Plot

The film tells Jack Soo's story through a montage of film and television clips, rare footage, interviews with family members, friends, co-workers, and others who knew him best. From his early appearances on programs such as The Jack Benny Show and Valentines' Day, Soo's life is examined both in the historical context of the times, and the grandeur of an earlier Hollywood where stars like Soo succeeded in a multitude of artistic mediums, reminiscent of vaudevillian times. From Soo's early training as an announcer and stand-up comic, to his singing, acting and dancing career on Broadway, culminating with his signature role as Detective Nick Yemana, Soo's unique talent and dedication to his craft are fully explored and captured through a dazzling kaleidoscope of images, music, montages, interviews and stories. Featured interview subjects include Nancy Kwan who was Soo's co-star in the film version of Broadway Flower Drum Song; Soo's co-stars on Barney Miller, Max Gail and Steve Landesberg; Hal Kanter, the creator and producer of Valentine's Day and George Takei, Soo's friend and co-star in The Green Berets. The film will also dig deep into Soo's past, including interviews with Soo's daughter and close friends, former Topaz internees, former Motown executive Al Abrams, and others who knew Soo at key points in his life and career.—Jeff Adachi

Actor and singer Jack Soo is seen as a pioneer of the Asian-American in Hollywood. Although he was working in show business as a stand-up comedian and nightclub emcee in San Francisco prior to them, the Broadway musical and then the movie Flower Drum Song (1961) were his breakthrough vehicles. Although ethnic Japanese (born Goro Suzuki), he was convinced to keep his Chinese stage name Jack Soo - which he originally took when the bombing of Pearl Harbor made being Japanese in the US difficult - for the Broadway musical and the movie because it was about Chinese-Americans, and all the other lead actors were already being played by Japanese. The Broadway musical and the movie were important milestones in that they were the first in the US to feature all Asian casts. With that role and and a subsequent role on Valentine's Day (1964), Jack became the first true Asian "hipster" in Hollywood. With his subsequent role in Barney Miller (1975), Jack cemented what would be seen as his signature acting style, delivering lines in a deadpan manner and always being cool under pressure. Jack was less known as a recording artist, but was under contract with Motown Records, for who he recorded the now famous song "For Once in My Life".—Huggo