To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar is a 1995 American comedy film, starring
Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo as three New York drag queens who embark on
a road trip. The film's title refers to a totemic autographed photo of Julie Newmar
that the trio carries with them on their journey.
Plot After tying for the win in New York'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. To do this, they trade in their airplane tickets for cash and buy a stylish
but old Cadillac convertible with money given to them by John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.
The three of them set off for Los Angeles by car, carrying with them an iconic photo
of Julie Newmar that Vida purloined from a restaurant wall.
While on the road they are pulled over by the racist, homophobic Sheriff Dollard, who
tries to force himself onto Vida. He discovers Vida is not biologically female and, in the
commotion, Dollard falls backwards and is knocked unconscious. The trio think he is
dead, and they hurry off and leave him behind. As they recover from the incident at a rest
stop, their car breaks down. A young man, Bobby Ray from the nearby small town of Snydersville,
happens by and gives them a ride, where they take refuge in a bed and breakfast owned by
Carol Ann and her abusive car repairman husband, Virgil.
The drag queens become stranded in the town for the weekend as they wait for the replacement
part for their car to arrive. While there, they are confronted by the town's small-mindedness,
though it focuses not on their Genderqueer identities, but rather on their status as
females. Chi-Chi is harassed by a group of roughnecks, but is saved by Bobby Ray. While
volunteering to help with the town's strawberry social, the queens decide the town's small
band of women need a day with the girls. Which consists of the following steps: get your
hair done, pick out a new outfit, and then just sit in a cafe and talk. While searching
for the new outfits, the drag queens are ecstatic to find vintage fashions from the 1960s in
the town's clothing store and give the town's female residents a make-over.
Following their make-over, the group is abused by the same roughnecks that attempted to attack
Chi-Chi. Fed up, Noxeema handles the situation in a typically New York 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 annual "Strawberry Social" event.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Dollard is ridiculed by his colleagues, who believe he was beat up
by a girl. He goes in search of the drag queens. Vida, meanwhile, becomes acutely aware of
Carol Ann's abuse at the hands of her husband Virgil and, shortly thereafter, the three
queens overhear Virgil giving Carol Ann another beating. Vida decides to intervene and beats
up Virgil before throwing him out of the house. The next day, Virgil runs into Sheriff Dollard
at a bar and the two realize that the newcomers to town are the same people Dollard has been
searching for. They head back to Snydersville, and Dollard demands that the townspeople turn
over the drag queens. However, the townspeople, who now realize
the biological sex of their new friends, begin to protect them. One by one they step up and
confront Dollard, each one claiming to be a drag queen. Dollard is humiliated and flees.
The Strawberry Social commences with everyone dressed in vibrant red outfits for the party.
Shortly after, Carol Ann repairs their car and the three queens are finally able to leave
Snydersville, though they are now slightly saddened to leave behind their new friends.
Carol Ann reveals to Vida that she knew Vida was a drag queen all along due to her Adam's
Apple, which women do not normally visibly have. In honor of their friendship, Vida gives
Carol Ann the photo of Julie Newmar that has accompanied the queens on their trip.
The trio eventually makes 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.
Fittingly, the crown is presented by Julie Newmar herself.
Steps to becoming a drag queen There are four steps that Chi Chi must complete
in order to become a full fledged drag queen. Vida and Noxeema make them up as they go,
but these are the steps. Let good thoughts be your sword and shield
Ignore adversity Abide by the rules of love
Larger than life is just the right size Cast
Wesley Snipes as Noxeema Jackson Patrick Swayze as Vida Boheme
John Leguizamo as Chi-Chi Rodriguez Stockard Channing as Carol Ann
Blythe Danner as Beatrice Arliss Howard as Virgil
Jason London as Bobby Ray Chris Penn as Sheriff Dollard
Melinda Dillon as Merna Beth Grant as Loretta
Alice Drummond as Clara Michael Vartan as Tommy
Jennifer Milmore as Bobbie Lee Mike Hodge as Jimmy Joe
Cameo appearances Julie Newmar as Herself
Naomi Campbell as Girl at China Bowl restaurant Joseph Arias as Joey Arias
Daniel T. 'Sweetie' Boothe as Pageant Hostess Lady Catiria as Herself
Laritza Dumont as Herself Alexander Heimberg as Herself
Candis Cayne as Herself Clinton Leupp as Miss Coco Peru
Quentin Crisp as NY pageant judge Flotilla DeBarge as NY pageant judge
RuPaul as Rachel Tensions Robin Williams as John Jacob Jingleheimer
Schmidt Awards
Swayze and Leguizamo earned Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor – Motion Picture
Musical or Comedy and Best Supporting Actor respectively.
Production The opening and closing scenes were filmed
in New York City featuring dozens of New York's local 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, and Quentin Crisp. The three
stars had previously spent some time in the local drag scene while researching their roles.
The ending scene of the movie, the anticipated Miss Drag Queen USA contest, was filmed at
The John S. Phipps Estate in Old Westbury, New York, now colloquially known as Old Westbury
Gardens. Much of the rest of the film was shot on location in Montclair, New Jersey,
Loma, Nebraska, as well as nearby Lincoln and Omaha. Though greatly faded, a "Welcome
to Snyderville" an outdoor mural remains in Loma.
Champions Tour professional Chi Chi Rodriguez sued the production company and distributor
over the use of his name in the movie. This American film is a parallel story/plot
idea of the earlier 1994 Australian comedy-drama, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the
Desert which stars Hugo Weaving, Terence Stamp, and Guy Pearce in the roles of the three cross-country
cabaret drag queens. Soundtrack
"Body Beautiful" - Salt-N-Pepa "Free Yourself - Chaka Khan
"Turn It Out" - Labelle "Who Taught You How" - Crystal Waters
"She's a Lady" - Tom Jones "Brick House" - The Commodores
"Nobody's Body" - Monifah "Do What You Wanna Do" - Charisse Arrington
"Hey Now" - Cyndi Lauper "Over the Rainbow" - Patti LaBelle
"To Wong Foo Suite" - Rachel Portman Music and songs not included in the soundtrack:
"Gotta Move" - Barbra Streisand "1812 Overture" - Tchaikovsky
"Zampa Overture" - Ferdinand Herold "China Girl" - Robert J. Walsh
"Theme from Wonder Woman" "That Lady You're with Ain't No Lady" - Larry
Applewhite/Gene Wisniewski "Stand by Your Man" - David Allan Coe
"This Is a Man's World" - Sara Hickman "Behind Closed Doors" - Charlie Rich
"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" - Johnny Mathis "Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song"
- B. J. Thomas DVD
A DVD is available with several deleted scenes. See also
Cross-dressing in film and television References
External links To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie
Newmar at the Internet Movie Database To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie
Newmar at AllMovie To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie
Newmar at the TCM Movie Database To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie
Newmar at Box Office Mojo To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie
Newmar at Rotten Tomatoes