Actor James Shigeta played the leading male role in the lavish movie musical "Flower Drum Song" in 1961. In "Flower Drum Song," the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about clashing traditional Chinese and American cultures in San Francisco, Mr. Shigeta had several numbers to sing, including the lyrical "You Are Beautiful." [...] he was hopeful the film would lead to meatier roles not only for himself, but other Asian American actors. [...] they started portraying the Asian American as something other than the poor man in a menial job, as a doctor or attorney. University of Southern California film Professor Akira Lippit said Tuesday that even now, many roles offered to Asian American actors were designated as Asian characters. Film critic Matt Zoller Seitz wrote that the actor gave a performance embodying bravery that showed someone "about to die can steal back a bit of dignity by summoning their courage and refusing to be cowed."