UK: European premiere of "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar' takes place in London

Record ID: 219709

  • Title: UK: European premiere of "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar' takes place in London
  • Date: 30th October 1995
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 30, 1995) (REUTERS) SWAYZE SAYING HE QUICKLY REALISED HIS CHARACTER HAD TO HAVE ELEGANCE (ENGLISH) KIDRON SAYING THEY CONSIDERED ROBIN WILLIAMS FOR THE PART BUT AFTER SEEING HIM IN "MRS DOUBTFIRE" DECIDED HE WASN'T PRETTY ENOUGH - BUT HE HAS A SMALL CAMEO ROLE AND IS A BIG FAN OF THE MOVIE (ENGLISH)
  • Embargoed: 14th November 1995 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA3R8WSTAH92XXJS8XPWW7A82UQ
  • Story Text: Sequins, satin, high heels and makeup were the order of the day as drag queens descended on London for the European premiere of "To Wong Foo" on Monday (October 30).
    The film stars Patrick Swayze and Hollywood tough guy Wesley Snipes as cross-dressers who embark on a trip across the United States. It follows the international success of the Australian drag queen road movie, "Priscilla - Queen of the Desert." New York drag artist "Sweetie" introduced Swayze and his wife Lisa as they arrived for the London premiere in Leicester Square.
    Other guests included the film's director, Beeban Kidron, actress Britt Ekland and U.S. pop group E.Y.C.
    Swayze's wife joked she was able to help her husband develop the correct "walk" for his character, Vida Boheme. To perfect their performace, Swayze, Snipes and co-star John Leguizamo studied numerous drag acts at New York clubs.
    In the film, the trio are stars of that New York scene.
    Deciding to seek further fame in Hollywood, they hit the road in a rusted 1967 Cadillac convertible, which promptly breaks down in the tiny mid-western town of Snydersville.
    The narrow-minded locals experience culture shock as the "women" set about infusing their town with a touch of glamour. In turn, the townspeople give the trio a new sense of reality.
    The film's full title - "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar" - refers to an autographed inscription on a celebrity portrait Vida, Noxeema Jackson (Snipes) and Chi Chi Rodriguez (Leguizamo) carry with them on the trip.
    Director Beeban Kidron, whose previous credits include "Antonia and Jane" and "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit," says the film is a celebration of personal choice and openness.
    She says while on set the three lead actors even competed over who looked the best in a dress. It took some time for costume designers to come up with the right underwear, padding and stockings for the "girls." There were other drawbacks for the actors. Swayze, a trained dancer, found high heels a struggle in the gravel streets of Loma, Nebraska, where much of the film was shot.
    "No woman can walk in high heels on gravel and look cool," he says.
    The opening scenes of the film were shot in New York, where more than 300 genuine drag queens were hired to fill a downtown nightclub. Swayze saw it as an acid test for the actors - looking believable in front of so many authentic drag queens.
    Kidron said comedian Robin Williams was mooted for one of the lead roles, but after seeing him cross-dressing in "Mrs Doubtfire" she decided he was not attractive enough.
    The film has taken more than 34 million U.S. dollars since its release in the United States two months ago.
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