The Birdcage (1996) — Screenplay
A gay cabaret owner and his partner pretend to be straight when their son's fiancée brings her conservative parents to dinner.
- Written by
- Elaine May, Francis Veber, Édouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, Jean Poiret
- Genre
- Comedy
- Length
- 124 pages
This comedy is a masterclass in escalating farce built on a single, high-stakes premise. Study how May and Veber sustain tension through rapid-fire dialogue and perfectly timed reveals, while giving every character a clear, conflicting objective. The script also demonstrates how to balance broad humor with genuine heart, making the absurd situation feel emotionally grounded.
Read the full The Birdcage (1996) screenplay in PDF, page by page, right here on Laper — or download the original script to study Elaine May, Francis Veber, Édouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, Jean Poiret’s scene work, dialogue and structure at your own pace. A free resource for screenwriters and film students learning Hollywood script format.