fashion when Ann-Margret croons the title tune with admirably non-heroic nuance as she is propelled into the camera on a concealed trolley. This is followed by an elaborate spoof of Busby Berkeley "business" which had Bosley Crowther of The New York Times cheering in the aisle. (Bosley is a foundation member of The Society To Suppress Busby Berkeley, established back in 1937 by another New York Times staffer, Frank Nugent). All goes well until the initial appearance of Birdie himself in an extravaganza concluding in a riotous send-up of Victor Fleming's famous crane shot in Gone With The Wind. But when we are introduced to Paul Lynde, the screenplay takes a nose dive. Even attempts to guy "Hernando's Hideaway" and A Night at the Opera do not come off – despite two delicious cracks at the expenses of Lenin and Senator Goldwater respectively.

Adapted from the stage musical, "Bye Bye Birdie" is based on the real-life story of Elvis Presley being drafted. In the film, Conrad Birdie (Jesse Pearson)--a teenage heartthrob--is to visit a small town in Ohio and kiss a local girl as a promotional appearance that would be part of The Ed Sullivan Show's live broadcast.The real star of the film is Ann-Margret (as "local girl: Kim McAfee). There is quite a contrast between the teenage boys, who are all feet and Adam's apples, and Ann-Margret, whose more mature sexuality makes her feel like a Las Vegas dancer. This film does, in fact, serve as a bridge in her film career between "State Fair", with the wholesome Pat Boone, and "Viva Las Vegas", with Elvis.On the adult side, Dick Van Dyke (Albert F. Peterson) and Paul Lyndev(Harry McAfee) reprise their stage roles and sing the songs they are best known for: "Put On a Happy Face" and "Kids", respectively. But for my money, it is Janet Leigh (as Rosie Deleon, Peterson's long-suffering girlfriend) who really shines.The camera work is sometimes amateurish and the choreography liberally borrows from "West Side Story" (1961). The film's story, perhaps more than the stage version, feels very choppy and uneven. Pearson's portrayal of Conrad is more like Lonesome Rhodes ("A Face in the Crowd) than Elvis. Worst of all, Maureen Stapleton is saddled with a caricature of the smothering Jewish mother; the role is so cartoonish it would fit better in "Li'l Abner".Decades after the film's original release, Ann-Margret's performance of the title song, which was added in post production, is the most memorable part of the film.

Released in 1963 - Bye Bye Birdie's story was inspired by the sensation caused when Elvis Presley was drafted into the US Army in 1957.In this light-hearted Musical/Comedy/Romance it was actor Jack Pearson who played the role of the hip-shaking teen idol, Conrad Birdie. Birdie's name was a word-play on the name of another pop singer of that era, Conway Twitty.Elvis Presley, himself, was the first choice for the part of Birdie, but his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, rejected the idea as he didn't want Presley to appear in any roles that were parodies of himself.Ed Sullivan, the popular TV host of his long-running show on CBS, appeared as himself.Set in the small town of Sweet Apple, Ohio, Bye Bye Birdie's story has a lively, good-natured feel to it, but its situations do sometimes get a bit silly and overblown.Before the swaggering pop-star, Conrad Birdie is officially drafted into the service he is scheduled by his publicity agent to appear in a final, farewell performance on the ever-popular Ed Sullivan Show.At this gala event he will sing "One Last Kiss" and, then, bestow upon the one, lucky girl (chosen at random), a "symbolic" goodbye kiss at the finale.Needless to say, Birdie's much-anticipated arrival in Sweet Appple causes hysteria amongst the teenage girls, resentment amongst the teenage boys, and great concern amongst the parents who believe that Birdie is a bad influence on the morals of their impressionable children.Bye Bye Birdie's 2 most notable musical numbers were "Got A Lot Of Livin' To Do" and "Put On a Happy Face". This film also featured a good cast which included Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret, and Bobby Rydell.

OK, in the spirit of full disclosure, I am an old guy. In fact this movie was being filmed during my senior year in high school, and released near the time I graduated. But somehow I had never seen it, until now. It has great memories for a number of reasons. First, as a teen I was infatuated with Janet Leigh. She was so pretty and with a nice figure, to me it couldn't get any better. I have seen her in a number of dramatic roles, including Psycho, but never in a comedic role, as here, and she does great.Second, as I went into young adulthood I discovered Ann-Margaret, and to me she was about as nice and beautiful as they get. She is only 4 years older than I am, she was 21 during filming of this movie and she lights up the screen in every scene she is in. Plus a darned good singer.And third, Bobby Rydell. His songs were very popular during the 1960s and seeing him play the role of Ann-Margaret's character was total fun and nostalgic. I can still hear him singing "Dream Lover."The title character of this movie is Jesse Pearson as singer Conrad Birdie, mostly a parody of Elvis Presley, drafted to go into the military, and young girls swoon when he sings. But he also sounded a lot like Bobby Darin in some songs.But the story is just an excuse to sing a few songs and to showcase the talents of the main cast, which also included the likes of Paul Lynde and Ed Sullivan playing himself. The story includes having Kim (Ann- Margaret) and Hugo (Bobby Rydell) realize their love for each other, as well as Albert (Van Dyke) and his secretary Rosie (Leigh).Just a fun, silly movie from the 1960s, with fun, silly songs.