At times, while directing Mike Nichols found himself laughing so hard that he had to work from beneath a soundproof blanket in order not to ruin the takes. Can you blame him?

Twenty years after its release on March 8, 1996, "The Birdcage" remains a hilarious landmark. Besides being a smash hit, the film made a movie star out of Lane, gave Gene Hackman in a platinum blonde wig and a gown. Still, as many times as you've watched it on cable over the past two decades, there's still much you may not now about the beloved drag comedy. Here are the secrets "The Birdcage" has tucked away.
1. "Birdcage" was already the seventh incarnation of the story, which started out as the French play "La Cage aux Folles" in 1973. It became a celebrated international film hit in 1978, spawned two movie sequels, a failed American TV pilot (called "Adam and Yves"), and then a hit Broadway musical in 1983. But Nichols' film was the first version to transplant the story to an American setting and insert topical political jokes.

2. The film marked a rare reunion between Mike Nichols and Mrs. Doubtfire," he wanted to play the subtler character.

4.The part of Albert went to Lane, then a top Broadway star whose biggest film role to date had been his voice work as meerkat Timon in "Christine Baranski) in the latter's office, was the original opening number in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."

6. Wonder why that two-minute, all-in-one-take tracking shot that opens the film is so amazing? Maybe because the movie's cinematographer was The Revenant."
7. Playing a character who is supposed to be an 18-year-old college student, Flockhart was actually 30 at the time of filming. The exposure she earned from "The Birdcage" helped her land her star-making TV role on "Ally McBeal" a year later.

8. Playing a cameo as the club hostess is J. Roy Helland, who, besides crafting the hairstyles and make-up for "Birdcage" and other Nichols films, is also Bruno" in 2009.) "Bridcage" remained at No. 1 for four weeks and grossed a total of $124 million in North America -- and another $61 million overseas.

10. "Birdcage" earned one Oscar nomination, for its art direction. It lost to "The English Patient."

11. Now 83, May is enjoying a career resurgence. She's starring opposite Woody Allen's streaming series on Amazon. And she returned to directing for the first time in three decades to film the recent episode of PBS' documentary series "American Masters" that's about the life and career of Nichols, who died in 2014.