'Trash'
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
Being Of An Age to have seen Gwen Verdon in her heyday years, I have a basis for comparison and was very impressed with Williams in Fosse/Verdon, the TV miniseries. Not an impersonation, but mannerisms, expression, voice, body language. She's definitely impressive.
ETA: Shigeta was one of my seekrit Hollywood boyfriends in my yout'. Everything you said about him, Vonnie. Yes.
A bit off topic, but I always had a soft spot for Jack Soo.
Jack Soo was hilarious.
I once sat through "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (on the TV - would not pay to see it) just to see him. He didn't have any lines, but he was there.
Shigeta was so gorgeous in his youth.
I actually ended up DVR'ing Flower Drum Song off TCM last night and watched it later. YIKES. It has not aged well at all. Its gender politics are even worse than its racial issues, honestly. I mean, "I Enjoy Being A Girl" is still catchy as fuck, but the lyrics, oy vey. I'm just gonna enjoy the song independently of its context for giving us one of my favourite multifandom vids ever, by AbsoluteDestiny: [link]
There is A LOT of filler in the movie. Like, why is there a 5 minute dream ballet by a random side character?! And I'd forgotten that Shigeta's character was a lead, not supporting, mostly because he's such a nothing character -- he just lets stuff happen to himself! I mean, I still enjoyed looking at him because I have eyes, and oh yeah, he also sings the main love song ("You Are Beautiful") and his voice is super pretty. Still.
A bit off topic, but I always had a soft spot for Jack Soo.
On rewatch, my favourite number in the entire movie was "Don't Marry Me", which is Jack Soo's character (...someone just said "make him Nathan Detroit, except Asian, huh?) trying to convince the main love interest to dump him. Some fun physical comedy in the number between him and Miyoshi Umeki.
I don't remember Flower Drum Song - saw it years (and years) ago. My favorite version of "I Enjoy Being a Girl" was on the Muppet Show - the guest (Cheryl Ladd?) was talking to Miss Piggy and said that what she liked best was her "chops" ... and, as Miss Piggy curled her lip and was preparing to wreak havoc, she followed with "your karate chops". So they did a duet of the song, while beating up a hapless (unnamed and unanimated) muppet.
David Hwang (best known for M. Butterfly) was hired to completely rewrite the book for Flower Drum Song when it was revived on stage in 2002. They kept the songs but he reframed them and addressed the racist and sexist elements.
I'd be curious to see that version.
David Hwang (best known for M. Butterfly)
Best known in my house for Soft Power, which is the smartest work of political-themed theater I have ever seen anywhere. (The fever-dream of Hillary Clinton pole-dancing at a campaign rally inside a swanky glitter-encrusted McDonalds will stay with me forever.)
Toddson-
That's weird. I remember the "your karate chops" bit, but I would have sworn it was followed by them singing, "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend". Maybe I'm merging two different sketches?
I remember my mother had the Flower Drum Song album when I was growing up, but I don't think she ever played it for me. She did have a tendency to break into "The Other Generation" when she felt put-upon, though.