To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995)

Three drag queens travel cross-country until their car breaks down, leaving them stranded in a small town.

Director:

Beeban Kidron

Writer:

Douglas Carter Beane

Stars:

Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Wesley Snipes	...	Noxeema
Patrick Swayze	...	Vida
John Leguizamo	...	Chi-Chi
Stockard Channing	...	Carol Ann
Blythe Danner	...	Beatrice
Arliss Howard	...	Virgil
Jason London	...	Bobby Ray
Chris Penn	...	Sheriff Dollard
Melinda Dillon	...	Merna
Beth Grant	...	Loretta
Alice Drummond	...	Clara
Marceline Hugot	...	Katina
Jennifer Milmore	...	Bobby Lee
Jamie Harrold	...	Billy Budd
Mike Hodge	...	Jimmy Joe

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...

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Plot Keywords:

drag | drag queen | small town | cadillac | wigs | 

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Taglines:

Attitude is everything.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for subject matter involving men living in drag, a brief scene of spousal abuse and some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Italian

Release Date:

8 September 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

To Wong Foo

Filming Locations:

Webster Hall, 125 E 11th St, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$36,475,691 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mel Gibson briefly flirted with the idea of playing the Patrick Swayze part.

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Goofs

When Vida and Noxeema first encounter Chi Chi on the stairs, she is wearing both of her gloves. When Vida sits next to her a second later, Chi Chi is wearing only one glove, and is holding the other in her hand.

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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

Spoofs High Plains Drifter (1973)

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Soundtracks

"Do What You Wanna Do"
Written by Steve 'Silk' Hurley (as Steve Hurley), Tonia Hurley
Performed by Charisse Arrington
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.

User Reviews

A lightweight romp.

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.