Flower Drum Song
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.97 You Save: $8.01 (53%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $6.47 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Flower Drum Song
Movie Review: Generation Gap
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Flower Drum Song" hasn't always been treated kindly by history. Its (almost) all-Asian cast, though not all Chinese, and its mishmash of cultural authenticity and blatant stereotypes have meant that it never really took its place on stage with the famous Rogers and Hammerstein musicals. It took a long time for this one to get a DVD release, long after Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music had already gotten the deluxe treatment.
And admittedly, it is a little odd. The story of a Chinese mail-order bride stowing away on a freighter ship, only to find that her promised husband is a swinging hip cat with an eye for showgirls, is a decent foundation. The clash between cultures, with the old generation still demanding their rights and the Americanized youth wanting to just play baseball and be hip, is an old story and one that all immigrant populations face. A serious topic in films like Dim Sum - A Little Bit of Heart, it isn't the usual setting for an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza, but somehow it works just fine.
Umeki Miyoshi is Mei Li, the bride in question. Umeki was the first Asian to win an Oscar, for her role in Sayonara, and is unquestionably a star. She is dressed up like a China Doll, and plays the smiling traditional Chinese girl that the older generation thinks of as perfect. Her counterpart, Linda Low, played by the sexy Nancy Kwan hot off her turn as a prostitute in The World of Suzie Wong, is a striptease dancing girl who likes using her beauty to get money. For two girls there must be two boys, and we get Jack Soo, of Barney Miller fame, as Sammy Fong, the nightclub hipster who does his best Dean Martin impression, and James Shigata as Wang Ta, the shy and traditional boy. Of course, all the girls are in love with the wrong boys, and all the boys are in love with the wrong girls, and that is where the hijinks ensue.
As a musical, "The Flower Drum Song" has some great numbers, and some so-so ones. The stand out tune is "I Enjoy Being a Girl", done to perfection by a voice-dubbed Nancy Kwan dancing before her bedroom mirrors. This song is quite famous, although divorced from this musical, and has become a standard for drag queens everywhere. Another famous tune, "Chop Suey", sung by Juanita Hall in full yellowface, just didn't do it for me. "The Other Generation" sounds like it was supsiciously recyclled for The Sound of Music's "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?". Considering the subject matter, one would think that there would have been more of an Asian influence on the music, but it is all just pure showtune glory.
Allthough it took a long time for "The Flower Drum Song" to get a DVD release, they made up for it by giving it all the extras. A pristine transfer that balances all the colors beautifully, and a bunch of interviews and bonus materials all make for a nice package.
Movie Review: "A Hundred Million Miracles are happening every day..."
Summary: 5 Stars
Actually, there must be 101 million miracles happening every day, because FLOWER DRUM SONG is finally being released on DVD.
One of Rodgers and Hammerstein's most joyful musical offerings, the story (based on C.Y. Lee's novel "The Flower Drum Song") concerns a winsome young Chinese girl called Mei Li (Miyoshi Umeki) who enters the United States illegally, in order to submit into an arranged marriage with San Francisco nightclub owner Sammy Fong (Jack Soo). Complications arise when Madame Liang (Juanita Hall) decides that Mei Li would instead be better-suited to her nephew Ta (James Shigeta), but he is infatuated with nightclub star Linda Low (Nancy Kwan), who is also Sammy's on-again, off-again girlfriend.
This being one of the greatest Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, you can count on a satisfying conclusion with lovers matched and happy endings for all. The score for FLOWER DRUM SONG was one of the most accomplished written by the duo, with numbers running the gamut of emotion (Mei Li's pragmatic "A Hundred Million Miracles" and the simple, inward melody of "I Am Going to Like It Here"). The songs of Mei Li contrast very effectively with the knowing and brassy numbers of Linda Low ("I Enjoy Being a Girl" and "Fan Tan Fanny"). The plight of the Chinese-American is perfectly analysed in "The Other Generation", and in "Chop Suey", the number Madame Liang performs at the party celebrating her American citizenship.
FLOWER DRUM SONG opened on Broadway in 1958, and ran for a very successful 600 performances. Miyoshi Umeki (who won an Academy Award for her touching performance as Katsumi Kelly in SAYONARA) thankfully got to reprise her Broadway role of Mei Li in the film, with Jack Soo, Juanita Hall and Patrick Adiarte the other main hold-overs from the stage cast. The singing voices of Nancy Kwan (Linda) and Reiko Sato (seamstress Helen Chao) were both dubbed; Kwan by B.J. Baker; and Sato, most notably, by the up-and-coming opera star Marilyn Horne.
The film version of FLOWER DRUM SONG greatly benefits from some fabulous musical numbers choreographed by Hermes Pan ("Fan Tan Fanny", "Grant Avenue" and the striking imagery of the "Love Look Away" Dream Ballet). Musical direction by Alfred Newman is also very fine (the Main Title music alone is worth the price of admission). The film also made history at the time, for featuring the most expensive in-studio set, and starring an all-Asian cast. This was the only Rodgers and Hammerstein movie musical made by Universal Studios, under the auspices of producer Ross Hunter.
Although FLOWER DRUM SONG has been cruelly dismissed throughout the ensuing years for it's ideas and non-PC attitudes, the musical itself is an endlessly enjoyable ride for the entire family. The DVD has been a long time coming, and now fans can complete their Rodgers and Hammerstein DVD collections with this rarest of jewels...FLOWER DRUM SONG.
Movie Review: I HAVE BEEN HEARD, WITH THE RESULT "PERFECT"
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not sure when I started to hound Universal Home Video about releasing this gem on DVD, but thank goodness I was heard, as well as many others from all the reviews of this new issue. This is my second favorite R&H film version musical behind SOUND OF MUSIC. Absolutely love the score, and always remember how charming this film is, so revisit often when I am in a foul mood or need a R&H fix. It was the only R&H musical film that still didn't have a DVD home, when all others have had at least one or two runs via Fox Home Video. I was lucky to tape the last broadcast of this film in widescreen, but it cut off the end titles a bit, so it was never complete, plus I have Universal's Pan and Scan VHS edition that is long out of print. Well, Universal has made up for it with this release.
The remastering of picture and restoring the original technicolor is phenominal, especially focusing on Dong Kingman's lovely paintings that are part of the titles. I didn't imagine 5.1 Surround was possible, as it was advertised in 2.0 Stereo, but was happily surprised to see 5.1 listed on the packaging when I purchased it. The great overture sounds superb with Surround going.
As mentioned by other reviewers, there is a great amount of extras that explain how the story got to Broadway in 1958, then the 1961 film, then forgotten, and then revived by the new story and presented on Broadway in 2002. I still would like to see a revival of the original Broadway version to compare it to the movie, as all I have is the Cast Recording. Still, nothing can take away the charm of this film, and the great performances of Nancy Kwan, Jack Soo, Miyoshi Umeki, Juanita Hall, Benson Fong, Reiko Sato and all the rest. During Nancy Kwan's commentary, it was sad to learn of some of the cast who are no longer with us, especially when they left us so young (Reiko Sato in particular, and Jack Soo who left us during his Barney Miller tenure). Nancy also mentioned she has been chosen to narrate a forthcoming documentary on Dong Kingman's artictic work. Only thing missing from the extras are trailers for the film, but in this case, "So what?" Though not specified as such, this 45th Anniversary celebration is great! Maybe at 50 in 2011, another edition will be shared with a few more treats. If not, I'm glad for what we have right here.
Enjoy it, and thank you Universal for finally dusting off this diamond and representing it with such lustre.
Movie Review: A gem of a flower finally blooms.
Summary: 5 Stars
Finally the underated Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical gets the DVD treatment and it is worth the waiting. The transition from stage to screen does requires some adjustments to keep the flow of the story interesting and to work on screen, and Flower Drum Song is no exception. Several songs were omitted and sequence of songs were changed to suit the film and somehow it doesn't really affect the story too much. Some original cast from the stage are retained in the film version like Miyoshi Umeki, Juanita Hall, Jack Soo and Patrick Adiarte. James Shigeta and Nancy Kwan are the new faces to the film.
It is interesting to see a musical on the Chinese community in America and though the plot doesn't run well in today's society, it is endearing to see how an immigrant community blend with the western culture and society.
Songs are very much in the R&H style and it fuses 60's jazz and pop with traditional Broadway material and resulting in a very light yet sophiscated music and lyrics. Popular tunes from this musicals includes 'You Are Beautiful', 'Love Look Away'. 'I Enjoy Being A Girl', 'Chop Suey' and 'A Hundred Million Miracles'.
Chereography by Hermes Pan is excellent and there are several production numbers like 'Grand Avenue' , 'Look Look Away Dream Ballet' and 'Sunday' are well produce and top notch to the costumes, set designs and the overall production design.
Bonus and extra materials explains the origin of the story and how the transformation from a book by C Y Lee to stage and to film took place. The commentary by Nancy Kwan is nice too.
This is the only Rodgers and Hammersteins's musical that doesn't get much revisited on stage, even the revival in 2002 didn't get the accolade it deserves. Perhaps it is the story that doesn't transcends well with time.
But with the DVD release this gem of a deserving musical will prolong its life in musical history.
A definite peony in the garden of musicals.
This is a must in my collection of musicals on film.
Movie Review: The flower finally blooms on DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
Finally the underated Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical gets the DVD treatment and it is worth the waiting. The transition from stage to screen does requires some adjustments to keep the flow of the story interesting and to work on screen, and Flower Drum Song is no exception. Several songs were omitted and sequence of songs were changed to suit the film and somehow it doesn't really affect the story too much. Some original cast from the stage are retained in the film version like Miyoshi Umeki, Juanita Hall, Jack Soo and Patrick Adiarte. James Shigeta and Nancy Kwan are the new faces to the film.
It is interesting to see a musical on the Chinese community in America and though the plot doesn't run well in today's society, it is endearing to see how an immigrant community blend with the western culture and society.
Songs are very much in the R&H style and it fuses 60's jazz and pop with traditional Broadway material and resulting in a very light yet sophiscated music and lyrics. Popular tunes from this musicals includes 'You Are Beautiful', 'Love Look Away'. 'I Enjoy Being A Girl', 'Chop Suey' and 'A Hundred Million Miracles'.
Chereography by Hermes Pan is excellent and there are several production numbers like 'Grand Avenue' , 'Look Look Away Dream Ballet' and 'Sunday' are well produce and top notch to the costumes, set designs and the overall production design.
Bonus and extra materials explains the origin of the story and how the transformation from a book by C Y Lee to stage and to film took place. The commentary by Nancy Kwan is nice too.
This is the only Rodgers and Hammersteins's musical that doesn't get much revisited on stage, even the revival in 2002 didn't get the accolade it deserves. Perhaps it is the story that doesn't transcends well with time.
But with the DVD release this gem of a deserving musical will prolong its life in musical history.
A definite peony in the garden of musicals.
This is a must in my collection of musicals on film