Flower Drum Song - Original Trailer 1961

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 far 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. Nancy Kwan - Linda Low James Shigeta - Wang Ta Juanita Hall - Auntie/Madame Liang Jack Soo - Sammy Fong Miyoshi Umeki - Mei Li Reiko Sato - Helen Chao Benson Fong - Wang Chi-Yang Patrick Adiarte - Wang San Kam Tong - Dr. Li Victor Sen Yung - Frankie Wing Soo Yong - Madame Fong James Hong - Headwaiter Spencer Chan - Dr. Chou Arthur Song - Dr. Fong Weaver Levy - Policeman Herman Rudin - Holdup Man Cherylene Lee - Sons Girl Friend Virginia Lee - San's Girlfiiend Ching Wah Lee - Professor Jon Fong - Square Dance Caller Virginia Grey - TV Heroine Robert Kino - Bank Manager Frank Kumagai - Tradesmen Laurette Luez - Mexican Girl Beulah Quo Ward Ramsey - Great White Hunter Paul Sorenson - TV Sheriff Beal Wong - Tailor