To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

Last updated

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
Towongfoo.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Beeban Kidron
Written by Douglas Carter Beane
Produced byG. Mac Brown
Starring
CinematographySteve Mason
Edited by Andrew Mondshein
Music by Rachel Portman
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures [1]
Release date
  • September 8, 1995 (1995-09-08)(United States)
Running time
105 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30 million [2]
Box office$47.8 million [3]

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar is a 1995 American road comedy film directed by Beeban Kidron and starring Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo as three New York City drag queens who embark on a road trip. Its title refers to an iconic autographed photo of Julie Newmar that they carry with them on their journey. Newmar also has a cameo appearance in the film as herself.

Contents

The film was released on September 8, 1995, and was in the number one spot in the North American box office for two weeks with a worldwide gross of $47.8 million. Critical response was mixed, with particular criticism towards the plot and its familiar elements, but the performances of Swayze, Snipes, and Leguizamo were lauded. At the 53rd Golden Globe Awards, Swayze was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and Leguizamo was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.

Plot

After tying for the win in New York City's "Drag Queen of the Year" contest, Noxeema Jackson and Vida Boheme win a trip to Hollywood to take part in the even bigger "Miss Drag Queen of America Pageant". Before they depart, Vida persuades Noxeema to take along the inexperienced "drag princess" Chi-Chi Rodriguez as their protégé (they initially refer to him simply as a "boy in a dress" rather than as a full-fledged drag queen). To do this, they cash in their plane tickets to a friend, John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt (which in reality is the title of a song), and use the money to buy a yellow convertible 1967 Cadillac DeVille. They set off for Los Angeles in it, carrying with them an iconic autographed photo of Julie Newmar (signed "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar") that Vida took from a restaurant wall.

While on the road, they are pulled over by Sheriff Dollard, who hurls racial slurs then forces Vida out of the car and tries to rape her. Vida strikes him, and he is knocked unconscious. He is presumed dead, and the queens drive off. At a rest stop, they recover from the incident, but their car breaks down. Bobby Ray, a young man from the nearby small town of Snydersville, happens to pass by and gives them a ride to a bed and breakfast inn. The inn is owned by Carol Ann and her abusive car repairman husband, Virgil.

They are stranded in the town for the weekend waiting for the replacement part for their car. Chi-Chi is harassed by a group of rednecks but is saved by Bobby Ray. While volunteering to help with the town's Strawberry Social, they decide the town's women need a day with them getting their hair done, picking out new outfits, and talking in a café. While searching for the new outfits, they are ecstatic to find vintage fashions from the 1960s in the town's clothing store and give the female residents (and themselves) a makeover.

Following their makeover, they are abused by the same rednecks that attempted to harass Chi-Chi. Fed up, Noxeema handles the situation in a typically New York City manner and teaches their ringleader a lesson in manners. Vida, Noxeema, and Chi-Chi do what they can to be positive, and they set out to improve the lives of the townspeople, including offering assistance in organizing the Strawberry Social. Meanwhile, Sheriff Dollard is ridiculed by his colleagues, who believe he was beaten up by a girl. He goes in search of the drag queens.

Vida becomes acutely aware of Carol Ann's abuse at the hands of Virgil and, one night, decides to intervene, beating Virgil up before throwing him out of the house. Carol Ann is able to repair their car, but they remain for the Strawberry Social. Carol Ann reveals to Vida that she knew she was a drag queen all along due to her Adam's apple.

Virgil runs into Sheriff Dollard at a bar, and they realize that the newcomers are the same people Dollard has been searching for. They head back to Snydersville, and Dollard demands that the townspeople turn them over. The other townspeople, who now realize that their new friends are not women, devise a ruse to protect them. One by one, they confront Dollard, each one claiming to be a drag queen (in a similar fashion to Spartacus ). Dollard is humiliated and flees. The Strawberry Social commences with everyone dressed in vibrant red outfits. The townspeople then say goodbye to Noxeema, Vida, and Chi-Chi as they prepare to leave. In honor of their friendship, Vida gives Carol Ann the autographed photo of Julie Newmar that has accompanied them on their trip.

They eventually make it to Los Angeles where Chi-Chi, after having received many tips from Vida and Noxeema during their ordeal, wins the title of Drag Queen of the Year. The crown is presented by Julie Newmar herself.

Cast

Cameo appearances

Production

Development

Writer Douglas Carter Beane originally envisioned the script as a stage play but changed his mind when he realized putting a car on stage might not work. [4] Beane was inspired by an anti-gay propaganda film called The Gay Agenda. Of that film, Beane said, "There's a scene where they show drag queens going through a town, and the narrator is warning the viewers that these people will take over your town, and I thought, Well, that would be fun." [5]

The script found its way to Mitch Kohn, then a development executive at Amblin Entertainment. [6] Kohn passed the script along to his boss Steven Spielberg, who "loved it". [6] Spielberg had his friend Robin Williams do a humorous cold reading of the script while on a plane, which "mesmerized" the director. [4] Williams expressed interest in a possible role but did not want to distract from the three leads, so he opted for a small cameo appearance. [4]

When the script officially went into development at Amblin, multiple unnamed male directors passed on directing. [6] British director Beeban Kidron begged Spielberg to let her direct, and he accepted. [7] [8] Though advertising companies wanted to change the film’s title to the shorter Ladies' Night or She's a Lady, Beane's script managed to keep the original title, which came from an autographed picture of Julie Newmar that Beane saw on the wall of a Times Square Chinese restaurant in the mid-1980s. [4] Beane said Wong Foo is meant to be a metaphor for God, "because you have to thank God for everything. You have to be grateful for life. You just have to stop where you are and say thank you for everything." [4] A scene was filmed where the characters provide more context, but it was deleted. [4] [9]

Casting

When it came to casting the leading men, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo (for whom the role of Chi-Chi Rodriguez was specifically written) [4] both immediately said yes. [6] Many actors were considered for the role of Vida Boheme, including Robert Downey Jr., William Baldwin, Gary Oldman, Matthew Broderick, James Spader, John Cusack, Mel Gibson, Robert Sean Leonard, Willem Dafoe, John Turturro, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise, and Robin Williams (who has a brief cameo in the finished film). [7] [10] Patrick Swayze was one of the last actors to audition for Vida. Director Beeban Kidron said that it was ultimately Swayze's walk that sealed the deal, saying "Swayze had his own makeup people transform him into a woman, and he insisted that he and Beeban take a walk around the city to prove he could pass as a woman" and "With his beauty and dancer's grace, he did just that. He had the job." [6]

The film featured dozens of New York City's drag performers and underground stars in small roles or as featured extras. Included in the mix were RuPaul, Joey Arias, Lady Bunny, Miss Understood, Candis Cayne, Flotilla DeBarge, Miss Coco Peru, Lady Catiria, and Quentin Crisp. [4] The three lead actors spent time in the local drag scene while researching their roles and were each given a drag mentor to work with in developing their characters. [4] [10] Costume designer Marlene Stewart had the leads' wardrobes, including the shoes and corsets, custom-made. [11] [12]

Filming

Filming took place from July to October 1994. [11] The drag contest seen in the beginning scene was filmed at Webster Hall in New York City. [4] The John Shaffer Phipps Estate in Old Westbury, New York, now known as Old Westbury Gardens, was the site of the Miss Drag Queen USA contest at the end of the film. [13] Film locations in New Jersey included Jersey City (site of the Canton Restaurant in which the opening restaurant scenes were shot) [14] and Montclair. [15] Much of the film was shot on location in Nebraska in the areas of Loma, Lincoln, and Omaha. [7] Though greatly faded, a "Welcome to Snydersville" outdoor mural remains in Loma. [16]

In interviews and recollections with actors and crew after the film, the production of To Wong Foo has been described as "a tough shoot", partly due to the discomfort the male leads experienced with their extensive makeup and costumes. [7] [10] John Leguizamo revealed in May 2024 that Patrick Swayze was difficult to work with. [17] [18] On location filming and a 4½-month-long shoot also contributed to friction among cast and crew. [19] [7] [18]

Kidron was pregnant when she accepted the directing job. As her due date drew nearer, Spielberg offered to step in and direct for her if needed. [4] [8] Kidron ultimately completed principal photography and gave birth immediately after filming wrapped. [4] [8]

A scene involving the drag trio dining at a McDonald's was scrapped after the company told producers they did not want to be associated with drag queen culture. [4] [19] Coca-Cola agreed to product placement, and a billboard for the soda company is featured in a prominent scene in the film. [4]

The Australian film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was released in 1994 and became an international and critical hit. [4] To Wong Foo shares certain plot details with Priscilla, which also concerns two drag queens and a transgender woman on a road trip who manage to win over the locals of a small town. Despite the similarities, To Wong Foo had already been in production by the time Priscilla was released. [6] [4] The crew of Priscilla had heard about the film while shooting their own, and though a producer was initially worried the films might be too similar, after reading To Wong Foo's script, producers decided it was sufficiently different from Priscilla. [20] [21] The success of Priscilla, along with the popularity of drag queens like RuPaul and the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning , is credited with helping pave the way for To Wong Foo. [4]

Music

Soundtrack

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything!
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
ReleasedAugust 29, 1995
Genre Pop, dance music, R&B
Length44:02
Label RCA Records

The film's soundtrack was released on August 29, 1995. [22] It consists of eleven tracks: [23] [24]

No.TitleLength
1."I Am the Body Beautiful" (Salt-N-Pepa)4:52
2."Free Yourself" (Chaka Khan)4:13
3."Turn It Out" (Labelle)4:54
4."Who Taught You How" (Crystal Waters)4:56
5."She's a Lady" (Tom Jones)2:20
6."Brick House" (Commodores)3:34
7."Nobody’s Body" (Monifah)5:21
8."Do What You Wanna Do" (Charisse Arrington)4:33
9."Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun)" (Cyndi Lauper)3:41
10."Over the Rainbow" (Patti LaBelle)5:38
11."To Wong Foo Suite: When I Get to Hollywood/A Day With the Moms/Moms Mabley/Stand Up" (Rachel Portman)7:12
Total length:44:02

Music and songs not included in the soundtrack: [25] [24]

Release

Box office

To Wong Foo was released wide in North American theaters on September 8, 1995. [26] It opened at the number-one position with $9 million [27] and remained at the top in its second week with a gross of $6.5 million. [27] [6] [28] [29] Its lifetime box-office gross revenue totaled US$47.8 million worldwide. [3] Professional golfer Chi-Chi Rodríguez sued the production company and distributor over the use of his name in the film, [30] eventually settling on undisclosed terms. [31]

Home media

The film was released on VHS after its theatrical release and on DVD on January 7, 2003, with several deleted scenes. [25] It was released as a special collector's edition Blu-ray by Shout! Factory on May 28, 2019. [32] The edition includes the behind-the-scenes documentary Easy Rider in Dresses: A Look Back at the Making of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, which features interviews with screenwriter Douglas Carter Beane, director Beeban Kidron, and John Leguizamo. [33]

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 48% based on 46 reviews, with an average rating of 5.4/10. The site's consensus states: "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar seeks to celebrate individuality, but is too timid and predictable to achieve its admittedly noble aims." [34] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 60% based on reviews from 24 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [35] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "B+" on scale of A to F. [36]

Though critical reviews were mixed, the performances of the three leads were roundly praised. Joe Brown of The Washington Post called the film "fiercely funny" and wrote, "Three snaps up for Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo, who walk the walk, and work it." [37] Emanuel Levy of Variety gave a mixed review but wrote, "Sporting blond wigs, Snipes admirably wiggles his hips while wearing high-heeled red shoes. Using a low register, Swayze also excels as a man still suffering from parental rejection. Shining throughout is the brilliant Leguizamo, as the Latino spitfire who needs to prove to his comrades that he's more than 'a mere boy in a dress.'" [38]

Patrick Swayze (cropped).jpg
Wesley Snipes (41969097750) (cropped).jpg
John Leguizamo 2 by David Shankbone.jpg
Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo received critical praise for their performances.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, "What is amazing is how the movie manages to be funny and amusing while tippy-toeing around (a) sex, (b) controversy and (c) any originality in the plot. Credit for that belongs to Swayze, Snipes and Leguizamo, who are surprisingly good at playing drag queens." [39] While Ebert gave the film 2+1⁄2 stars out of four, his colleague Gene Siskel gave a more positive review and predicted an Oscar nomination for Swayze. [40]

Multiple critics pointed out the film's similarities to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and said To Wong Foo was subpar in comparison [37] [38] [41] [42] due to the predictability of its plot, script and tonal unevenness. [38] [43] [44] The decision to have the leads spend most of the film in drag, even going to bed in their wigs and makeup, was also criticized as straining credulity. [37] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times wrote screenwriter Beane and director Kidron "don't seem to know any way to emphasize the humanity of their characters except by swaddling them in mushy cliches". [42] Actor and writer Michael Kearns argued the film and its promotion is "eager to wink and snicker at homosexuality". [45] The film's omission of "any hint of gay sexuality" was noted by Janet Maslin of The New York Times , [43] as well as Brown of the Post, who decried the fact that "always in the (admittedly few) mainstream movies with gay characters, [the film's] hero-ines" do not get to partake in the film's romantic story arcs, and appear to only function as asexual fairy godmothers for the townspeople of Snydersville. [37] [39]

In a positive review, Edward Guthmann of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "It's a distant cry from the reality of gay bashings, poverty and evictions that real-life drag queens suffer—which may be part of its point. Imagine, Wong Foo suggests, a world where people stopped judging one another and simply surrendered to the silliness that's dormant inside us." [46]

The Austin Chronicle 's Alison Macor shared a similar sentiment, writing that while the film's sentimentality may go too far for some, To Wong Foo "is such a delight that it's easy to overlook the few awkward moments", adding, "The film camps it up but still allows us to believe in the characters." [47]

Emanuel Levy concluded though the film "is not as outrageous or funny as [Priscilla]...it still offers some rewards as mainstream entertainment" and that "ultimately, the comedy comes across as a celebration of openness, alternative lifestyles and bonding, all life-affirming values that in the 1990s are beyond reproach—or real controversy". [38]

Accolades

Swayze and Leguizamo were nominated at the 1996 Golden Globe Awards, for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. [48]

The film was nominated for Outstanding Film at the 1996 GLAAD Media Awards. [49]

Legacy

To Wong Foo is considered groundbreaking for being the first mainstream Hollywood production to depict drag queens. [4] [7] [50] Rita Kempley of The Washington Post wrote that in comparison to previous films that featured cross-dressing like Some Like It Hot or Tootsie , "The heroines [in To Wong Foo] aren't cross-dressing to escape the mob or to prove a point, they're just being true to their nature." [51]

In a 2019 retrospective piece about the film, writer Naveen Kumar noted "the film's language and understanding of gender variance is undoubtedly limited as a product of its time" and that the film "[blended] iterations of queer experience that tend to have clearer distinctions in the real world, and for which we have more nuanced language today". [32] Among the film's language and concepts that are now considered problematic is the terminology used by the characters to describe the differences in queer identities. [32] [52]

Of the leads being in drag for the duration of the film, some critics said this was an intentional part of the film's camp element. Kumar added, "That To Wong Foo's drag performances remain completely unbroken throughout the film's entirety heightens the movie's extreme emphasis on beauty and artifice" and that the film is very "conscious of its ironies [as] Swayze and Snipes were both box-office draws known for hypermasculine and romantic leading roles; the perceived incongruity of dressing them in drag is part of what fuels the comedy". [32] In this way, Kumar wrote, "To Wong Foo plays on viewers' suspension of disbelief (Swayze and Snipes, in particular, are clearly recognizable under their women's garb)" and that the "movie's own characterizations tend to blur the lines between drag as a conscious performance and their desire to actually be seen, day and night, as women". [32]

Of the characters staying in drag, Douglas Carter Beane said his intent was to create an illusion, saying, "It is about fantasy and the illusion. It's about the work that goes into the art form. It was never meant to be an absolutely truthful documentary look at drag." [4] Candis Cayne, who appears in the film, said its fantasy element can also be seen as "[perpetuating] an idea that transgender identity is nothing but make-believe". [4] Drag queen Alaska Thunderfuck said that what the film does best is "the camaraderie between the girls... the way they look out for each other and protect one another. The movie also illustrates the transformative power of drag. It helps people become empowered, no matter where they come from or what kind of life they lead". [4]

Other media

Musical

In 2017, it was announced that Douglas Carter Beane and his husband Lewis Flinn were working on a musical adaptation for Broadway. [53] In an interview, Beane stated that he had originally written To Wong Foo for the stage and had retained stage rights when the screenplay was produced. [54] The musical premiered at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester on October 21, 2023. [55]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julie Newmar</span> American actress (born 1933)

Julie Newmar is an American actress, dancer, and singer known for a variety of stage, screen, and television roles. She is also a writer, lingerie designer, and real estate mogul. She won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role as Katrin Sveg in the 1958 Broadway production of The Marriage-Go-Round, and reprised the role in the 1961 film version. In the 1960s she starred for two seasons as Catwoman in the television series Batman (1966–1967). Her other stage credits include Ziegfeld Follies in 1956, Lola in Damn Yankees! in 1961, and Irma in Irma la Douce in 1965 in regional productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hedda Lettuce</span> American drag queen, comedian and singer

Hedda Lettuce is the stage name of Steven Polito, an American drag queen, comedian and singer who lives and works in New York City. Polito debuted his character Hedda Lettuce in 1991 on the Manhattan Cable TV show The Brenda and Glennda Show. Lettuce's appearances include MTV, Comedy Central, The People's Court and a cameo on Sex and the City as Samantha's ex-beau turned Bingo Drag impersonator. Lettuce's film appearances include To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar; Cruise Control, The Look, Red Lipstick, and Musical Chairs.

<i>The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert</i> 1994 Australian film by Stephan Elliott

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a 1994 Australian road comedy film written and directed by Stephan Elliott. The plot follows three drag queens, played by Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, and Terence Stamp, as they journey across the Australian Outback from Sydney to Alice Springs in a tour bus that they have named "Priscilla", along the way encountering various groups and individuals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Swayze</span> American actor, dancer and singer (1952–2009)

Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter known for playing distinctive lead roles, particularly romantic, tough, and comedic characters. He was also known for his media image and looks; People magazine named Swayze the "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Penn</span> American actor (1965–2006)

Christopher Shannon Penn was an American actor. He was the brother of actor Sean Penn and musician Michael Penn. Noted as a skilled character actor, he was typically cast as a tough character, featured as a villain or a working-class thug, or in a comic role and had roles in such films as To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar,The Wild Life, Reservoir Dogs, The Funeral, Footloose, Rush Hour, Corky Romano, True Romance, Beethoven's 2nd, Short Cuts, The Boys Club, All the Right Moves, At Close Range, Pale Rider, and Starsky & Hutch. During his career Penn had won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for his performance in The Funeral. He also provided the voice of corrupt cop Edward "Eddie" Pulaski in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melinda Dillon</span> American actress (1939–2023)

Melinda Ruth Dillon was an American actress. She received a 1963 Tony Award nomination for her Broadway debut in the original production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her roles as Jillian Guiler in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and Teresa Perrone in Absence of Malice (1981). She is well known for her role as Mother Parker in the holiday classic A Christmas Story (1983). Her other film roles include Bound for Glory (1976), Slap Shot (1977), F.I.S.T. (1978), The Muppet Movie (1979), Harry and the Hendersons (1987), Captain America (1990), The Prince of Tides (1991), To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, How to Make an American Quilt, Magnolia (1999), for which she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, and Reign Over Me (2007).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Understood</span> American drag queen

Miss Understood is an American drag queen originally from Levittown, New York, who has been based in New York City since the late 1980s. She was a prominent figure in the East Village drag scene of the early 1990s which revolved around the legendary Pyramid Club and Wigstock, an annual open air drag festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beth Grant</span> American actress (born 1949)

Beth Grant is an American character actress. Between 2012 and 2017, she was a series regular on the television comedy The Mindy Project in the role of Beverly Janoszewski. She is also known for her role as Gracie Leigh in the CBS post-apocalyptic drama Jericho and as Marianne Marie Beetle in Wonderfalls. She has also appeared on Pushing Daisies, and Mockingbird Lane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loma, Nebraska</span> Unincorporated community in Nebraska, United States

Loma is an unincorporated community in Butler County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the community had a population of 54.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardinal Spellman High School (New York City)</span> Catholic school in Bronx, New York, United States

Cardinal Spellman High School is an American Catholic high school in the borough of the Bronx in New York City, New York. The school is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. It is named after Cardinal Francis Spellman, the sixth archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York.

Douglas Carter Beane is an American playwright and screenwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beeban Kidron</span> British film director and politician (born 1961)

Beeban Tania Kidron, Baroness Kidron,, is a British politician. She is an advocate for children's rights in the digital world and has played a role in establishing standards for online safety and privacy across the world.

Emmanuel Jacomy is a French actor who specializes in dubbing. He is the official dubbing voice of Pierce Brosnan as of 1995 but also is the dubbing voice of Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and many others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Leguizamo</span> American actor, comedian, producer, and writer (born 1960)

John Alberto Leguizamo Peláez is an American actor, comedian, and film producer. He has appeared in over 100 films, produced over 20 films and documentaries, made over 30 television appearances, and has produced various television projects. He has also written and performed for the Broadway stage receiving four Tony Award nominations for Freak in 1998, Sexaholix in 2002, and Latin History for Morons in 2018. He received a Special Tony Award in 2018.

Catiria Reyes, better known as Lady Catiria, was a Puerto Rican drag performer, film actress, and transgender beauty pageant winner. She was one of the main performers at the New York City Latino nightclub La Escuelita, where she entertained crowds for almost two decades. She was the first person to win two titles at the Miss Continental pageant in Chicago. Towards the end of her life, she became an advocate for AIDS awareness.

<i>Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me</i> (Johnny Mathis album) 1977 studio album by Johnny Mathis

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on August 15, 1977, by Columbia Records and found him firmly planted in the cover album genre once again in that no original songs were included. Allmusic's Joe Viglione did feel, however, that "they seem to be trying to cover all the bases here," meaning that it had a variety of selections, including a standard from 1939, a hit that charted in both the 1950s and '60s, a country crossover, and recent offerings from stage and screen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Leguizamo filmography</span>

The following is the complete list of filmography of John Leguizamo.

Susan Zarate is an American costume illustrator for the film and music industry known for her work on the films To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, Batman & Robin, Amistad, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and X-Men: The Last Stand; the television series 24, under costume designer Jim Lapidus; and with costume designer Erin Lareau on Katy Perry's California Dreams Tour. She has worked with lead costume designers Milena Canonero, Ruth E. Carter, Michael Christiansen, Ingrid Ferrin, Shelley Komarov, Christopher Lawrence, Judianna Makovsky, Debra McGuire, Ha Nguyen, Bob Ringwood, Marlene Stewart, and Robert Turturice.

The 18th Stinkers Bad Movie Awards were released by the Hastings Bad Cinema Society in 1996 to honour the worst films the film industry had to offer in 1995. When asked about their picks for the five worst movies of the 1990s, founders Mike Lancaster and Ray Wright both selected It's Pat for their lists. Lancaster also included Kids. While It's Pat received three nominations, Kids got only a mere dishonourable mention for Worst Picture.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films . Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  2. ↑ Busch 1995, p. 48.
  3. 1 2 "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar". Box Office Mojo . Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Kacala, Alexander (September 3, 2020). "How Hollywood heartthrobs and Steven Spielberg helped make a drag queen cult classic". TODAY.com . Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  5. ↑ Beane quoted in Busch (1995 , p. 50)
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kohn, Mitch (August 13, 2015). "The Amazing Story Behind 'To Wong Foo'". The Advocate . Archived from the original on August 14, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Watkins, Gwynne (September 11, 2015). "The Crazy, Fabulous Story Behind 'To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar'". Yahoo! . Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 Brown, Corie (September 1995). "Hell on Heels". Premiere . Vol. 9, no. 1. pp. 80–84. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  9. ↑ The deleted scene has Vida saying near the end, "Cynics may say that Wong Foo is a Chinese cook or something, but I know better. I know Wong Foo to be God, however you perceive her to be and Julie Newmar knew this."
  10. 1 2 3 Alter, Ethan (September 20, 2020). "John Leguizamo reveals 'To Wong Foo' secrets on film's 25th anniversary". Yahoo! Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  11. 1 2 "(Wo)Men at Work". EW.com. November 4, 1994. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  12. ↑ Goodwin, Betty (September 7, 1995). "A Lot of Lift and Tuck". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ↑ "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar – Movies Filmed on Long Island". moviesfilmedonlongisland.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  14. ↑ Bloom, Molly (October 23, 2004). "Jersey City landmark eatery is now history". The Jersey Journal. Jersey City, New Jersey. pp. A1, A4 . Retrieved April 28, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Read, Philip (May 13, 2008). "Montclair on screens big and small". The Star-Ledger . Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  16. ↑ Benes, Ross (March 24, 2014). "When John Leguizamo Fixed Up My Hometown". Esquire . Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  17. ↑ Stenzel, Wesley (May 2, 2024). "John Leguizamo says Patrick Swayze was 'neurotic,' 'difficult' on To Wong Foo: 'He couldn't keep up'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  18. 1 2 Sharf, Zack (May 3, 2024). "John Leguizamo Says Patrick Swayze Was 'Difficult,' 'Neurotic' and 'Maybe a Tiny Bit Insecure' on 'To Wong Foo' Set: He'd Get 'Mad and Upset' Over Improv". Variety. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  19. 1 2 Daly, Steve (September 22, 1995). "'To Wong Foo' takes off". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  20. ↑ Clark, Al (1994). Making Priscilla. New York and London: Penguin. p. 88. ISBN   978-0-452-27484-6.
  21. ↑ Thompson, Anne (August 6, 1994). "Battling Drag Queens". EW.com. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  22. ↑ "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! [Music From The Motion Picture]". AllMusic . Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  23. ↑ "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Soundtrack". Film Music Site. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  24. 1 2 Stitzel, Kelly (September 19, 2009). "Soundtrack Saturday: "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar"". Popdose. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  25. 1 2 Kidron, Beeban (director). To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (motion picture). Amblin. Archived from the original on February 11, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  26. ↑ "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar". Amblin . Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  27. 1 2 "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar - Domestic". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  28. ↑ Crust, Kevin (September 14, 2015). "No. 1 Films from 10, 20 and 30 Years Ago". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  29. ↑ McNary, Dave (September 17, 1995). "Wong Foo' is on top at weekend box office". UPI . Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Chi Chi to Sony Pictures: Thanks for Nothing, I'm Suing". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. September 16, 1995. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Rodriguez Settles Suit". The Spokesman-Review . September 29, 1995. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 Kumar, Naveen (May 28, 2019). "How America Fell in Love With 'To Wong Foo'". Them . Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  33. ↑ Puchko, Kristy (June 6, 2019). "Drag Queens, Pregnancy Woes, Fist Fights, And How Steven Spielberg Saved 'To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar'". Pajiba. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  34. ↑ "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  35. ↑ "To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar". Metacritic . Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  36. ↑ "Cinemascore". Archived from the original on December 20, 2018.
  37. 1 2 3 4 Brown, Joe (September 8, 1995). "'To Wong Foo' (PG-13)". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  38. 1 2 3 4 Levy, Emanuel (September 5, 1995). "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar". Variety. Archived from the original on August 25, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  39. 1 2 Ebert, Roger (September 8, 1995). "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on October 5, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2019.Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg
  40. ↑ Siskel, Gene (September 8, 1995). "With 'To Wong Foo,' the Formula Works". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017.
  41. ↑ Mendez, Juan M. (September 8, 1995). "Dress to chill". Daily News . New York. pp. E20. Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  42. 1 2 Turan, Kenneth (September 8, 1995). "Drag Doesn't Hide Flaws of 'Wong Foo'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  43. 1 2 Maslin, Janet (September 8, 1995). "FILM REVIEW; All Dressed Up with Nowhere to Go". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  44. ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (September 8, 1995). "Movie Review: 'To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar'". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  45. ↑ Kearns, Michael (September 25, 1995). "'Julie Newmar': Disguised Gay-Bashing or Artful Story?: Thanks for Nothing, This Writer Says". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on August 25, 2019.
  46. ↑ Guthmann, Edward (September 8, 1995). "Cross-Country Cross-Dressers/'Wong Foo' travels a familiar road". San Francisco Chronicle . Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  47. ↑ Macor, Alison (September 8, 1995). "Movie Review: To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar". Austin Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg. Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  48. ↑ "Winners and Nominees: To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar". The Golden Globes. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  49. ↑ "GLAAD Announces Nominees and Winners of 1996 Media Awards". GLAAD . February 5, 1996. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  50. ↑ Reid, Joe (February 15, 2018). "Know Your Herstory: Giving 'To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar' Its Due". Decider . Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  51. ↑ Kempley, Rita (September 8, 1996). "'To Wong Foo' (PG-13)". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  52. ↑ Blay, Zeba (March 22, 2018). "How 'To Wong Foo' Paved The Way For The 'Drag Race' Phenomenon". HuffPost . Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  53. ↑ "Douglas Carter Beane & Lewis Flinn to Workshop To Wong Foo Musical Adaptation". Broadway.com . October 20, 2017. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  54. ↑ "'To Wong Foo' may be Broadway's next drag spectacular". New York Post . February 6, 2018. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  55. ↑ "Douglas Carter Beane's To Wong Foo Stage Musical to Premiere in U.K." Playbill.com . May 19, 2023. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.