South Pacific (1958)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Joshua Logan

Writers:

Paul Osborn (screenplay)
Richard Rodgers (adapted from the play "South Pacific") ...

Release Date:

19 March 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Romance | War

Tagline:

In the thrilling tradition of "Around The World In 80 Days"...

Plot:

On a South Pacific island during World War II, love blooms between a young nurse and a secretive Frenchman who's being courted for a dangerous military mission.

Plot Keywords:

Nurse | US Navy | Hospital | Show | Cross Dressing

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 7 nominations

Cast

Rossano Brazzi	...	Emile De Becque
Mitzi Gaynor	...	Ensign Nellie Forbush, USN
John Kerr	...	Lt. Joseph Cable, USMC
Ray Walston	...	Luther Billis
Juanita Hall	...	Bloody Mary
France Nuyen	...	Liat
Russ Brown	...	Capt. Brackett, USN
Floyd Simmons	...	Commander Harbison, USN
Tom Laughlin	...	Lt. Buzz Adams
Jack Mullaney	...	The Professor
Ken Clark	...	Stewpot
Archie Savage	...	Chief - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Candace Lee	...	Ngana - Emile's Child
Warren Hsieh	...	Jerome - Emile's Child
Francis Kahele	...	Henry - Emile's Servant

Runtime:

157 min | 171 min (roadshow version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (35 mm mag-optical prints) | Mono (35 mm optical prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Australia:G | Iceland:L | New Zealand:G | USA:Approved (certificate #18688) | Canada:G | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain

Company:

Magna Corporation

Trivia:

Juanita Hall, who played Bloody Mary in the original Broadway production, sang her own songs onstage, but was dubbed in the film version at the request of composer Richard Rodgers. Rodgers and musical director Alfred Newman brought in Muriel Smith (who played the Bloody Mary role in London).

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first scene between Nellie and Luther Billis (during the song "There is Nothing Like a Dame"), Luther's shirt unbuttons and rebuttons itself several times.

Quotes:

Lt. Buzz Adams: You gotta do something to break the monotony out here, Lieutenant. You know, if this war ever really gets started ...
Lt. Cable: [as if he knew something that Buzz Adams does not] It'll get started.
Lt. Buzz Adams: [taken by surprise] Sure - sure, it'll get started.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Facts of Life: Green-Eyed Monster (#3.12)" (1982)

Soundtrack:

There is Nothin' Like a Dame

Possibly the most complete musical ever made

While I was too young to have seen the original Broadway production - and thus that might account for the previous criticism posted above - I think the fault lies with the reviewer (seeing a 1950's musical in 1990's terms).

The lighting, so criticized, added and accented the moods of the film as few films did at the time. The music, possibly without match in an American musical, fit the moods equally well - taking the viewer from the high tensions of the Young Lovers or of the eventual return of Emile. At the same time, the bawdy humorous numbers add temporary humor while the tension of the story line mounts.

Socially, the themes of race and general human cruelty are delivered to the audience without them even noticing. Something in which so many of the modern-day productions fail miserably.

Truly the most complete American musical on many levels!