Photos
Oscar Hammerstein II
- Self
- (archive footage)
Gene Kelly
- Self
- (archive footage)
Richard Rodgers
- Self
- (archive footage)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis featurette is featured on the 'Flower Drum Song' Special Edition DVD, released in 2006.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Oscar Hammerstein II: Just recently we have become interested in a novel called "Flower Dum Song" by C.Y. Lee, a young Chinese from San Francisco.
- ConnectionsFeatures Flower Drum Song (1961)
Featured review
Background on the musical, "Flower Drum Song"
This 19-minute short is a documentary made by Universal Studios for the 2006 DVD release of the 1961 musical film, "Flower Drum Song." Hollywood, like business heads and politicians, is often wont to overstatement, especially when it comes to self-aggrandizement. The title of this short is an example. While "Flower Drum" was an entertaining and good film, it wasn't at the level of very good or great. So, it would hardly rate as a classic. The film followed a 1958 play that was based on a 1957i book.
This documentary covers that and other aspects behind the story and making of the stage play and movie. The book by C.Y. Young followed a short story that he had written for Reader's Digest, which won him a $1,500 prize. The book became a best seller and led to the stage musical. C.Y. Lee says, "Joseph Field wanted it so much, he had the story worked out in his mind as a musical." And, Field told Young that Rodgers and Hammerstein wanted to do it. Gene Kelley directed the Broadway musical.
This short has interviews with some of the actors, including Patrick Adiarte who played Wang San on Broadway and in the film. Theater and film historian Laurence Maslon says, "Flower Drum Song was really the first unadulterated musical comedy that Rodgers and Hammerstein ever wrote." The film is noteworthy for being cast exclusively by Oriental actors, mostly Asian-Americans. This short has part of a 1957 filmed interview of Oscar Hammerstein.
The movie covered its budget at the box office, mostly due to the music. The story, screenplay and production were mostly lackluster. This documentary doesn't address the quality of the production or that it didn't become a smash hit. Rather, it gives some of the history and focuses on the music and the cast.
Unfortunately, none of the principal actors who became well known were interviewed for this short. Jack Soo died in 1979 and Benson Fong died in 1987. But Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta were alive and active in 2006.
This documentary covers that and other aspects behind the story and making of the stage play and movie. The book by C.Y. Young followed a short story that he had written for Reader's Digest, which won him a $1,500 prize. The book became a best seller and led to the stage musical. C.Y. Lee says, "Joseph Field wanted it so much, he had the story worked out in his mind as a musical." And, Field told Young that Rodgers and Hammerstein wanted to do it. Gene Kelley directed the Broadway musical.
This short has interviews with some of the actors, including Patrick Adiarte who played Wang San on Broadway and in the film. Theater and film historian Laurence Maslon says, "Flower Drum Song was really the first unadulterated musical comedy that Rodgers and Hammerstein ever wrote." The film is noteworthy for being cast exclusively by Oriental actors, mostly Asian-Americans. This short has part of a 1957 filmed interview of Oscar Hammerstein.
The movie covered its budget at the box office, mostly due to the music. The story, screenplay and production were mostly lackluster. This documentary doesn't address the quality of the production or that it didn't become a smash hit. Rather, it gives some of the history and focuses on the music and the cast.
Unfortunately, none of the principal actors who became well known were interviewed for this short. Jack Soo died in 1979 and Benson Fong died in 1987. But Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta were alive and active in 2006.
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- SimonJack
- Jun 30, 2019
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- A Classic Evolved: From Print to Stage to Screen
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime19 minutes
- Color
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