MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
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Flower Drum Song: Motion Picture Soundtrack (Decca, DL 79098, 1961)
Cast Notes: The Broadway production of FDS was a huge success - one of the bigger, bonafide R&H hits after a couple of failures - and film development began soon after. Casting-wise, several of the key actors from the musical came back, namely Umeki and Hall, but most of the other major principles were replaced. Playing Wang Ta was now JA heartthrob James Shigeta - who was already a recording artist and successful actor - replacing hapa Hawaiian singer Ed Kenney. Jack Soo moved up from understudy to take over as Sammy Fong. Benson Fong stepped in as Wang Ta's father (replacing Keye Luke) and most surprising, to me, Pat Suzuki was replaced by Nancy Kwan. I'm not privy to the details behind that casting choice but while Kwan was undoubtedly the bigger actor draw - she didn't have singing experience and in the film, her voice was dubbed in by B.J. Baker (a white singer).
The film, like the musical, was also a success and has become the most familiar way most Americans have ever become familiar with the musical and its songs.
Music:
Most of the songs I picked out here are ones featuring new singers from the musical. That includes Shigeta doing one of Wang Ta's few real solos, "You Are Beautiful," which shows off the fact that Shigeta can indeed sing but isn't that compelling as a vocalist, lacking a real dynamic range or presence. Soo's no Sinatra either but for "Don't Marry Me" benefits more from his sardonic tone than the need for a true troubadour.
Lastly, I included B.J. Baker knocking out "I Enjoy Being a Girl," which has become the definitive version of the song given the film's popularity.
Cover Art: Despite having as much, if not more text than the musical soundtrack, the film soundtrack uses the visual space of the cover much better, placing the fan front and center and tasking it as another tableau upon which the album title (still in fake Chinese font) and Chinatown buildings (more pagodas!) a drawn. Nice use of "Fan Tan Fanny" (aka a photo of Nancy Kwan) on top to add a bit of visual spark.
Back cover includes the same Kwan photo plus stills from the film and a minimum of liner notes.
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