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 (Wesley Snipes) and Vida Boheme (Patrick Swayze) 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 City contestants, Chi-Chi Rodriguez (John Leguizamo), 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 ...

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Plot Keywords:

drag queen | on the road | new york city | domestic violence | title directed by female | 

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Taglines:

Attitude is everything.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Snydersville" is actually the tiny town of Loma, Nebraska - about thirty miles from Lincoln.

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Goofs

At the Table of Jimmy Joe's Diner, The Bartender/Owner/Jimmy Joe is seen standing behind the BAR listening while the ladies are talking and the camera goes from the Bar to Merna/ Owner Beauty Parlor and The Bartenders Arm is seen setting something on the table while she Merna /Owner of beauty parlor is talking.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Vida Boheme: Ready or not, here comes mama!

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Crazy Credits

"The characters and events depicted in this photoplay are fictitious: any similarity to actual person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. In particular, the character named "Chi Chi Rodriguez" was not based upon or authorized by the professional golfer of that name."

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Connections

Referenced in Wolves (2016)

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Soundtracks

Nobody's Body
Written by Heavy D
Performed by Monifah Carter (as Monifah Dahara)
Courtesy of Uptown/MCA Records, Inc.

User Reviews

And Wheeeeeere is tha bodaaay???

This movie was HILARIOUS. Every time I'm sad or down in the dumps, I pop in this film to cheer me up. I thought Ru Paul and even Julie Newmar made excellent cameos. Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo played believable drag queens, and they all did great jobs trying not to trip in their stiletto heels. Stockhard Channing was great too, as the abused wife who never gets to have any fun. The movie has a happy ending, and after the movie you find yourself accepting others for who they are.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Italian

Release Date:

8 September 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar

Filming Locations:

7764 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,019,180, 10 September 1995

Gross USA:

$36,474,193

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$47,774,193

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

DTS DTS-Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1