SnoopyStyle Big rock star Conrad Birdie gets drafted. It's a teen crisis. Aspiring songwriter Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke) is desperate to have him sing his song on Ed Sullivan. In six years, he has not sold one song. He's a biochemist by schooling. His girlfriend Rosie DeLeon (Janet Leigh) convinces Ed Sullivan for a final Birdie performance where he gives a girl one final kiss. Of course, she wants Albert's song and picks Ohio fan Kim McAfee (Ann-Margret) to receive the kiss.Ann-Margret's opening song and dance is memorable. She's quite the sex kitten. This predates her work with Elvis Presley which is very prescient. It's very old Broadway musical and middle America nuclear family fare. It's almost a 50's America satire. Dick Van Dyke seems 40ish and too old for the role. While the real Ed Sullivan makes an appearance, I wonder how great would this be with Presley playing Birdie. Again it's more like a spoof which is perfectly fine. There is plenty of great songs. If there is a star in this movie, it's Ann-Margret. She outshines Janet Leigh who is structurally the female lead.

Hitchcoc The only way to get much enjoyment out of this film, just grab a few vignettes. For instance the "Ed Sullivan" song. Or perhaps the scene where Ann-Margret changes under her sweater. I agree with one reviewer who talks about how the Elvis character became passé before this musical came out. His star was fading and he was going underground and making horrible movies. As a result, this is one of the dullest musicals I have ever seen, but some of the songs are pretty good. The adulation of Conrad and the anticipation of his arrival just doesn't seem to work. I saw this in high school. Hooray for Paul Lynde, but beyond him I can't think of any other significant moments.

TheLittleSongbird Opinions seem to be pretty divisive on this film version of Bye Bye Birdie, and while I can definitely understand why people won't like it it is also easy to see why people do. While it is not perfect, I am one of those who did like the film and always have done. I have yet to re-watch the 1995 version, but I do remember that while it was closer to the original musical/stage show that it didn't have the same levels of energy and sense of fun that we see here, that the cast weren't as strong and that it felt too much like a made for TV movie. The re-watch might make me feel differently though. Bye Bye Birdie(1963) does have foibles in my view, the Ed Sullivan references are dated and have always gone over my head, Jesse Pearsson as Conrad does little with his here very underdeveloped character and Bobby Rydell is rather bland. However, the film is beautifully shot and the costumes and sets are very colourful. The songs are wonderful and really quite catchy, while the choreography is both lively and inventive(loved Conrad's priceless entrance). The story does come across as a little messy as a result of things being omitted, added in and rewritten, but the witty satire and the exuberance of George Sidney's direction make up for things. The performances are very strong generally, Ann-Margaret especially is perfect in the lead even if her singing in the prologue is not that great. But that is not to dispute the rest, Paul Lynde's hilarious and snarky performance- and rendition of Kids- really stood out and Maureen Stapleton is a riot as the overbearing mother figure. I've seen better from Dick Van Dyke but his handsome presence, infectious energy and personal charm still shine here and while the role needed much more of a spitfire personality Janet Leigh was still very charming and really gave her all in every respect. In conclusion, energetic, colourful and fun, not one of my favourites but I can't help liking it very much. 7/10 Bethany Cox

tforbes-2 So many people seem to know actress Janet Leigh from her role in "Psycho" (1960).How unfortunate! Two years later, she got to leave her comfort zone and perform as Rosie DeLeon in "Bye, Bye Birdie." It has been said this movie is an Ann-Margret movie, and she does indeed give a fine performance, as she would in years to come.Janet Leigh is no Chita Rivera. For that matter, Ms. Rivera is no Ms. Leigh. And the 1960 stage show is not the 1963 film. You take the performers and the productions on their own terms. They all work well. Janet Leigh was never lovelier than she was here!!!! She may not be the best singer, but she was fantastic, getting out of a "comfort zone" in terms of performing, and giving it her own all in this film!! I can understand the disappointment both Dick Van Dyke and Paul Lynde felt with this production. I imagine they deserved more time, given what they contributed. But they, and the other supporting cast members do well.From my perspective, I first saw this in spring 1974 in junior high, and the movie looked so hokey, given its Kennedy administration background. Watergate loomed very, very large, with its cynicism, and I could not appreciate this as a 14-year-old. But as time goes by, I have gotten to love this movie very much.And since I grew up in the Southern Tier of New York, the song "One Last Kiss" has a special meaning. When Gary Lewis and the Playboys performed this song on "The Ed Sullivan Show" on 4 December 1966, before Mr. Lewis went to the Army, the girl who got the kiss was from Endicott, just 5 miles from where I was writing this!! Whatever the case, this movie remains as enjoyable today as it was when it was released nearly 50 years ago!!