‘Julie Newmar’: Disguised Gay-Bashing or Artful Story? : Lighten Up: It’s a Charming Fantasy

Regarding the highly critical review of “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar,” (“Drag Doesn’t Hide Flaws of ‘Wong F” Calendar, Sept. 8): This film is a fantasy, a modern Grimm’s Fairy Tale, a Cinderella story. And, as such good fantasies tend to do, this film throws a piercing light on many evil aspects of the world in which we live. The film is directed by Beeban Kidron with a consummate skill and acted in most cases with extraordinary care and a most high degree of craftsmanship.

What a pity critic Kenneth Turan came to bury the movie and not to praise at least the acting, such as (sheriff) Chris Penn’s monologue in the bar halfway through the film. To anyone who knows anything about acting or writing, or dare I say it, life, the speech encompasses a powerful display of this fine actor’s work. The scene is remarkably well written, as is most of the film, and it is played to perfection.

Another gem of a performance comes from Stockard Channing. This sometimes underrated actress is at the height of her considerable talent here and formidable when she rounds out the film in the final scene with Patrick Swayze. Blythe Danner and the entire company of superb actresses put their hair up and sometimes let it down in other memorable roles in the movie.

*

Like most exceptional art, the film is in the business of heightening reality, yet having allowed that, the acting skills brought to bear in very real terms in this film are considerable.

The supporting acting is very well managed and the three young men playing the leading drag queens have a force, a brio and above all a compassion, which is rare in film and even more spectacular when seen as it is here in a comedy.

Certainly, the large audience with whom I watched the film found “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar” hilarious to the point that one could not always hear the dialogue. Certainly, the audience understood it was a comedy. Certainly, the audience went away from this comedy changed in some respects.

Comedy or not, this film airs certain subjects that need to be aired, and fantasy or not, the airing is held on a line of truthful playing that I found elevating, enlightening and wondrous to behold in this city.

*

Towering over everything in the film is a brilliant performance of his craft by Swayze. This actor’s portrayal as Vida is quite stunning. The walk, the look, the feet, the hands, all perfect. Perhaps only a trained and experienced dancer as Swayze is could carry it off. Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo are superb, but Swayze must consider himself most unfortunate indeed if he is not nominated for some distinguished recognition.

Laurence Olivier always maintained to those of us privileged to work with him that the playing of a woman by a man is the most exacting test ever to face an actor. Sir Laurence should have known, after all his debut before his first “critical” audience was as “Katherine” in “The Taming of the Shrew.” No less difficult is the line that Swayze has to steer in “Wong Foo,” that of a man playing a woman. Swayze in my experience gives a flawless performance in the role.

Many critics seemed to miss the brilliance and the difficulty of Tom Hanks in “Big” a few years ago. It would be a great shame if those same critics did not properly evaluate Swayze as Vida.

If for no other reason--and there are plenty of other reasons, such as good writing, excellent directing--your readership should be encouraged to see “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar,” just to see Swayze in this fine form.