FLOWER DRUM SONG

US, 1961, 133, Colour.
Nancy Kwan, James Shigeta, Benson Fong, Jack Soo, Juanita Hall.
Directed by Henry Koster.

A lesser Rogers and Hammerstein musical. Universal was not noted for making lavish musical comedies but produced this film at the beginning of the sixties. It is a bright and breezy kind of musical, the meeting of traditional China and the brassy American culture of San Francisco. Nancy Kwan represents the Chinese San Francisco. Academy Award winner (from Sayonara, 1957) Miyoshi Umeki represents the traditional Chinese heroine. James Shigeta represents the man in the middle.

The material is conventional romantic material with the American musical comedy touch. It is quite entertaining in its way, though rather long. It is an interesting comparison with other versions or Rogers and Hammerstein musicals at the time including Carousel, The King and South Pacific and then the success of The Sound of Music. The director is Henry Koster who made a star of Deanna Durbin and was an expert at making American domestic comedies, like Take Her, She's Mine or Mr Hobbes Goes on Vacation.

1. The appeal of this musical, the songs, dancing, plot, Rogers and Hammerstein's reputation?

2. The atmosphere of San Francisco, the world of the American Chinese? Widescreen, colour, the dancing and choreography, the importance of the dreams and fantasy sequences ?

3. Comment on the fantasy world of this part of America. The relationship to the real China, the China of the refugees? The relationship with the real San Francisco, the real America? Did it matter that this was a fantasy world? The world of heroes and heroines, suffering, resolutions and happy endings? Is this too much of a dream world or satisfactory for this kind of musical?

4. The presentation of the world of San Francisco, its streets and wharves, its buildings, the look and atmosphere of the city, the Chinese homes, business, night spots, streets universities? Authentic atmosphere for the musical?

5. Mei Li and her arrival with her father? Immediately getting sympathy with her, the songs, the heroine, pleasant, her Chinese manners and customs, her innocence? Her fascination with Wang Ta, her beauty, her suffering, the proposals of marriage and the Customs, the resolution? Could audiences identify with this heroine?

6. The comparison with Ta, an Americanised Chinese, his work at the university, his serious-mindedness, the hero, his songs, the fascination with Linda the bad girl, his love for Mei Li?

7. The contrast with Linda and her type, her work, her sophistication, her apartment, her dancing? Her relationship with Sammy and her jealousy? Her contribution to the complications of the plot? A credible heroine?

8. The contribution of the minor characters, the father, the aunt? The family and their various traditions?

9. The humour and comedy of the home scenes and the discussions about marriages and Chinese customs and American ways?

10. The contrast with Linda's world, the fantasies and the glamorous dances? and the glamour?

11. The build-up to the discovery scene, the humour, the resolution?

12. The appropriateness of the happy ending? The American values represented in this film?