![]() Now that it has finally come out on DVD forty-five years after its initial release, I can appreciate it much more without raising my eyebrows as much, perhaps because it now seems so much a nostalgic product of Eisenhower-era sensibilities. #FLOWER DRUM SONG RATING MPAA MOVIE#Although it was refreshing to see so many Asian faces in a mainstream studio movie (granted several Japanese-American actors in Chinese roles), the portrayals always struck me as trite and catering to pre-existing stereotypes. And neither is Flower Drum Song.Īs a Japanese-American raised in the 1960's, I always had mixed feelings about the 1961 film version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Chinese-American musical comedy. The latter is sung offscreen by Metropolitan Opera diva Marilyn Horne. Two songs that are overlooked gems are You Are Beautiful which Johnny Mathis sang beautifully on record and Love Look Away. Right around this time, Kwan, France Nuyen, and Nobu McCarthy all came along at the same time and seemed to battle for the same parts. ![]() Nancy Kwan does wonderfully in the role of Linda Low who lip syncs those sentiments previously mentioned. #FLOWER DRUM SONG RATING MPAA FREE#I mean, really, the goal of the American woman is to be barefoot and pregnant at the "home of a brave and free male." Gloria Steinem would have cardiac arrest. Doris Day had a big hit record of it (she would), but today feminists would be picketing the show with the message that conveys. The big hit song from Flower Drum Song is I Enjoy Being a Girl which was and is the anti-battle cry against feminism. Shigeta was at the start of a long career as probably THE Oriental leading man in American films for many years. ![]() James Shigeta took the place of one Ed Kenney from Broadway. If you liked him on Barney Miller, he's great here. Soo's deadpan delivery that made him so popular on Barney Miller is working undertime here. Here he is one of the male leads in a part originated by Larry Blyden on Broadway. But on Broadway the future Detective Nick Yemana of the bad coffee, was the "Commodore" from the Chinese nightclub. Also a significant milestone, very significant in the repair of Japanese- American relations from World War II. When I saw the play she had just won her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Sayonara. ![]() ![]() Juanita Hall, Patrick Adiarte, Keye Luke and most of all Miyoshi Umeki repeated their roles. Several of the Broadway cast made it to the film version. This was the first time a Broadway show was completely cast with oriental players. Back then minority players had a hard time getting parts and Flower Drum Song certainly filled a need there in the same way Porgy and Bess has done for black people. And I don't think it's been given the proper place in the pantheon of Rodgers&Hammerstein shows. Gim, Soo Yong, David Toguri, Patrick Adiarte, Jeffrey Sayre, Hideo Inamura, Guy Lee, Marilyn Horne, Herman Belmonte, Ward Ramsey, Harold Fong, Kam Tong, Benson Fong, Tony Regan, B.J.Flower Drum Song holds a special place for me because it was the first Broadway show I ever saw. Lee, Joseph FieldsĬherylene Lee, Murray Pollack, Paul Togawa, Laurette Luez, Victor Sen Yung, David Chow, Ron Nyman, Irene Tsu, Weaver Levy, Jon Fong, Virginia Grey, Mitchell Rhein, Tiko Ling, Nancy Hsueh, Willie Soo Hoo, Michael Jeffers, Paul King, Hans Moebus, Shep Houghton, Juanita Hall, Beal Wong, Reiko Sato, Beulah Quo, H.W. ![]()
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