Flower Drum Song (1961)

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers:

Joseph Fields (screenplay)
C.Y. Lee (novel)

Release Date:

9 November 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Broadway's Most Romantic Musical Comedy comes to the Screen!!!

Plot:

A Chinese woman and her father illegally enter San Francisco to marry her fiance. While in San Francisco...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage Proposal | Mugging | Steamship | Impersonation | Chinese New Year

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Nancy Kwan	...	Linda Low
James Shigeta	...	Wang Ta
Benson Fong	...	Wang Chi-Yang
Jack Soo	...	Samuel Adams 'Sammy' Fong
Juanita Hall	...	Madame 'Auntie' Liang
Reiko Sato	...	Helen Chao
Patrick Adiarte	...	Wang San
Kam Tong	...	Doctor Li
Victor Sen Yung	...	Frankie Wing
Soo Yong	...	Madame Ten Fong
Ching Wah Lee	...	Professor
James Hong	...	Headwaiter
Miyoshi Umeki	...	Mei Li

Also Known As:

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Cantonese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) | 3 Channel Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | Australia:G | UK:U | Finland:K-12

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Fields Productions

Trivia:

Jack Soo's first film.

Goofs:

Continuity: Linda ties her scarf in the car twice.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Tradesman: [in Chinese] What was that?
Tradesman: [in Chinese] I don't know. Must be my stomach.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Jack Benny Program: Jack Meets Japanese Agent (#13.9)" (1962)

Soundtrack:

Chop Suey

a feast for the eyes and ears

This is film making the likes of which will never be seen again. It gives romance, comedy, drama and a fantastic Rodgers and Hammerstein score. Ross Hunter pulled out all the stops making this film a feast for the eyes with fabulous technicolor, brilliant costumes and the great Hermes Pan doing some of the most original choreography of his career. It's escapism at its best. Miyoshi Umeki gives a fresh and fantastic oscar worthy performance totally topping her oscar winning role in Sayonara. For some reason this film has always been overlooked and the score written off as forgettable maybe because it doesnt have a caucasian leading actor and the music isnt as instantly recognizable as The Sound Of Music. Of course you know its going to be a happy ending but you don't have any idea how the characters are going to overcome the obstacles. The music may take some people a closer listening but it is definately R&H in top form - from the ballads to the swing numbers - it's poetic clever and very melodic. This film like all big musicals is best seen on the big screen where it can be enjoyed as it was meant to be. It really is a secret gem.