‘Too Wong Foo’, the 1995 film directed by Beeban Kidron, has several ingredients that, over time, managed to place it as one of the cult films. Patrick Swayze, Weisley Snipes and John Leguizamothey defended their characters and the film tooth and nail from adverse criticism, but as one of them revealed this week, the relationship they had on set was far from harmonious.
The plot centers on three drag-queens, Nexxema Jackson (Snipes), Vida Boheme (Swayze) and Chi-Chi Rodríguez (Leguizamo) who undertake a trip from New York to Hollywood to participate in a contest. The journey serves as an excuse to show that in many of the American towns and cities they pass through, the treatment towards people like them is much less respectful and fluid than what they receive in large cities.
In an interview for the radio show hosted by Andy Cohen, John Leguizamo revealed that it was “difficult” to work with Swayze.
“Rest in peace. I love him. He was just neurotic and I wasn’t… You know, I’m neurotic too, but I don’t know. “It was just… It was difficult to work with him,” she recalled. And she explained: “He was simply neurotic. I think maybe a little bit insecure, too.”.
The actor made it clear that with the other protagonist, Snipes, he was able to coexist on the set in harmony.
“Wesley and I vibrate the same way, because we are people of color and we felt like we had each other,” he said. And, when it came to pointing out which were the situations that generated discord, he acknowledged: “I usually improvise, and Patrick clearly didn’t like that.”.
“He was like, ‘Are you going to say a line like that?’ And I responded: ‘You know me. I’m going to let it flow, I’m going to continue inventing lines,’” said Leguizamo. And he continued to remember: “He kept insisting, ‘Well, can you say the dialogue as it is?’ And I answered no. The director also didn’t want me to do it.”
Both Swayze and Leguizamo ended up earning nominations at the Golden Globes for their performances in the film.
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