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.
I just got a streaming recs newsletter from the NY Times that talks about Scott Pilgrim vs the World, and says:
And it's a "before they were stars" extravaganza, presciently filled with talented young actors (Brie Larson, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Mae Whitman, Alison Pill, and many more) who were just about to pop.
...that's a glaring omission, right??
You mean Chris Evans? He had already starred in Fantastic Four by that point.
Oh, so you figured he had already popped? Yeah, that's fair.
That cast is ridiculous to think about now.
I need to watch it again soon.
never seen. wahhhhhh. need to remedy.
