Flower Drum Song (1961)

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Approved
2h 13min
Comedy, Musical
28 Mar 1962 (Spain)
Movie

6.9 (3,913)

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A young woman arrives in San Francisco's Chinatown from Hong Kong with the intention of marrying a rakish nightclub owner, unaware he is involved with one of his singers.

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers:

Stars:

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 1 win & 7 nominations.
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Reviews:

Photos and Videos

A young woman arrives in San Francisco's Chinatown from Hong Kong with the intention of marrying a rakish nightclub owner, unaware he is involved with one of his singers.

Still of Patrick Adiarte, Cherylene Lee and Virginia Ann Lee in Flower Drum Song (1961)

Still of Nancy Kwan and Miyoshi Umeki in Flower Drum Song (1961)

Still of James Shigeta and Miyoshi Umeki in Flower Drum Song (1961)

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35 photos | 2 videos

Complete, Cast awaiting verification

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	Nancy Kwan	...	Linda Low
	James Shigeta	...	Wang Ta
	Benson Fong	...	Wang Chi-Yang
	Jack Soo	...	Sammy Fong
	Juanita Hall	...	Madame Liang
	Reiko Sato	...	Helen Chao
	Patrick Adiarte	...	Wang San
	Kam Tong	...	Doctor Li
	Victor Sen Yung	...	Frankie Wing
	Soo Yong	...	Madame Yen Fong
	Ching Wah Lee	...	Professor
	James Hong	...	Headwaiter
	Miyoshi Umeki	...	Mei Li
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	B.J. Baker	...	Linda Low (uncredited) (singingVoice)
	Henry Beau	...	(uncredited)
	Herman Belmonte	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Paul Bradley	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	George Bruggeman	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Eugene Chan	...	Umpire (uncredited)
	Mary Chan	...	Lady in the Park (uncredited)
	Spencer Chan	...	Doctor Chou (uncredited)
	David Chow	...	Gambler (uncredited)
	Tai Wai Chow	...	Croupier (uncredited)
	Jane Chung	...	Woman (uncredited)
	Jose De Vega	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Rudy Del Campo	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	John Dodson	...	Dr. Li (uncredited) (singingVoice)
	Harold Fong	...	News Vendor (uncredited)
	Jon Fong	...	Square Dance Caller (uncredited)
	H.W. Gim	...	Citizen (uncredited)
	Virginia Grey	...	Rosalind (uncredited)
	Marilyn Horne	...	Helen Chao (uncredited) (singingVoice)
	Shep Houghton	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Nancy Hsueh	...	Girl (uncredited)
	Al Huang	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Jimmy Huntley	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Hideo Inamura	...	Onlooker in Park (uncredited)
	Michael Jeffers	...	Parade Spectator (uncredited)
	Finis Jhung	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Keiko Kamitsuka	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Carol Kikumura	...	Dancer at Nightclub (uncredited)
	Paul King	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Robert Kino	...	Bank Manager (uncredited)
	Frank Kumagai	...	Tradesman (uncredited)
	Cherylene Lee	...	Wang's Youngest Daughter (uncredited)
	Esther Ying Lee	...	Bar Girl (uncredited)
	Guy Lee	...	Student (uncredited)
	Virginia Ann Lee	...	Wang San's Girl Friend (uncredited)
	Willard Lee	...	Tradesman (uncredited)
	Weaver Levy	...	Policeman (uncredited)
	Tiko Ling	...	(uncredited)
	Laurette Luez	...	TV Mexican Girl (uncredited)
	Hans Moebus	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Alice Nishimura	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Ron Nyman	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Jack Perrin	...	Parade Spectator (uncredited)
	Murray Pollack	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Beulah Quo	...	Woman (uncredited)
	Frank Radcliffe	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Ward Ramsey	...	Eric (uncredited)
	Tony Regan	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Mitchell Rhein	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Herman Rudin	...	Holdup Man (uncredited)
	Jerry Rush	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Jeffrey Sayre	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	James Shen	...	2nd Chinese Sailor (uncredited)
	Robin Shimatsu	...	Small Girl (uncredited)
	Gerald Shimaza	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Arthur Song	...	Doctor Fong (uncredited)
	Owen Song	...	Onlooker in Park (uncredited)
	Willie Soo Hoo	...	Chinese Man (uncredited)
	Paul Sorensen	...	TV Sheriff (uncredited)
	Norman Stevans	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Pat Sui	...	(uncredited)
	Teruko Suzuki	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Joan Swift	...	Singer (uncredited)
	Paul Togawa	...	Beatnik (uncredited)
	David Toguri	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Irene Tsu	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Edwin Tuttle	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Jack Tygett	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Luree Wiese	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
	Beal Wong	...	Tailor (uncredited)
	William Yip	...	Chinese Sailor (uncredited)

Directed by

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Henry Koster

Written by

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Joseph Fields	...	(screenplay)

C.Y. Lee	...	(novel "The Flower Drum Song")

Joseph Fields	...	(book of stage play) (uncredited)

Oscar Hammerstein II	...	(book of stage play) (uncredited)

Produced by

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Joseph Fields	...	in association with: A Ross Hunter Production
Ross Hunter	...	producer

Music by

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Alfred Newman

...

(uncredited)

Cinematography by

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Russell Metty

...

director of photography

Editing by

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Milton Carruth

Art Direction by

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Alexander Golitzen
Joseph C. Wright	...	(as Joseph Wright)
Dale Hennesy	...	(uncredited)

Set Decoration by

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Howard Bristol

Costume Design by

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Irene Sharaff

Makeup Department

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Larry Germain	...	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	...	makeup artist

Production Management

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Norman Deming	...	unit production manager
Edward Muhl	...	in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Phil Bowles

...

assistant director

Art Department

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Dong Kingman	...	original title paintings
Dale Hennesy	...	illustrator (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Joe Lapis	...	sound
Waldon O. Watson	...	sound

Camera and Electrical Department

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Wynn Hammer	...	titles animation camera (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby	...	special still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department

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Ken Darby	...	associate music supervisor
Oscar Hammerstein II	...	lyricist: songs (as Oscar Hammerstein 2nd)
Alfred Newman	...	conductor / music supervisor
Richard Rodgers	...	composer: songs
Edward B. Powell	...	orchestrator (uncredited)
Ethmer Roten	...	musician: flute (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Marshall J. Wolins

...

script supervisor (as Marshall Wolins)

Additional Crew

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Leon Charles	...	dialogue coach
Albert Lim	...	technical advisor
Hermes Pan	...	choreographer
H.K. Wong	...	technical advisor

Crew believed to be complete

Production Companies

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Ross Hunter Productions
Fields Productions (produced in association with)

Distributors

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Universal Pictures (1961) (United States) (theatrical) (as Universal-International®)
Empire Universal Films (1961) (Canada) (theatrical)
Rank Film Distributors (1961) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
Universal Pictures Proprietary (1961) (Australia) (theatrical)
Universal Film (1962) (Sweden) (theatrical)
Universal Film (1962) (Norway) (theatrical)
Universal Pictures (1965) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release) (as Universal International®)
National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1968) (United States) (tv)
MCA Home Video (1986) (United States) (VHS) (pan/scan version)
MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (United States) (VHS)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2006) (United States) (DVD)
Umbrella Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
Kino Lorber (2022) (United States) (Blu-ray)
The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
Samuel Goldwyn Films (2024) (United States) (video) (streaming)

Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Pacific Title (titles executed by)
Panavision (photographic lenses by)
Visual Icon (exclusive clip and still licensing)
Western Costume Company (costumes)
Westrex Recording System (sound recording system)

Storyline

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Plot Summary	Chinese stowaway Mei Li (Miyoshi Umeki) arrives in San Francisco with her father to meet her fiancé, wealthy nightclub owner Sammy Fong (Jack Soo), in an arranged marriage, but the groom has his eye on his star singer Linda Low (Nancy Kwan). This film version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical is filled with memorable song-and-dance numbers showcasing the contrast between Mei Li's traditional family and her growing fascination with American culture. Written by alfiehitchie Plot Summary Plot Synopsis
Plot Keywords	national-film-registry telephone-order chinese-calligraphy bowing-in-greeting mirror-does-not-reflect-reality See All (128) »
Taglines	Broadway's Most Romantic Musical Comedy comes to the Screen!!! See more »
Genres	Comedy Musical Romance
Parents Guide	View content advisory »
Certification	Argentina:Atp Australia:G Finland:K-12 France:Tous publics Italy:T Japan:G New Zealand:G Norway:7 United Kingdom:U United States:Approved West Germany:12 (nf)

Additional Details

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Also Known As	Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song (United States) Flor de loto (United States, Spanish title) Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song (United Kingdom) Au rythme des tambours fleuris (France) Prometidas sin novio (Spain) See more »
Runtime	133 min
Country	United States
Language	English Cantonese
Color	Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio	2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix	4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)
Filming Locations	San Francisco, California, USA See more »

Box Office

Budget

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia	Miyoshi Umeki was nominated for the 1959 Tony Award, for Actress in a Musical, and recreated her role in the film version. See more »
Goofs	When Wang Ta (James Shigeta) drinks from the cup during the wedding ceremony his lips do not touch the glass but still swallows as if he drank from the glass. See more »
Movie Connections	Edited into The Green Fog (2017). See more »
Soundtracks	Overture See more »
Quotes	Policeman: So where are you folks from? Mei Li: The East. Policeman: Oh, New York, huh? Dr. Li: Further east. See more »

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