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
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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
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Helen Chao
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Helen Chao
Portrayed by: Reiko Sato
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Wang San
|
Wang San
Portrayed by: Patrick Adiarte
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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 |
|
Master Wang never approved of any marriage between Mei Li and his son. |
Mei Li's father tells Master Wang that he and his daughter must leave. Master Wang tells them that his son is foolish and rebellious. Master Wang still wants Mei Li to marry his son and she should give Wang Ta more time; she agrees. |
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This does not happen in the book.
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Sammy Fong greets Master Wang at the New Year's parade and invites him to his nightclub; he thinks it will make Wang Ta and Linda Low break up. Linda Low sings and dances on a parade float in front of the stand in which Master Wang and his sister in-law in watching.
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This does not happen in the book as Wang Ta only courted Linda Tung briefly prior to leaving her.
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Sammy Fong tells Linda Low that he is rethinking their relationship, but convinces her to do the first show. She does not know that Sammy has invited the Wang family so they can see her scandalous dance and make Wang Ta break up with her.
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Wang Ta breaks up with Linda after finding out she has several boyfriends.
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After Linda Low's dance in her skimpy costume, Wang Ta is embarrassed; his family leaves the nightclub. Linda is furious with Sammy.
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Linda's friend, seamstress Helen Chao, who has been unable to find a man due to her unattractive pockmarked face, gets Wang Ta drunk and seduces him.
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Wang Ta leaves the restaurant and drinks. Helen Chao finds him on the street and brings him to her home to sleep it off. Helen tells him that Linda has been Sammy's girl for five years. Wang Ta asks Helen not to leave him as he drifts off to sleep. Helen is fond of Wang Ta. |