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Storyline
After jointly winning a local drag queen pageant in New York City, Noxeema Jackson and Vida Boheme win the right and are given the round trip airfare to compete in the Drag Queen of America pageant in Hollywood, California. Noxeema sees herself as the next Dorothy Dandridge, who bucked the trend of most black American movie actresses of her time by never playing the slave house maid. Vida's style reflects her past of growing up in upper class suburban Pennsylvania. One of their fellow New York contestants, Chi-Chi Rodriguez, is a straight-talking but naive and inexperienced drag queen. Seeing that Chi-Chi needs some drag queen confidence (despite her bravada), Vida and a reluctant Noxeema decide to cash in their plane tickets and buy an older model Cadillac convertible and drive to Hollywood with Chi-Chi. Their drive takes them through much of the country where alternate lifestyles are less tolerated than they may be in New York or Los Angeles. The three have an extended stay in small... Written by
Huggo
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Taglines:
Attitude is everything.
Motion Picture Rating
(MPAA)
Rated PG-13 for subject matter involving men living in drag, a brief scene of spousal abuse and some language
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Golfer
Chi Chi Rodriguez won an undisclosed sum from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment after complaining that
John Leguizamo's character shared his name. Rodriguez claimed that being linked to a gay character who dresses in drag had harmed his reputation.
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Goofs
During the opening credits of the men getting dressed - Noxzema Jackson has a full face of makeup on, but when she's shown putting on her wig, she's without lipstick and her false eyelashes even though both are on and visible earlier in the credits.
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Quotes
[
first lines]
Vida Boheme:
Ready or not, here comes mama!
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Crazy Credits
Noah Kidron Style .... Best Baby (Noah was born to director
Beeban Kidron on the last day of filming).
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Connections
References
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
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Soundtracks
"Body Beautiful"
Written by
Bernadette Cooper
Rap by
Cheryl 'Salt' James
Performed by
Salt-N-Pepa featuring
Bernadette Cooper
Salt-N-Pepa appears courtesy of London Records and Noise in the Attic Productions
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The only bad thing about this film, as with most Hollywood films in which gays are depicted, is that it perpetuates the stereotype that all gays are drag queens. Still, Snipes and Swayze are fabulous, hilarious, and courageous to risk their testosterone-driven careers on such a romp. But John Leguizamo, as the drag princess, steals the show, no small feat considering the supporting cast includes Robin Williams, Stockard Channing, Blythe Danner, Melinda Dillon, Arliss Howard, and, of course, the statuesque Julie Newmar.
Much has been made of the similarity between this film and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, but each stands on its own for many reasons. Each presented superb casts in stories with obvious similarities. But oh the differences. Completely different approaches to humor, not to mention drag. Also, To Wong Foo is a more pleasant if somewhat more lightweight movie. The American audience probably had a much easier time with this one than with Priscilla.