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Nancy Kwan, James Shigeta, Juanita Hall, Jack Soo, Miyoshi Umeki ... see more see more... , Reiko Sato , Benson Fong , Patrick Adiarte , Kam Tong , Victor Sen Yung , Soo Yong , James Hong , Spencer Chan , Arthur Song , Weaver Levy , Herman Rudin , Cherylene Lee , Virginia Lee , Jon Fong , Virginia Grey , Robert Kino , Frank Kumagai , Ching Wah Lee , Laurette Luez , Beulah Quo , Ward Ramsey , Paul Sorenson , W. Beal Wong

The only Rodgers and Hammerstein cinemadaptation to be produced by Universal Pictures, Flower Drum Song was, alas, also the only Rogers and Hammerstein film to lose money at the box office. It looks f... read more read more...ar better now than it did back in 1961, if only because of the paucity of musical films in the 1990s. Essentially a comedy about the culture clash between old-world Chinese and assimilated Chinese-Americans, the film begins when Mei Li (Miyoshi Umeki) and her grandfather (Kam Tong) smuggle themselves into San Francisco. It seems that Mei Li has arrived to honor an arranged marriage between herself and Runyonesque nightclub owner Sammy Fong (the incomparable Jack Soo). This might prove delicate, since Sammy is in love with flashy cabaret entertainer Linda Low (Nancy Kwan). Meanwhile, Linda is romancing Wang Ta (James Shigeta), the son of a wealthy Chinatown merchant (Benson Fong). Soon, however, Mei Li and Wang Ta have fallen in love.......It's a complex plot, to be sure, but comedy and music manage to predominate. The songs include "I Enjoy Being a Girl" (a tour de force for the special effects department, and for Nancy Kwan), "A Hundred Million Miracles," "The Other Generation," "Love Look Away," "I Am Going to Like It Here," "Don't Marry Me," "You Are Beautiful," "Grant Avenue" and "Chop Suey." Flower Drum Song is attractively produced and consummately acted; while no classic along the lines of King and I or Sound of Music, it deserves a second look. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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72% liked it

1,781 ratings

Unrated, 2 hr. 13 min.

Directed by: Henry Koster

Release Date: January 1, 1961

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DVD Release Date: November 7, 2006

Stats: 137 reviews

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Nancy Kwan as Linda Low James Shigeta as Wang Ta Benson Fong as Wang Chi-Yang Nancy Kwan as Linda Low singing "I like being a girl". Nancy Kwan as Linda Low Helen Chao (Reiko Sato) dreams she dances with Wang Ta (James Shigeta) Jack Soo as Sammy Fong James Shigeta as Wang Ta sing "You are Beautiful" Miyoshi Umeki as Mei Li
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Flixster Reviews (137)

  • binky013
    December 29, 2009
    binky013
    Maybe not in my Top 10 favorite musical list, but plenty of great songs. My favorite is probably "Love Look Away," and it's tough to beat the appeal of a young Nancy Kwan in her absolute prime. Amazing to see Miyoshi Umeki in a romantic lead as well. I will miss her.

    So no

    ... read morew that I'm thinking about it, what are my Top 10 favorite musicals of all time? Hmmm . . . let me see . . .

    Brigadoon
    Carousel
    Guys and Dolls
    The Music Man
    My Fair Lady
    On the Town
    Singin' in the Rain
    South Pacific
    Top Hat
    West Side Story

    For right this minute, then, on 12/29/09, I guess that does leave out Flower Drum Song, but like all my "Top" lists, this one can be very fluid.
  • moviegirl50
    June 22, 2010
    moviegirl50
    So, I found a Rogers & Hammerstein musical I hadn't seen...now I know why...just an ok musical. The story was good...a Chinese woman and her father come to San Francisco to marry her off, by the traditionally "arranged marriage" way. Mioshi Umeki, who was the first Asian to win... read more an Oscar (for Sayonara) but I remember her mostly as Mrs. Livingston on The Courtship of Eddie's Father series, was so cute and perfect as the little Chinese woman. I love musicals and I thought most of the musical numbers kinda sucked...that's what made this just ok for me...but it did have other aspects that kept my interest.
  • placeinthesun455
    June 30, 2008
    placeinthesun455
    on the one hand, the music was incredibly weak and gave almost no enhancement to the story. on the other hand, the story was strong and interesting enough that it didn't really need musical enhancement. I guess I would describe this movie not as a good or bad musical, but as a ... read morelight-hearted social dramedy where people randomly break into song. in that respect, it's a little unusual, but it's not too bad. R&H were definitely out of their element on this one.
  • psychopixiedust
    September 4, 2007
    psychopixiedust
    This was one of the funnier classics that I love. It was so much fun to watch. You cna't go wrong with this one.
  • jonathanstephenson
    July 21, 2007
    jonathanstephenson
    Another Richard Rogers Oscar Hammerstein Musical masterwork, the music is wonderful, the acting and story line so, so, a good movie
  • tarotcafe15
    May 29, 2007
    tarotcafe15
    A lovely musical. Simply stunning. So many characters and relationships filled with drama, overseas illegal business, Fransisco, California, and how the traditional Chinese are learning to become modern with American culture.
  • MsSwagga
    May 11, 2007
    MsSwagga
    An Asian American musical from the '60's - I think this is truly unique and I know not of anything else like it. There are so many "class" struggle movies out there but this one is in it's own world. It combined American flare with Chinese twist. Great movie and dance numbers!!!
  • tenraiD
    May 11, 2007
    tenraiD
    a musical about asian-americans relating to america and falling in love. "i enjoy being a girl" came from this musical.
  • mpm13
    March 21, 2007
    mpm13
    Rodgers & Hammerstein and director Henry Koster sent shockwaves through Hollywood with this musical requiring a cast made up entirely of Asian actors. I was delighted to finally get the experience to watch this film. My recommendation is to watch all of the short documentaries th... read moreat are included with this DVD before watching the film, as I didn't really fully appreciate what was put together until I gained all of that background knowledge about the film, musical and screenplay.
  • athena6098
    March 4, 2007
    athena6098
    Chinese-american Musical It is fun movie to watch. I just happen to catch the movie on the AMC channel. The music is by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. My songs from the movie is "Chop Suey" & "It Fun Being A Girl. A movie for the whole family. It is a good american musica... read morel with a chinese twist.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
April 19, 2012
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Though not one of Oscar and Hammerstein best works, this Oscar-nominated musical about culture clash merits a viewing. Full Review

Steve Crum
July 13, 2007
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Lesser of Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals has some good songs, performances.

Eric Lurio
December 21, 2004
Eric Lurio, Greenwich Village Gazette

Somehow, they wreck Rogers and Hammerstein, although R&H didn't do all that well with the original musical.

Ken Hanke
May 23, 2004
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Enjoyable, old-fashioned stage-to-screen musical.

June 26, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 9, 2005
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

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