This is going to be a tricky review. With the current view of films based on other cultures and Hollywood’s “whitewashing” in the foreground, it is difficult to review “Flower Drum Song” from 1961 with an entirely Asian cast. Do you take modern views into account? Do you dwell on that this movie is about Chinese culture and primarily had a cast of Japanese actors in the leads…and one African-American? Then there is the point that the ENTIRE PLOT REGARDS CONTRACTS FOR ARRANGED MARRIAGES FOR PASSAGE INTO THIS COUNTRY….Not exactly a film that would get a green light in this day and age.

Well, I’m staying out of the politics. That isn’t my forte or my interest. Was the movie any damn good? That’s what I’ll examine here. I consider this one of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s lesser musicals. It is certainly no “South Pacific” or “Sound of Music,” with few memorable tunes. 100 Million Miracles is the main theme of the movie and frankly, it’s not a strong tune and the staging of the tune isn’t exactly a epic…the singer simply flits about a studio shot of a downtown park square (that is very clearly not outside) and sings to passersby. Let me hold back the yawn.

In fact, it is not really clear if the film made any money.

The only true toe tapper is Nancy Kwan‘s rendition (I know it is not her voice but she did her own dancing) of Enjoy Being a Girl. There is a fun strip tease number midway in the film that sets much of the second half of the film and a set piece during a Chinese New Year parade, but you often realize that you just aren’t watching an MGM musical. Universal was not best known for their musicals.

The plot is paper-thin dealing with Chinese intergenerational views on arranged marriages in San Francisco mid-20th century. There is, however, a great cast including the always wonderful Nancy Kwan, Barney Miller’s Jack Soo (who practically steals the movie with his song Don’t Marry Me), Lo Pan himself: James Hong in a supporting role, and Die Hard‘s James Shigeta who never really did get to hear Hans Gruber count to four.

So as far as talent goes, the movie is stacked with it in front of the lens.

Oddly, it is unclear if this movie even paid for itself. It did get into the National Film Registry, but from a Box Office performance is not exactly clear. One thing is clear, this was not producer Ross Hunter’s biggest failure: that distinction remains 1973’s Lost Horizon which flopped so hard it basically killed the silver age of musicals. No major studio would even consider a musical until Grease taught everyone musicals could bring moviegoers back to the cinemas.

Now, there are themes of illegal aliens, the role of a woman in that time, and lots of sections of the film that will challenge modern audiences, but the craftsmanship of the filmmaking is top notch. The main problem is the plot isn’t fantastic and the songs just aren’t all that memorable. But if you are looking for a good little distraction from modern life, this should fit the bill. Still, there are a lot of great musicals from the previous decade and this one that are more worthy of your time.

Grade: C+

Flower Drum Song (1961)