What's the Difference between Flower Drum Song the Book and Flower Drum Song the Movie?
| In the Book |
In the Movie |
Mei Li
|
May Li
Portrayed by: Miyoshi Umeki
|
Wang Chi-yang
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Wang Chi-yang
Portrayed by: Benson Fong
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This Character does not appear.
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Sammy Fong
Portrayed by: Jack Soo
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Madam Tang (Master Wang's sister in-law)
|
Madame Liang
Portrayed by: Juanita Hall
|
Helen Chao
|
Helen Chao
Portrayed by: Reiko Sato
|
Wang San
|
Wang San
Portrayed by: Patrick Adiarte
|
Mr. Li
|
Dr. Han Li
Portrayed by: Kam Tong
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Linda Tung
|
Linda Low
Portrayed by: Nancy Kwan
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Flower Drum Song Book vs Movie
| In the Book |
In the Movie |
|
Wang Ta studied economics for four years and is now a medical student. His father gives him $100 every two months to spend. Wang Ta wants to be independent, so he got a job as a dishwasher, but his father forbid him to work at a lowly job. Wang Ta does not like medical school much, but now he can avoid getting a job for another six years. He once spent $5 on a prostitute.
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Wang Ta is in law school to avoid getting a job for three years. No details about an allowance or going with a prostitute. |
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Wang Ta likes to date white women even though he knows he does not have a future with them due to racial issues. He finds Chinese girls to be a problem and there are very few in Chinatown, so competition is stiff. He dated a girl who was engaged to a deployed soldier for a while.
|
Nothing about Wang Ta dating anyone before Linda Low, he seems to be rather naive around girls.
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Wang Ta has a friend named Chang who he dines with and gets advice from. They discuss going back to China to live.
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Chang is not in the film. |
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Wang Ta's friend Chang introduces him to Linda Tung. They plan to date.
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Linda Low meets Wang Ta after her argument with Sammy Fong and invites him on a date. Chang is not in the film.
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This does not happen in the book.
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Sammy Fong brings Mei Li and Dr. Li to Master Wang's house. She sings for him and he sees her as a favorable match for his son. |