South Pacific (2001) (TV)

Director:

Richard Pearce

Writers (WGA):

James Michener (novel)
Oscar Hammerstein II (adaptation) ...

Release Date:

26 March 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Drama | Comedy | War

Plot:

During World War II in the South Pacific love is found between a young nurse, Nellie Forbush (Glenn Close) and an older French plantation owner...

Plot Keywords:

Nurse | Love | Remake | Based On Book | Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Glenn Close	...	Nellie Forbush
Harry Connick Jr.	...	Lt. Joseph Cable
Rade Serbedzija	...	Emile de Becque (as Rade Sherbedgia)
Jack Thompson	...	Captain George Brackett
Lori Tan Chinn	...	Bloody Mary
Ilene Graff	...	Singing Ngana
Natalie Jackson Mendoza	...	Liat (as Natalie Mendoza)
Simon Burke	...	Harbison
Steve Bastoni	...	Bus Adams
Kimberley Davies	...	Luann
Robert Pastorelli	...	Luther Billis
Craig Ball	...	Austin
Damon Herriman	...	Professor
Salvatore Coco	...	DeVito
Peter Lamb	...	Bruno

Also Known As:

Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company:

Trillium Productions

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "South Pacific" opened at the Majestic Theater on April 7, 1949, ran for 1925 performances starring Mary Martin as Nellie Forbush and Ezio Pinza as Emile de Becque, won the 1950 Tony Award for the Best Musical, Libretto and Score and won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1950.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The Grumman Goose seaplane used in the filming had retractable pontoons. The retractable pontoons weren't added to the Gooses till the 1960's.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Great Performances: 'South Pacific' in Concert from Carnegie Hall (#34.3)" (2006)

interesting update of musical classic

The choice to scale up the age of Nellie Forbush to allow her to be played by 50-something Glenn Close was one which could have backfired on the makers of this update; it is to her credit that she performs and sings in the role very well.

As Emile, Rade Sherbedgia is perhaps a little too high-voiced for the demands of the songs, but his portrayal of the lonely islander is touching and effective. As Bloody Mary, Lori Tan Chinn looks more like the part of the greedy trader than did Juanita Hall in the 50s film, and her singing of Bal'i Ha'i is excellent. I did miss Happy Talk, which is omitted completely from this version, but the songs that remain have been arranged with style and come across very well (particularly This Nearly Was Mine, Younger Than Springtime, and I'm In Love With A Wonderful Guy).

Harry Connick jnr. completes the main cast as young Lt. Cable, resembling and sounding like a young Sinatra. The character continues to be totally unsympathetic but he is better overall than John Kerr had been in the earlier version. I don't think this film is bad at all, despite the numerous negative comments I have heard: it is perhaps more realistic than the colour-filtered world of Joshua Logan's film, but perhaps that new slant is for the better.