To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything ! Julie Newmar - wikipedia To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything ! Julie Newmar To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything ! Julie Newmar Theatrical release poster Directed by Beeban Kidron Produced by Walter F. Parkes Bruce Cohen Written by Douglas Beane Starring Wesley Snipes Patrick Swayze John Leguizamo Stockard Channing Blythe Danner Arliss Howard Chris Penn Music by Rachel Portman Cinematography Steve Mason Edited by Andrew Mondshein Production company Amblin Entertainment Distributed by Universal Pictures Release date September 8, 1995 ( 1995 - 09 - 08 ) Running time 109 minutes Country United States Language English Box office $47.8 million 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 City drag queens who embark on a road trip. Its title refers to an iconic autographed photo of Julie Newmar that they carry with them on their journey. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 2.1 Cameo appearances 3 Awards 4 Production 5 Reception 6 Soundtrack 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Plot After tying for the win in New York City 's `` Drag Queen of the Year '' contest, Noxeema Jackson ( Wesley Snipes ) and Vida Boheme ( Patrick Swayze ) 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 ( John Leguizamo ) as their protégé ( they initially refer to him simply as a `` boy in a dress '' rather than as a fully - fledged drag queen ). 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 ( Robin Williams ). They set off for Los Angeles in it, carrying with them an iconic autographed photo of Julie Newmar ( signed, `` To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything ! Julie Newmar '' ) that Vida purloined from a restaurant wall. While on the road they are pulled over by the racist, homophobic, and sexist Sheriff Dollard ( Chris Penn ), who tries to rape Vida. He discovers Vida is not a woman and, in the commotion, he falls backwards and is knocked unconscious. They think he is dead, 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 ( Jason London ) from the nearby small town of Snydersville, happens to pass by and gives them a ride, where they take refuge in a bed and breakfast inn owned by Carol Ann ( Stockard Channing ) and her abusive car repairman husband, Virgil ( Arliss Howard ). They become stranded in the town for the weekend as they wait for the replacement part for their car to arrive. 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, they decide its small band of women need a day with them, 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, they are ecstatic to find vintage fashions from the 1960s in the town 's clothing store and give the female residents ( and themselves ) a make - over. Following their makeover, they are abused by the same roughnecks that attempted to attack Chi - Chi. Fed up, Noxeema handles the situation in a typically New York City 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 Strawberry Social. Meanwhile, Sheriff Dollard is ridiculed by his colleagues, who believe he was beat up by a girl. He goes off in search of the drag queens. Vida, in the meantime, becomes acutely aware of Carol Ann 's abuse at the hands of Virgil and, shortly thereafter, they overhear him giving her another beating. Vida decides to intervene and beats him up before throwing him out of the house. Carol Ann is able to repair their car, but they remain for the Strawberry Social. Carol Ann reveals to Vida that she knew she was a drag queen all along due to her Adam 's apple, which is less prominent in women. Not too far away, Virgil runs into Sheriff Dollard at a bar and they realize that the newcomers are the same people Dollard has been searching for. They head back to Snydersville, and Dollard demands that the townspeople turn them over. The other townspeople, who now realize that their new friends are not women, begin to protect them. One by one they step up and confront Dollard, each one claiming to be a drag queen ( in similar fashion to Spartacus ). He is humiliated and flees. The Strawberry Social commences with everyone dressed in vibrant red outfits for it. The townfolk then say goodbye to their new friends as Noxeema, Vida and Chi - Chi prepare to leave. In honor of their friendship, Vida gives Carol Ann the autographed photo of Julie Newmar that has accompanied them on their trip. They eventually make 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. The crown is presented by Julie Newmar as herself. 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 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 Miss Understood Candis Cayne as Herself ( credited as Brendan McDanniel ) Clinton Leupp as Miss Coco Peru Steven Polito as Hedda Lettuce Jon Ingle as The Lady Bunny Quentin Crisp as NY Pageant Judge Flotilla DeBarge as NY Pageant Judge José Sarria as NY Pageant Judge RuPaul as Rachel Tensions Robin Williams as John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt Awards Swayze and Leguizamo were nominated for Golden Globe Awards 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 its 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, 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, Lincoln, and Omaha. Though greatly faded, a `` Welcome to Snydersville '' 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 film, eventually settling with undisclosed terms. The film is similar to 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. To Wong Foo has sometimes erroneously been called a copy or a remake of Priscilla, although it was already in production before Priscilla was released. A DVD is available with several deleted scenes. Reception With a lifetime box - office gross revenue of US $47.8 million worldwide ( equivalent to $75.1 million in 2016 ), the film was number one at the box office in the U.S. for its first two weeks in the theater. It received mixed reviews from critics, as it holds a 41 % rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 32 reviews. It has since become a cult classic. Soundtrack The movie 's soundtrack includes : `` I Am the 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 ) Girls Just Want to Have Fun '' -- Cyndi Lauper `` Over the Rainbow '' -- Patti LaBelle `` To Wong Foo Suite ( When I Get to Hollywood / A Day With the Girls / Moms Mabley / Stand Up ) '' -- Rachel Portman Music and songs not included in the soundtrack : `` Gotta Move '' -- Barbra Streisand `` Theme From Wonder Woman '' -- New World Symphony `` Je Cherche un Homme '' ( I Want a Man ) -- Eartha Kitt `` Behind Closed Doors '' -- Charlie Rich `` Stand by Your Man '' -- David Allan Coe `` This Is a Man 's World '' -- Sara Hickman `` Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me '' -- Johnny Mathis `` ( Hey Wo n't You Play ) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song '' -- B.J. Thomas `` 1812 Overture '' -- Tchaikovsky `` Zampa Overture '' -- Ferdinand Herold `` China Girl '' -- Robert J. Walsh `` That Lady You 're with Ai n't No Lady '' -- Larry Applewhite / Gene Wisniewski See also Cross-dressing in film and television References ^ Jump up to : `` To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 9, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Winners and Nominees : To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything ! Julie Newmar ''. The Golden Globes. Retrieved September 9, 2017. Jump up ^ Read, Philip ( May 13, 2008 ). `` Montclair on screens big and small ''. The Star - Ledger. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ Benes, Ross ( March 24, 2014 ). `` When John Leguizamo Fixed Up My Hometown ''. Esquire. Retrieved 31 July 2014. Jump up ^ `` Chi Chi to Universal Pictures : Thanks for Nothing, I 'm Suing ''. Los Angeles Times. 1995 - 09 - 16. Retrieved 2011 - 06 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Rodriguez Settles Suit ''. The Spokesman - Review. September 29, 1995. Retrieved March 5, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` The Amazing Story Behind To Wong Foo ''. The Advocate, August 13, 2015. Jump up ^ `` To Wong Foo, thanks for everything, Julie Newmar ( DVD ) / Universal Pictures presents an Amblin Entertainment production ; a Beeban Kidron film ''. Chesterfield County Public Library. Retrieved September 9, 2017. Jump up ^ Crust, Kevin ( September 14, 2015 ). `` No. 1 Films from 10, 20 and 30 Years Ago ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 9, 2017. Jump up ^ DeMarco, Patrick ( September 9, 2015 ). `` Why ' To Wong Foo ' Keeps it Real 20 Years Later G Philly ''. Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved September 9, 2017. Jump up ^ Cintron, Christian ( 2015 ). `` Fun Facts About ' To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything ! Julie Newmar. ' '' Hollywood. Retrieved 25 December 2016. Jump up ^ `` To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything ! Julie Newmar Soundtrack ''. Film Music Site. Retrieved September 9, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Stitzel, Kelly ( September 19, 2009 ). `` Soundtrack Saturday : `` To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything ! Julie Newmar '' ``. Popdose. Retrieved September 9, 2017. External links Wikiquote has quotations related to : To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything ! Julie Newmar To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything ! Julie Newmar on IMDb 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 Films directed by Beeban Kidron Vroom ( 1988 ) Antonia and Jane ( 1991 ) Used People ( 1992 ) Great Moments in Aviation ( 1994 ) To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything ! Julie Newmar ( 1995 ) Swept from the Sea ( 1997 ) Cinderella ( 2000 ) Bridget Jones : The Edge of Reason ( 2004 ) Hippie Hippie Shake ( 2009 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=To_Wong_Foo,_Thanks_for_Everything!_Julie_Newmar&oldid=799707712 '' Categories : 1995 films English - language films 1990s comedy films 1990s LGBT - related films Amblin Entertainment films American comedy films American films American LGBT - related films American satirical films Cross-dressing in American films Films directed by Beeban Kidron Films shot in Nebraska Films shot in New Jersey Films shot in New York City LGBT - related comedy films Universal Pictures films Hidden categories : All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from September 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Azərbaycanca Čeština Cymraeg Deutsch Ελληνικά Emiliàn e rumagnòl Español Euskara فارسی Français Italiano עברית 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Svenska Türkçe Edit links This page was last edited on 9 September 2017, at 10 : 39. 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Question: who played bobby ray in to wong foo
Answer: Jason London