South Pacific (1958)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Joshua Logan

Writers:

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

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
Robert Jacobs	...	1st Communications Man
John Gabriel	...	2nd Communications Man
Richard Harrison	...	Co-Pilot
Ron Ely	...	Navigator (as Ronald Ely)
Steve Wiland	...	Seabee Dancer
Richard H. Cutting	...	Admiral Kester (as Richard Cutting)
Joe Bailey	...	U.S. Commander
Buck Class	...	Fighter Pilot
Richard Kiser	...	Fighter Pilot
Linc Foster	...	Pilot in Hospital
Doug McClure	...	Pilot in Hospital
Stephen Ferry	...	Pilot in Hospital
Joan Baker	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Diane Reid	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Phyllis Butcher	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Dian Goodman	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Diane Dubois	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach (as Diane DuBois)
Anna James	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Karen Gallant	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Joyce Kramer	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Barbara Cole	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Mary Bishop	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
May Fewell	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Beverly Johnson	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Jane Lucas	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Janet Hanrahan	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Barbara Nesser	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Marlene Lizzio	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Muffett Webb	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Mary Jo Flanders	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Debbie Wilcox	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Faye Antaky	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Donna Pouget	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Dorothy Abbott	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Pat Volasko	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Jan Haller	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Beverly Aadland	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show (as Beverly Adland)
Bonnie Lene	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Jonni Paris	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show (as Jonnie Paris)
Diane Myles	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Barbara Donaldson	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Ila McAvoy	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Joanne Jones	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Larri Thomas	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show (as Lorri Thomas)
Darlene Engle	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Kay Tapscott	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Evelyn Ford	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Betty Bunch	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Susan Logan	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show (as Sue Logan)
Dan Wallace	...	Sailor / Seabee
Karl Heyer	...	Sailor / Seabee
James De Closs	...	Sailor / Seabee (as Jim DeCloss)
Mike Vincent	...	Sailor / Seabee
James Stacy	...	Sailor / Seabee (as Jim Stacy)
Donald Mundell	...	Sailor / Seabee
Alvin Arnold	...	Sailor / Seabee
Mark Pinkston	...	Sailor / Seabee
Gene Bergman	...	Sailor / Seabee (as Gene Bergmann)
Velton Parker	...	Sailor / Seabee
John Chasey	...	Sailor / Seabee
Lee Thomas	...	Sailor / Seabee
Carl Esser	...	Sailor / Seabee
Joseph Schlichter	...	Sailor / Seabee
Jim Ganley	...	Sailor / Seabee
Richard Smith	...	Sailor / Seabee
Murray Gaby	...	Sailor / Seabee
Robert Nielson	...	Sailor / Seabee
William Glisson	...	Sailor / Seabee
Hadley Gray	...	Sailor / Seabee
George Hooper	...	Sailor / Seabee
John Caler	...	Sailor / Seabee
Charles Joyner	...	Sailor / Seabee
Morris Harmell	...	Sailor / Seabee
Donald Lane	...	Sailor / Seabee
Donald Nobles	...	Sailor / Seabee
Tom Moore	...	Sailor / Seabee
Mike Salamunovich	...	Sailor / Seabee
Tom Logan	...	Sailor / Seabee
Durwood Bloomgren	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Charles Lunard	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Tex Brodus	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Joe Paz	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Bob Calder	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Eddie Searles	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show (as Ed Searles)
Roy Damron	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Clark Lee	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Galvan De Leon	...	Sub Chief - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer (as Galvan DeLeon)
Bob Destine	...	Whip Man - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Sidney Hurston	...	Birdman - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Leroy Hamilton	...	Birdman - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
James Truitt	...	Ashman - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Clyde Webb	...	Ashman - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Stephen Papich	...	Ashman - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer (as Steve Pappich)
Victor Upshaw	...	Firetender - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Nat Bush	...	Firetender - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Garland Thompson	...	Firetender - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Ralph Weaver	...	Firetender - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
James Field	...	Barua
William Washington	...	Barua
Marco López	...	Barua (as Marco Lopez)
Charles Carter	...	Barua
Alex Young	...	Barua
Ray Mendez	...	Barua
George Hall	...	Barua
Richard Domasin	...	Barua
James Malcolm	...	Barua
Maaka Nua	...	Barua
Johnny Morgan	...	Barua
Tonu Nua	...	Barua
Jack Williams	...	Barua
Selu Nua	...	Barua
Andrew Robinson	...	Barua
Niki Nua	...	Barua
Kirk Boone	...	Blue Boy
Walt Davis	...	Blue Boy (as Walter Davis)
Wesley Gale	...	Blue Boy
Don Marshall	...	Blue Boy
Clarence Landry	...	Blue Boy
David Walker	...	Blue Boy
Andrew Isaacs	...	Blue Boy
Harold Walker	...	Blue Boy
Walter Smith	...	Blue Boy
Charles Mohr	...	Blue Boy
George Davis	...	Drummer / Musician
Santiago Mos	...	Drummer / Musician
Kenneth Walker	...	Drummer / Musician
Gregory Christmas	...	Drummer / Musician
Bill Ornelles	...	Drummer / Musician
Gary Christmas	...	Drummer / Musician
Freddie Baker	...	Drummer / Musician (as Freddy Baker)
Gene Fontaine	...	Drummer / Musician
James Green	...	Drummer / Musician
Charles R. Rogers	...	Drummer / Musician
Don Martin	...	Drummer / Musician
Anita Louise Dano	...	Polynesian Woman (as Anita Dano)
Anne Darris	...	Polynesian Woman
Yvonne De Lavallade	...	Polynesian Woman
Joan Fontaine	...	Polynesian Woman
Lenmana Guerin	...	Polynesian Woman (as Lemmana Guerin)
Paulette Easley	...	Polynesian Woman
Tela Mansfield	...	Polynesian Woman (as Telu Mansfield)
Claire Alcantara	...	Polynesian Woman
Vicki Orozco	...	Polynesian Woman
Missaye Meyer	...	Polynesian Woman
Bobbi Coté	...	Polynesian Woman
Mimi Dillard	...	Polynesian Woman
Harriette Young	...	Polynesian Woman (as Harriet Young)
Giorgio Tozzi	...	Emile De Becque (singing voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Coldren	...	Marine in attack briefing (uncredited)
Hazel Daniels	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Peggy Dave	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Ed Fury	...	Sailor / Seabee (uncredited)
Marie Greene	...	Ngana (singing voice) (uncredited)
Kathryn Johnson	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Martinique Landois	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Bill Lee	...	Lieutenant Joseph Cable, USMC (singing voice) (uncredited)
Jeanna Limyou	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Harrigan Logan	...	French school girl (uncredited)
Dorothy Michener	...	Missionary (uncredited)
James Michener	...	Missionary (uncredited)
Thelma Oliver	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Jean Pace	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Thurl Ravenscroft	...	Stewpot (singing voice) (uncredited)
Frieda Rentie	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Hazel Rogers	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Muriel Smith	...	Bloody Mary (singing voice) (uncredited)
Frank D. Strong	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Jeannie Thompson	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Ercelle Tisby	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Cesar Ugarte	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Boots Wade	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)

Directed by
Joshua Logan

Writing credits
Paul Osborn		(screenplay)
Richard Rodgers		(adapted from the play "South Pacific") &
Oscar Hammerstein II		(adapted from the play "South Pacific") and
Joshua Logan		(adapted from the play "South Pacific")
James Michener		(book "Tales of the South Pacific") (as James A. Michener)

Produced by
Buddy Adler	....	producer
George P. Skouras	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Richard Rodgers

Cinematography by
Leon Shamroy		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert L. Simpson		(as Robert Simpson)

Art Direction by
John DeCuir		(as John De Cuir)
Lyle R. Wheeler

Set Decoration by
Paul S. Fox
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Dorothy Jeakins

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Helen Turpin	....	hair stylist
Bunny Gardel	....	body makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ben Kadish	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Fred Hynes	....	sound recording supervisor
Joseph I. Kane	....	sound recordist (as Joseph Kane)
Donald C. Rogers	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
L.B. Abbott	....	special photographic effects
Bill Middlemas	....	special effects: second unit (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alfred Baalas	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Al Baerthlin	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Delmer Blair	....	dolly grip (uncredited)
Jack Brown	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Richard Cameron	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Stanley Cortez	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Hugh Crawford	....	first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Lee Crawford	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
William Cronjager	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Leo Davis	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Eric Ericson	....	grip (uncredited)
Sam Fisher	....	electrician (uncredited)
Walter Fitchman	....	key rigging grip (uncredited)
Arthur Gerstle	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Frank Gilley	....	grip (uncredited)
Fred Hall	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Don Henderson	....	best boy electric (uncredited)
Ted Husserl	....	electrician (uncredited)
Grover Jones	....	electrician (uncredited)
William K. Jurgensen	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Ben Kershner	....	second assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Fred Kuhnau	....	electrician (uncredited)
Grover Laube	....	camera mechanic assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Al Lebowitz	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Paul Lockwood	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Gaston Longet	....	still photographer (uncredited)
W.A. Machado	....	grip (uncredited)
Frank McCardle	....	best boy grip (uncredited)
Leo McCreary	....	key grip (uncredited)
James Mitchell	....	still photographer (uncredited)
John Murray	....	grip (uncredited)
Al Parker	....	rigging lamp operator (uncredited)
John Pazzelli	....	key grip: second unit (uncredited)
Frank Powolny	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Fred Richter	....	rigging best boy grip (uncredited)
Charles Rosebrook	....	electrician (uncredited)
Bill Schneider	....	camera mechanic (uncredited)
Bob Smith	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Clyde Taylor	....	rigging best boy electric (uncredited)
Hank Vadare	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Kenneth T. Williams	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Reeder P. Boss	....	wardrobe manager (uncredited)
Norma Brown	....	wardrobe manager (uncredited)
Dale Henderson	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)
Mickey Sherrard	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Leonard Doss	....	color consultant

Music Department
George Adams	....	music editor
Robert Russell Bennett	....	orchestrator
Ken Darby	....	associate conductor
Ken Darby	....	associate music supervisor
Pete King	....	orchestrator
Robert Mayer	....	music editor
Bernard Mayers	....	orchestrator
Alfred Newman	....	conductor
Alfred Newman	....	music supervisor
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator
Murray Spivack	....	music recordist
Bill Lee	....	singing voice: Lt. Joseph Cable (uncredited)
Muriel Smith	....	singing voice: Juanita Hall (uncredited)
Betty Wand	....	singing voice: Warren Hsieh (uncredited)
John Williams	....	musician: piano (uncredited)

Other crew
Oscar Hammerstein II	....	originally produced on the stage by
Oscar Hammerstein II	....	presenter (as Hammerstein)
Leland Hayward	....	originally produced on the stage by
Joshua Logan	....	originally produced on the stage by
LeRoy Prinz	....	choreographer: Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Number
William Reynolds	....	production associate
Richard Rodgers	....	originally produced on the stage by
Richard Rodgers	....	presenter (as Rodgers)
Schuyler A. Sanford	....	Todd-AO consultant
Joseph Curtis	....	dialogue coach (uncredited)
Charles E. Dolan	....	craft service (uncredited)
Katherine Lambert	....	researcher (uncredited)
Frances Richardson	....	researcher (uncredited)
Sonia Wolfson	....	publicist (uncredited)
Marshall J. Wolins	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Magna Corporation
• Rodgers & Hammerstein Productions
• South Pacific Enterprises
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1958) (USA) (theatrical) (35mm general release)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1964) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1971) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (1983) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• CBS/Fox (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Magna Theatre Corporation (1958) (USA) (theatrical) (70mm roadshow release)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Department of Defense, The  the producers thank for their assistance in bringing this motion picture to the screen (as the Department of Defense)
• United States Navy, The  the producers thank for their assistance in bringing this motion picture to the screen (as the Navy Department)
• Fleet Marine Force, Pacific  the producers thank for their assistance in bringing this motion picture to the screen (as the Fleet Marine Force Pacific)
• American Optical Company  Todd-AO developed by (as the American Optical Company)
• United States Pacific Fleet  the producers thank for their assistance in bringing this motion picture to the screen (as the United States Pacific Fleet)

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:

Joshua Logan considered virtually every top actress of the day for the role of Nellie Forbush, including Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day, Audrey Hepburn and even Ginger Rogers.

Goofs:

Continuity: While singing "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair", the soap on Nellie Forbush's shoulders disappears and come back.

Quotes:

Emile de Becque: What makes her talk like that - you and she? I do not believe it is born in you! I do not believe it!
Lt. Cable: It's not born in you - it happens after you're born!

Movie Connections:

Featured in My Favorite Things: Julie Andrews Remembers (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Bali Ha'i

Josh Logan's colour-filter paradise

This slush-fest version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's famous musical suffers on the small screen because of its constant use of colour filters during the songs. On a big screen, this looks great, but just looks odd on TV.

This aside, though, this film of 'South Pacific' has much to enjoy. Mitzi Gaynor is a bubbly personality and is clearly enjoying herself as Nellie Forbush, 'washing that man out of her hair' and so on. Rossano Brazzi is charming as Emile (the singing is expertly done by Giorgio Tozzi); we can have a pang of regret that Ezio Pinza was seen to be too old to play the role by the time the film appeared - his work with Mary Martin in the original cast survives in cast recordings - but Brazzi looks the part.

John Kerr is a bit of a wet fish as Lt. Cable, while Juanita Hall as Bloody Mary is excellent, and Ray Walston as Luther, and France Nuyen as Liat, make an impression in smaller roles. The musical numbers are done extremely well - 'Bali Ha'i', 'I'm in Love With a Wonderful Guy', 'Some Enchanted Evening', 'Younger Than Springtime', and 'Happy Talk' and the rest.

Where the film does flag is in the sequences where Emile and Cable go to the island to report on the Japanese invaders. This was handled rather better in the 1990s remake, and also moves along better in the stage version. Here, it clashes a bit with the romantic overtones of the rest of the production.