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Nancy Kwan returns to Hong Kong to promote Ka Shen's Journey
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2 April 2010
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Nancy Kwan returned to her native Hong Kong to be the featured speaker at
The Foreign Correspondents Club, Hong Kong.
Nancy's talk, titled
"My life before and after Suzie Wong"
was enthusiastically received and was followed by a screening of
excerpts from Ka Shen's Journey. An audio recording of Nancy's talk is available
here.
Later that week, Nancy returned to Maryknoll Convent School, where she
attended as a child in Hong Kong. Ka Shen's Journey was shown to the
entire secondary school, and was followed by a lively question and
answer session with the students.
Nancy's visit, in the 50th year after the premiere of The World of
Suzie Wong, was well covered by the press, with articles
appearing in periodicals such as
The South China Morning Post,
The Standard,
The Straits Times,
Channel News Asia,
France 24,
and
Sina.
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World Premiere of To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey on 27 February 2010
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17 February 2010
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To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey will have its World
Premiere on 27 February 2010 at the 20th Annual
Cinequest Film Festival.
The premiere will be held at the
San Jose Repertory Theatre in downtown San Jose.
Tickets for the event are still available
here.
This is a truly moving film- all of Nancy's friends and supporters are encouraged to attend this event!
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To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey at Cinequest Film Festival February 2010
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19 January 2010
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To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey has been selected
to participate in the 20th Annual Cinequest Film Festival as part of
the Official Competition in San Jose, California. The exact date is yet to be determined- check with
Cinequest or the
Ka Shen's Journey site for more information.
All of Nancy's friends and supporters in the northern California area
are encouraged to attend.
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Added two Nancy Kwan magazine covers to the
Glamour page, from Hong Kong movie magazines.
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To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey Screening on 30 November 2009!
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26 August 2009
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On 30 November 2009,
The Women's International Film & Television Showcase
(TheWIFTS Foundation) will present an exclusive screening of
To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey
in Los Angeles.
The film by Brian Jamieson tells the personal story of Nancy Kwan,
from her childhood in Hong Kong, to her Hollywood stardom, to the
tragic event that would change her life forever. The screening will
be presented at the
New Beverly Cinema
followed by Cocktail Reception with Nancy Kwan. The TheWIFTS
Foundation non-profit event kicks off The Womens International Film &
Television Showcase 2009; TheWIFTS Foundation International Visionary
Awards will present Nancy Kwan with its Lifetime Tribute Award at the
closing of the event.
More information about the event, including ticket purchase, is available
here.
All of Nancy's family, friends, and fans are encouraged to attend this
screening of what promises to be a very moving film, and to not miss
the chance to meet Nancy in person!
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Added two Nancy Kwan magazine covers to the
Glamour page, from Israeli periodicals.
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Los Angeles Chinatown presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Nancy Kwan
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31 July 2009
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On 27 June 2009, the Los Angeles Chinatown Council presented Nancy Kwan
its Lifetime Achievement Award,
for her performances in The World of Suzie Wong, Flower
Drum Song, and more than forty other feature films, and for her
long service to the Asian American community.
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Added two Nancy Kwan magazine covers to the
Glamour page,
including her recent photo on the cover of the Washington Post TV
guide, to promote the national television premiere of Hollywood
Chinese.
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To Whom it May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey
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19 May 2009
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Ka Shen's Journey, a new documentary about
the life of Nancy Kwan, was screened on 12 May 2009 to a select
audience. Several years in the making, the film is produced by
veteran filmmaker Brian Jamieson, who has also produced documentaries
about John Wayne, Bruce Lee, and James Dean. The picture is in
post-production so expect a film festival premiere within a year. In
the meantime, watch this space for more news!
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Added seven of Nancy Kwan's childhood and family photos to the
Gallery page.
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For Goodness Sake, A Novel of the Afterlife of Suzie Wong
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22 April 2009
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For Goodness Sake, a new novel written by Sebastian
Gerard, is a sequel to the classic film and novel The World of
Suzie Wong. Written by author Sebastian Gerard (nom du plume
for James Clapp), the story takes place during the 1997 Chinese
takeover of Hong Kong. According to Nancy Kwan's review:
"I found Sebastian Gerard's book For Goodness Sake to be quite
splendid! It is both thoughtful and engrossing. Gerard captures the
multifaceted culture of Hong Kong - the essence of the ever changing
city of commerce. It is a story of loyalty, betrayal, sex, politics,
and enduring love, all neatly woven into the modern Hong Kong of
today."
A special message to Nancy:
 .
We'd also like to introduce Nancy's newest fan:
 .
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Added two magazine covers with Nancy Kwan to the Glamour
page.
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Nancy is Grand Marshall for Chinese New Years Parade in Los Angeles
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26 January 2009
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 Nancy Kwan will be Grand Marshall for the
Chinese New
Year Parade in Los Angeles on 31 January 2009, riding on a float
and waving to the expected crowds of over 100,000. Everyone in the LA
area are encouraged to join in the celebration of the Year of the Ox.
Tickers are still available. More information can be found
here.
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Added two magazine covers with Nancy Kwan to the Glamour
page.
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Nancy Kwan chairs jury for the Women's International Film and Television Showcase
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14 December 2008
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The Women's International Film and Television Showcase
focuses on up and coming behind-the-camera women talent, including
female directors, producers, and cinematographers. Nancy Kwan was
head of the Jury for the WIFTS festival held in Hollywood from 4-7
December.
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Added seven photos of Nancy Kwan by photographer Willy Rizzo to the
Gallery
page.
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Flower Drum Song celebration in San Jose
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9 November 2008
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Nancy Kwan was honored at the
50th Anniversary Celebration
of Broadway's Flower Drum Song, in San Jose, California on 9
November. The event was a fundraiser for three non-profit
organizations: Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Contemporary
Asian Theater Scene and the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of
Northern California. The event featured a presentation of the
"revisal" version of the classic stage play by Rodgers and
Hammerstein.
On 3 August, Nancy Kwan was presented with the Pioneer Award by the
Organization of Chinese Americans, for her long and successful
film career. The award was presented at the 35th anniversary
celebration for the OCA in Washington DC.
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Nancy Kwan invited to Hawaii International Film Festival
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13 April 2008
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Nancy Kwan has been invited to attend the Hawaii International Film Festival,
for the screening of Arthur Dong's documentary
Hollywood Chinese.
Nancy will participate in a panel discussion after the film. Tickets
are still available, so all of Nancy's supporters near Honolulu are
encouraged to attend. Mahalo!
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Successfully ported nancy-kwan.com from a web hosting company
that was going down the tubes to a much more reliable one. This
should be invisible to our readers, but it will pay off in the long
run, and it sure was a lot of work!
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Premiere of Anna May Wong documentary in LA on 19 January 2008
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13 January 2008
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The long awaited U.S. premiere of Anna May Wong, Frosted Yellow
Willows: Her Life, Times, and Legend will be on 19 January 2008
at the Fowler Museum theatre on the UCLA campus. The documentary
highlights the incredible career of the early Chinese American
actress, and features interviews with her surviving family, friends,
and co-stars, as well as rarely seen footage from her many films.
Produced by filmmaker Elaine Mae Woo, the biographical film was ten
years in the making. Nancy Kwan narrates the documentary, and will
join Ms. Woo and moderator Tritia Toyota in a panel discussion
immediately after the screening.
All supporters of Nancy Kwan and Anna May Wong in the Los Angeles area
are encouraged to attend what promises to be an excellent film and
interesting discussion. More about the screening, including ticket
information, is available
here.
Be sure to reserve your seat before the event!
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Added two new magazine covers to the
Glamour
page.
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New Audio Novel McKnight's Memory
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13 December 2007
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Robert Culp and Nancy Kwan star in a new audiobook McKnight's
Memory. Written by Paul Kyriazi and narrated by Frank Sinatri
Jr., McKnight's Memory is the fast-moving story of a renegade CIA agent with
amnesia, on the run from both the CIA and the Mafia.
All of Nancy's fans are encouraged to purchase her excellent new work
McKnight's Memory.
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Added a summary and review of McKnight's Memory to the
Stage, TV, and Other Work
page.
Happy Holidays! Watch Deborah Kerr, Judy Garland, and Nancy Kwan donate toys to needy children in this
newsreel of the 1960 Variety Christmas Luncheon.
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Nancy Kwan at AFI Fest 2007
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30 October 2007
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Sponsored by the
American Film Institute, AFI Fest is the longest running film festival in Los Angeles. This year,
AFI Fest 2007
will showcase the Arthur Dong documentary
Hollywood Chinese. Nancy Kwan will be joined by fellow
Asian-American artists Joan Chen, Amy Tan, Justin Lin, Lisa Lu, and
James Hong for a panel discussion after the screening, moderated by
film historian Randy Haberkamp. All of Nancy's supporters in the LA
area are encouraged to attend the screening.
It is with sadness that we note the passing of legendary singer and Broadway performer
Robert Goulet.
Mr. Goulet's first film appearance was starring alongside Nancy Kwan
in the 1964 comedy Honeymoon Hotel.
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Added two new magazine covers to the
Glamour
page.
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Nancy Kwan at the Toronto International Film Festival
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13 August 2007
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Nancy Kwan is to appear as a special guest at the
Toronto International Film Festival in September. She is there to help promote the screening of Arthur Dong's 2007 release,
Hollywood Chinese, a documentary that chronicles the history of
Chinese actors and Chinese themed films in Western cinema, from the
early 1900's to today. On 9 September, Nancy will be guest of honor
at a special presentation of Flower Drum Song, to be followed
by a question and answer session with the audience.
All of Nancy's fans in the Toronto area are encouraged to attend the film festival!
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Added the theme music for Fate is the Hunter to the appropriate page in the
Filmography
section, as well an entry for the new documentary Hollywood Chinese.
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Nancy Kwan in Hawaii for charity events
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22 April 2007
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Nancy Kwan travelled to
Hawaii to support two local charities. She walked the runway as part of the "Cherished Heritage"
fashion show to benefit the Chinese Women's Club of Honolulu.
Later, she attended a special screening of her new independent film
Ray of Sunshine
at the grand Hawaii Theatre to raise funds for the Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation.
Last month, Nancy Kwan's famous film Flower Drum Song was screened at the
San Francisco International Film Festival, in a special sing-along
presentation! The audience responded enthusiastically. Thanks go to
Brian for providing the print for the screening.
A special message for
Nancy today:
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Fixed the
Comments
page, which had gone down due to changes at our webhosting provider.
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Hawaii Five-0 released to DVD
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8 April 2007
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Filmed entirely in Hawaii, Hawaii Five-0 was an immensely
popular and long running television series about Steve McGarrett and
his special band of police detectives fighting crime in the fiftieth
state. The complete first season of the series is now available on
DVD. The DVD features the original pilot movie Hawaii Five-0
Cocoon, starring Nancy Kwan, that launched the successful series.
All of Nancy's fans are encouraged to buy the DVD!
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Added seven new candid photos of Nancy Kwan at home to the
Gallery
page. Also added the famous Hawaii Five-0 theme song to its
page in the
Filmography section.
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New indie feature Ray of Sunshine to screen in February
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17 January 2007
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Nancy Kwan stars in a new independent feature, Ray of Sunshine, which
is to screen at the Glenwood Arts Theater in Kansas City on 9 February
2007. Nancy will attend the premiere, accompanied by costars John
Phillip Law, Tim Considine, and director Norbert Meisel. Special
thanks go to Nancy for giving us a preview DVD of the film.
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Added an entry for Ray of Sunshine to the
Filmography
page.
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Happy Holidays 2006!
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3 December 2006
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We wish all of Nancy's family, friends, and fans
Seasons Greetings, and healthy and prosperous 2007.
Consider giving the wonderful new
Flower Drum Song
DVD this holiday season!
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Added two new magazine covers to the
Glamour
page.
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Univeral releases Flower Drum Song to DVD
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7 November 2006
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Flower Drum Song, which many consider to be Nancy Kwan's
finest film, is
released to DVD today by Universal Home Video.
The film is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Both the
picture and sound quality on the new DVD are excellent. The DVD has a
number of special features, include a documentary about the making of
the film, and information about the cast, the songs, and the legacy of
Rodgers and Hammerstein. Especially enjoyable is the commentary by
Nancy Kwan, sharing her recollections of the film. Universal deserves
credit for a very professional release.
Nancy's fans everywhere are encouraged to
purchase
Flower Drum Song on DVD today. It also makes a great holiday gift for your friends!
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Added two new magazine covers to the
Glamour
page, and restored content that had been erased from the
Comments page.
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Murder on the Yellow Brick Road premieres in Los Angeles
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26 August 2006
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A noirish tale of crime and deception set in modern day Los Angeles,
Murder on the Yellow Brick Road
premiered on 11 August in Beverly Hills. The independent film,
starring Nancy Kwan, played for a limited engagement, and will go into
wider distribution later this year.
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Added two new magazine covers to the
Glamour
page, and an entry for Murder on the Yellow Brick Road to the
Filmography page.
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Flower Drum Song to be released to DVD in November
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31 July 2006
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Long awaited by fans everywhere, the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein
musical Flower Drum Song will be released to
DVD
on 7 November 2006. The film will be presented in its original 2.35:1
aspect ratio, in Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo. Both Nancy Kwan and
C.Y. Lee(author of the original novel upon which the musical is based)
have recorded a commentary to be included as a special feature on the
DVD. The Universal Home Video release promises to be of very high
quality.
All of Nancy's fans are encouraged to pre-order
Flower Drum Song
on DVD today. Spread the good news to your friends!
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James Shigeta and Nancy Kwan to perform Love Letters in San Francisco
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17 June 2006
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Reprising their prior performance in Los Angeles, James Shigeta and
Nancy Kwan will perform A. R. Gurney's Love Letters at the
Herbst Theatre in San Francisco on 7 and 8 July 2006. The play is a
touching story of two friends, told through the letters they exchange
over a lifetime.
Funds from the performance will go towards supporting the non-profit
Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California.
All of Nancy and James fans are encouraged to attend the event.
Tickets can be purchased online
here.
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Added two new magazine covers to the
Glamour
page, as well as updating the
Filmography
and
Stage, TV, and Other Work
pages for Nancy's recent performances.
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Nancy Kwan interviewed on RTHK's arts program The Works
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30 April 2006
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Nancy Kwan was interviewed on the Radio Television Hong Kong
The Works
on 14 March 2006. During the interview, she talks about the
Hong Kong Ballet's
recent production of Suzie Wong, her own experiences as the
star of the original classic film, the difficulties of Asian actresses
in Hollywood during the sixties, and the opportunities for Asian
actresses today. Nancy Kwan's complete interview on The Works can be watched online
here.
The host of The Works, Lorea Solabarrieta,
is a talented stage actress in her own right, who has performed in both the U.S. and Asia.
Lorea, a Hong Kong born Eurasian, also happens to be a fan of Nancy Kwan.
The Suzie Wong ballet was greeted with positive
reviews
from the Hong Kong press. There is some discussion of bringing the
ballet to tour the U.S. In the meantime, readers can see photos from
the ballet's premiere
here, as well as
pictures taken with Nancy Kwan and the ballet company at the Suzie Wong ballet
press conference.
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Hong Kong Ballet to perform Suzie Wong
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4 March 2006
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Based on the classic love story set in Hong Kong, the ballet
Suzie Wong
will premiere on 17 March 2006, performed by the
Hong Kong Ballet.
This original work was created and choreographed by Stephen Jefferies
and features the big band music of Chris Babida, as well as colorful
period costumes and sets.
For those who are fortunate enough to be in Hong Kong, tickets for the ballet are available
here.
Nancy Kwan, who herself was a dancer with the Royal Ballet in London,
has been invited to the event as a special guest.
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Nancy Kwan to judge at the Bangkok International Film Festival
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12 February 2006
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One of the most high profile cinema events in Asia, the
Bangkok International Film Festival
showcases both Asian and international productions. The festival
opens on 17 February at the Siam Paragon cultural center, and
concludes on 27 February. Nancy Kwan is one of six members of the
Jury for International Competition.
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Added a new trailer to the bottom of the
Flower Drum Song page.
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Nancy Kwan at the 2006 Asian Excellence Awards
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22 January 2006
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Nancy Kwan will be featured as a presenter at the
2006 Asian Excellence Awards.
Honoring the accomplishments of Asian American performers, the
ceremony takes place at the historic Wiltern LG Theater in Los Angeles
and will be broadcast on
Sunday January 29th, at 8pm EST, on the
AZN Television network.
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Happy Holidays 2005!
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18 December 2005
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We'd like to extend
Seasons Greetings to all our readers and our best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2006.
The Wrecking Crew, Dean Martin's sendup of James Bond, has been released to
DVD.
Starring Nancy Kwan in a fun role, the movie makes a great last minute gift.
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Added two Israeli magazines to the
Glamour page.
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Night Creature released to DVD
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13 November 2005
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Night Creature is an independent film about a game
hunter(Donald Pleasance) who is stalked by a killer leopard that he
had a near fatal encounter with in the past. Nancy Kwan plays the
hunter's daughter. The film is now available on DVD at
amazon.com.
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Added two Spanish magazines to the
Glamour page.
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Open air screening of Flower Drum Song in San Francisco
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28 September 2005
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To celebrate the Autumn Moon Festival, Flower Drum Song will
be screened in Washington Square Park on Saturday 1 October at 6pm.
It's a rare opportunity to see this film on the big screen, in
Technicolor and its original aspect ratio, in front of a live
audience. The admission is free. All of Nancy's fans in the Bay Area are encouraged to attend this event; more information is available
here.
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Added seven photos from Nancy Kwan's Chinese-language film Spring
Comes Not Again to the
Gallery page.
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Nancy Kwan featured at Singapore museum
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20 August 2005
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The
Chinese Heritage Centre
in Singapore recently opened a new exhibit, "Chinese More or Less",
discussing the meaning of "Chineseness", and following the Chinese
diaspora. The exhibit features two full-sized portraits of Nancy
Kwan, enduring images of the Chinese in America.
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Added two magazine covers to the
Glamour page.
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The Wrecking Crew coming to DVD on August 30
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24 July 2005
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A very 60's James Bond spoof, The Wrecking Crew stars
legendary Rat Pack icon Dean Martin as swinging secret agent Matt
Helm. Nancy Kwan has a fun role as the mini-skirted bad girl spy that
Matt Helm tangles with.
The film is being released to DVD next month as part
of Matt Helm Lounge set, and can be pre-ordered
here.
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Added two magazine covers to the
Glamour page
and a description of Nancy's Chinese language film Spring Comes Not
Again to the
Filmography page.
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Nancy Kwan stars in Murder on the Yellow Brick Road
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19 May 2005
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Nancy Kwan has recently shot a new independent film, Murder on
the Yellow Brick Road. A noirish thriller of murder and
deception, the film also stars Angus MacFadyen, Ken Butler, and Ross
Hagen, and is set in present day LA. The film is currently in
postproduction.
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Added seven photos from one of Nancy's early screen tests to the
Gallery page.
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James Shigeta to receive East West Players Visionary Award
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23 March 2005
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James Shigeta is to be presented with a Visionary Award by the
non-profit Asian-American theatre company East West Players.
Perhaps best known for his starring role in Flower Drum Song,
he also appeared alongside Nancy Kwan in Nobody's Perfect and
EWP's recent stage production of Love Letters. The Hawaiian
born actor will be presented with his award by Nancy Kwan at the East
West Players annual dinner on Monday, April 18, 2005. All of James
and Nancy's fans are encouraged to attend. More information about the
event is available here.
A special message for Nancy:
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Added two interviews to the
Press Clippings page.
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Nancy Kwan to narrate new documentary Frosted Yellow Willows
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14 February 2005
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Nancy Kwan will be the narrator for an upcoming biographical
documentary,
Anna May Wong - Frosted Yellow Willows.
Produced by independent filmmaker Elaine Mae Woo, the documentary
chronicles the life, times, and legend of Chinese-American actress
Anna May Wong, who was noted for films such as The Thief of
Bagdad, Piccadilly, and Shanghai Express.
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Added seven diverse portraits to the
Gallery page.
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Coming soon to DVD: Lt. Robin Crusoe, USN
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25 January 2005
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One of Nancy Kwan's most beloved and popular films, Lt. Robin
Crusoe, USN, is being released by Walt Disney to DVD. The movie
has been out of print on video for over ten years. All of her fans
are encouraged to pre-order the DVD
here.
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Added two more magazine covers to the
Glamour page.
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Happy Holidays!
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18 December 2004
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We'd like to wish all our readers a safe and happy holiday season.
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Watch Deborah Kerr, Judy Garland, and Nancy Kwan in the holiday spirit
in this British
newsreel.
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Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta dazzle in Love Letters
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8 November 2004
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Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta starred in East West Players production
of
Love Letters.
The performance was a successful fundraiser for the non-profit
theatre, and was well attended by EWP supporters and fans of the two
stars from all generations. Some discussions are underway to take the
show to San Francisco next.
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Added the trailer for Lt. Robin Crusoe, USN to the
Filmography page.
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Glass Mountain released to DVD
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19 September 2004
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Nancy Kwan's film Glass Mountain, also known as
Rebellious, has just been released to DVD . A surreal
adventure through the American West, the film stars Amber Tamblyn
(star of Joan of Arcadia), and Nancy's own son, Bernhard
Pock. All of Nancy's fans are encouraged to purchase their copy
here.
Tickets are still available for Nancy Kwan's performance of Love Letters for 16
October 2004.
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Added the trailer for Fate is the Hunter to the
Filmography page.
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Maryknoll Convent School World Wide Reunion
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10 August 2004
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On 6 August, alumni of Maryknoll Convent School gathered in New York
for a world wide reunion. Although Nancy Kwan, who attended MCS for
Primary 1-6, was unable attend, we were able to meet with one of her
sisters, who is a judge in Hong Kong. We also met her schoolmate, who
fondly recalled Nancy teaching her and her friends to do the Jitterbug
when they were all teenagers.
East West Players has rescheduled the performance of Love Letters for 16
October 2004. Although about half the tickets have already been sold,
good seats are still available.
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Added seven more behind the scenes candid photos to the
Gallery page.
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Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta to perform Love Letters
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27 June 2004
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Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta are to perform in
Love Letters
on 21 August at the East West Players theatre in Los Angeles. Members
of the audience will have the chance meet with Nancy and James before
the play.
All of Nancy and James's fans are encouraged to buy their tickets
early for this one-night charity event!
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Added two more magazine covers to the
Glamour page.
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The World of Suzie Wong to be released on DVD
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16 May 2004
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Paramount Picture's long-awaited release of The World of Suzie
Wong to DVD is scheduled for 29 June 2004. A classic interracial
romance set in 1960, it launched Nancy Kwan's career, and no other
film did more to promote Hong Kong in the Western world.
All of Nancy's fans are encouraged to
pre-order their copy today.
Belatedly, we extend our best wishes to Nancy:
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Added two more magazine covers to the
Glamour page.
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Nancy Kwan to speak at San Francisco film festival
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2 March 2004
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Presented annually, the
San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
highlights the cinematic accomplishments of Asian and American
American actors, directors, and screenwriters. This year, the
Festival invited Nancy Kwan to discuss the film legacy of Anna May
Wong, an Asian-American actress popular in the 1920's and 1930's.
Everyone in the San Francisco area is encouraged to attend the
panel discussion,
Sunday March 7 at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, as well as the
many films being shown at the Festival this year.
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Added two more magazine covers to the
Glamour page.
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Ray Stark, 1915-2004
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25 January 2004
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Last week, legendary Hollywood producer
Ray Stark
passed away at the
age of 88. Beginning his career as a publicist for Warner Brothers,
he then became an agent for top stars such as William Holden, Kirk
Douglas, John Wayne, Ava Gardner, Lana Turner, and Richard Burton in
the 1950's.
According to producer Don Safran, "[Ray] felt that talent was the most
important thing, so he treated his stars like stars."
He formed his own company, Seven Arts Productions, and produced his
first film, The World of Suzie Wong, signing then unknown
Nancy Kwan
to a multi year contract. Ray Stark went on to produce
over 125 films over the next four decades, include hits such as
Night of the Iguana,
Funny Girl,
The Way We Were,
The Goodbye Girl,
and
Steel Magnolias.
He maintained his friendship with Nancy Kwan throughout the years, and
congratulated her on her Visionary Award from the East West Players
theatre company just last April.
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Happy Holidays!
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14 December 2003
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We'd like to wish
Happy Holidays to all our readers.
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Added two more magazine covers featuring Nancy Kwan to the
Glamour page.
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Nancy Kwan in the news
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16 November 2003
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An article about Nancy Kwan and her famous first film appeared in the
10 November edition of the
New Jersey Star-Ledger.
Another piece about Nancy Kwan will soon be published in
the Taiwanese magazine Blanca.
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Added a page to the
Stage, TV, & Other
Work section about the classic television game
show What's My Line?, including the television clip of Nancy's
actual appearance.
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Nancy Kwan to appear on What's My Line
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5 October 2003
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What's My Line? was a popular game show in the US during the
1950's and 1960's.
The panelists of the show, while wearing blindfolds, would try to
guess a Mystery Guest Star's identity by asking yes or no questions.
Shortly after The World of Suzie Wong was released in 1960,
Nancy Kwan guest starred on What's My Line?, and her episode
will be broadcast in early November on the
Game Show Network.
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Added a new video trailer to the Honeymoon Hotel page under the
Filmography section.
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Bruce Lee tribute gathering
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29 August 2003
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On 20 July, family and friends of the late Bruce Lee gathered to honor
the martial arts superstar on the thirtieth anniversary of his
untimely passing. The informal event was organized by Bruce Lee's
brother and sister. Nancy Kwan gave a talk sharing her memories of
working with Bruce Lee that was well received.
We would like to introduce Nancy's newest fan:
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Added a new video trailer and two new songs to The Main
Attraction page under the
Filmography section.
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My Hong Kong with Nancy Kwan on PBS
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29 June 2003
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Nancy Kwan leads us on a wonderful exploration of the "Fragrant
Harbour" in
My Hong Kong with Nancy Kwan,
sharing her fond memories of Hong Kong past and showing us the dynamic
attractions of the city today.
Produced by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, PBS will present this
television special on 6 July and 7 July on
KOCE-TV
in Los Angeles.
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Added four new magazine covers to the
Glamour page.
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Bob Hope and Nancy Kwan
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14 June 2003
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On 29 May, legendary comedian Bob Hope, star of stage, radio, film, and
television, celebrated his 100th birthday. Fans of Nancy Kwan may not
be aware that she appeared as a special guest star on the
Bob Hope Christmas Special
in 1961. If you are interested in obtaining a copy
of this show on video, please send an email to the
webkeeper
for more information.
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Added two new musical recordings to
The World of Suzie Wong page.
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Nancy Kwan shines at the MoCA dinner
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11 May 2003
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Nancy Kwan was joined by James Shigeta, Pat Suzuki, Jodi Long, and
Jose Llana at the
Museum of the Chinese in the Americas
annual dinner. In addition to honoring The Rodgers and Hammerstein
Organization, veteran talent agent Jadin Wong, and the Chinese Musical
& Theatrical Association for their contributions to the community,
they helped raise funds for the museum. Featuring many musical
numbers, the high point of the evening came as the entire company
gathered together on stage to sing the chorus of One Hundred
Million Miracles. The event was covered by
Singtao,
the New York Chinese-language newspaper.
We would like to thank Norbert and Nancy for their warmth and kindness
this past weekend.
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Nancy Kwan accepts Visionary Award
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28 April 2003
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Nancy Kwan was honored with the
East West Players'
Visionary Award for her pioneering achievements as an Asian Pacific
American actor. Wearing an attractive Asian-inspired black and green
embroidered outfit, she mixed with the event attendees. In her
acceptance of the award, she asked the audience to remember her
friend, Chinese-American actress Beulah Quo, who recently passed away.
She thanked all the people who helped support the theatre, and the
more than 800 guests in attendance gave her a big round of applause.
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Rewrote
The World of Suzie Wong filmography entry, with new photos, cast bios,
and the original theatrical trailer.
Also added EurasianNation.com to the
Links page.
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East West Players to present Nancy Kwan Visionary Award
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8 April 2003
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On Monday, April 28, East West Players
will present Hollywood pioneer Nancy Kwan with its Visionary Award at
its 37th annual awards dinner. Established in 1965, East West
Players was the first Asian-American theatre company in the
United States. Based in Los Angeles "Little Tokyo", it remains a
premiere showcase for talented Asian Pacific American actors and
writers.
Ticket information for the event is available at the EWP
website
or by calling them at 213-625-7000;
the proceeds will help support the theatre. Everyone in the Los
Angeles area is encouraged to attend this important event and applaud
Nancy!
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Nancy Kwan special guest at NY museum awards dinner
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30 March 2003
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On May 8th, Nancy Kwan will appear as a special guest at the Lucky 8
Legacy Dinner sponsored by the Museum of the Chinese in the Americas.
Located in the heart of New York City's Chinatown, the museum
chronicles the immigrant experience of the Chinese in the U.S.
Currently featured at the museum is Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance!,
a special exhibit about Chinese-American nightclub performers in the
40's and 50's. More information about the awards dinner and the
special exhibit is available at the museum's
website.
Nancy Kwan shares her memories of Bruce Lee in the April issue of
Inside Kung Fu magazine. After working together in the 1969
film The Wrecking Crew, both returned to Hong Kong in the
70's, where they remained in touch. Bruce Lee and Nancy Kwan had
lunch together to discuss projects along with Hong Kong producer
Raymond Chow the day before Bruce's unfortunate passing at age 32.
Twenty years later, Nancy Kwan would honor the legendary martial
artist by starring in the biopic Dragon, the Bruce Lee Story,
and supporting the effort to get him a Star on Hollywood's Walk of
Fame.
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Added seven artistic pictures to the Gallery section.
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Place your order for Flower Drum Song on DVD
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22 February 2003
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The long awaited release of Flower Drum Song on DVD is
coming soon. Reserve your copy at
amazon.com.
Belatedly, we would like to wish every one
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Added seven new photos from Flower Drum Song to the
Gallery section, and two
new magazine covers to the
Glamour page.
Special thanks go to Cindy Yee for sharing with us these photos and
her memories of Nancy Kwan.
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New Flower Drum Song cast recording
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20 January 2003
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The cast recording for the current Broadway revisal of Flower Drum
Song is now available at
amazon.com
. Featuring new orchestrations of the classic Rodgers and
Hammerstein songs, and talented vocalists such as Lea Salonga, Jose
Llana, and Sandra Allen, it's the best way to enjoy the new Broadway
production.
We would like to thank Nancy and Norbert for having the kindness to
meet us during our recent trip to California.
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Added seven new photos from Flower Drum Song to the
Gallery section.
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Dong Kingman exhibition tours China
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21 December 2002
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Born in California, but growing up in Hong Kong, the late Dong Kingman ( ) was one of the leading watercolorists of the
twentieth century; his work met with both critical and popular success
from the 1930's to the 1990's. His paintings enrich over 50 musuems,
and were featured on the covers of national magazines and in motion
pictures in America. Dong Kingman befriended Nancy Kwan during his
work on The World of Suzie Wong and
Flower Drum Song,
and she returns to her native Hong Kong this month for the opening of
a Dong Kingman exhibit there.
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Added an early article of Nancy Kwan with artist Dong Kingman to the
Press Clippings section.
We would like to wish
Season Greetings to all our readers.
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Nancy Kwan's Hong Kong tourism video
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14 November 2002
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Nancy Kwan lent her personality to
promote tourism for her native Hong Kong.
Watch
Nancy Kwan's Hong Kong Story
video, at the
Discover Hong Kong
website. In addition to guiding the visitor through the attractions
of modern day Hong Kong, the video also includes childhood photos of
Nancy in her hometown, plus a brief clip from the film The Magic
Stone, a tourism promotion she did for the Hong Kong government
back in 1966.
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Created a new
Press Clippings section, containing articles
and interviews with Ms. Kwan.
Also added two new pictures to the
Glamour section.
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Revised Flower Drum Song on Broadway
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26 October 2002
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Incorporating the songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein, a new musical
opened on Broadway on 17 October, that is both a tribute and a sendup
of the classic original Flower Drum Song. Although the new production
has a few
problems, the cast is very talented and we would like to tell them
all, "break a leg".
On 19 October, a screening of Flower Drum Song the film was held
at New York University, to promote the opening of the new stage
version. In attendance was special guest C.Y. Lee, the author of the
novel upon which the original musical and film were based. The
84-year old Mr. Lee was kind enough to speak afterwards about his life
experiences as a writer and as a Chinese-American. The film and
symposium were enthusiastically attended by the Asian American
community.
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Watch Nancy Kwan's Hong Kong Story video, a tourism promotion
for Hong Kong, by visiting the
Links section.
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Flower Drum Song movie soundtrack CD released
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4 October 2002
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The
Motion Picture Soundtrack
to Flower Drum Song has been released to CD for the first time, on the
Decca label. Orchestrated by famous Hollywood composer Alfred Newman,
the movie soundtrack is bigger, warmer, and more symphonic than the
Original Broadway Cast
Sony recording, which is more jazzy and brassy in feel. The CD
release coincides with the opening of the Flower Drum Song
revisical on Broadway, starring Lea Salonga.
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Added seven new publicity pictures to the
Gallery.
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Flower Drum Song shines at New York film festival
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31 August 2002
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Flower Drum Song was screened to a receptive audience at the Asian
American International Film Festival in New York on July 25th. The
film was chosen as a retro favorite by two festival organizers. In
attendence were members of the upcoming Broadway revisal of the
classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.
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Added seven new on-the-set pictures to the
Gallery.
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Flower Drum Song coming to DVD
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23 July 2002
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According to an industry insider, Flower Drum Song will be
released on DVD this fall, presented in its original uncropped
letterbox version.
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Revamped the Flower Drum Song
page in the Filmography.
In response to several requests, added cast photos, music clips, and
video trailers of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic.
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Nancy Kwan promotes tourism in Hong Kong
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22 June 2002
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Nancy Kwan returned to her home town in June to promote HSBC's Mega
Hong Kong Sale. Invited by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, she was
joined by local celebrities to encourage travellers to visit and shop
in Hong Kong, and her appearance was well received by the local media.
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Added new pictures to the
Gallery and the
Glamour sections, and two new
links.
Slow but steady progress on her
Hollywood Star.
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Nancy's Star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame
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19 May 2002
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As the most successful Asian actress of her generation, Nancy Kwan
deserves to be recognized for her pioneering role in Hollywood. We
have begun a campaign to get Nancy Kwan her Star on Hollywood's Walk
of Fame, with the goal of completion by May 2003. If you have enjoyed
Ms. Kwan's roles throughout her career, we ask you to join in this
not-for-profit effort. For information on how you can help, click
here.
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Added Bob Hope and Terry-Thomas to the
Leading Men section,
and added seven new pictures to the
Gallery.
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Special Message for Nancy Kwan
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22 April 2002
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On this special day, we'd like to give a special message for Ms. Kwan:
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Added the
Glamour section,
showing several magazine covers with Nancy Kwan,
as well as two new plot summaries to the
Filmography.
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Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta reunited at film festival
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24 March 2002
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On 10 March, Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta attended a special screening
of Flower Drum Song at the San Francisco International Asian
Film Festival. Like the recent screening in Los Angeles, the film had
a very positive reception. Afterwards, both stars mingled with fans,
signing autographs and posing for photos.
Read one reviewer's irreverent but affectionate description of the event
here.
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Added the
Stage, TV, & Other Work section,
as well as seven new images to the Gallery.
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San Francisco Chinese New Years Parade
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12 February 2002
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On Saturday 23 February, Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta are to appear in
San Francisco's traditional Chinese New Year's Parade, riding on a
float promoting the musical Flower Drum Song. The parade
route passes right by Grant Avenue, the mythical home of Sammy Fong's
Celestial Gardens. More information about the parade can be obtained
here.
Nancy Kwan made a surprise appearance at the LACMA screening of
Flower Drum Song last month. After being introduced by UCLA
scholar Karin Higa, she spoke briefly and settled down to watch the
film. The sold-out theatre, which included a good number of young
Asian faces, greeted the show with great enthusiasm. After the event
she was immediately surrounded by throngs of fans and autograph
seekers, which she handled with characteristic grace and aplomb.
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Added several new plot summaries to the
Filmography,
as well as seven new candid images to the Gallery.
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New TV movie in the works
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6 January 2002
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There has been some talk of a new made-for-TV movie, starring Nancy
Kwan and veteran Japanese-American actor Pat Morita, set in Dallas,
Texas. The movie is scheduled to being filming this spring, with the
potential of developing into a regular series if successful.
For those who live in the LA area, there is a rare opportunity to see
Flower Drum Song on the big screen. It is showing at the Los Angeles
County Museum of Art on Saturday January 26, in their state-of-the-art
theater. Tickets are $7 and include full day admission to the
galleries there. More information can be obtained at their
website.
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Nancy Kwan: Hong Kong's Gift to Hollywood appears on the
search engines. Added new images throughout the website.
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Nancy Kwan featured at the Ammy Awards
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23 December 2001
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Nancy Kwan was featured as presenter at the
Ammy
Awards, the ceremony honoring excellence for Asian American actors
in film and television.
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Created the Links page.
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Flower Drum Song reunion
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27 November 2001
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Nancy attended a special performance of the recent
revival/revisal of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical in
Los Angeles. Joining her were members of the original stage and film
productions.
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Added the
Leading Men
page, listing some of her most famous co-stars. Added several new film
synopses to the
Filmography,
as well as new images to the Gallery.
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"Nancy Kwan: Hong Kong's Gift to Hollywood" launched
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19 September 2001
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This website was created for the enjoyment of those who remember Nancy
Kwan from her earliest days on the screen, and to introduce a new
generation of movie fans to the many fine films she made. By showing
the diversity of her performances, we also hope to show Asian and
Asian-Americans audiences her pioneering role as an Asian actress in
Hollywood.
We extend our gratitude to all who helped in this effort. Special
thanks go to Ms. Kwan for her blessing.
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