South Pacific

Director: Joshua Logan Joshua Logan

Overview

Producer/director Joshua Logan's long-awaited filmization of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical South Pacific was not the classic that everyone hoped it would be, principally because of some curious creative choices made by the production personnel. Adapted from James A. Michener's best-selling novel Tales of the South Pacific, the film stars Mitzi Gaynor as WAVE officer Nellie Forbush, who while stationed overseas during World War II falls in love with wealthy French planter Emile De Becque (Rossano Brazzi). The Navy would like DeBecque to help them in a reconnaissance mission against the Japanese, but he refuses; having run away from the outside world after killing a man in his home town, De Becque sees no reason to become involved in a war which he did not start and in which he has no interest. But when Nellie, her inbred bigotry aroused when she discovers that Emile has two mixed-race children, refuses his proposal of marriage, DeBecque, having nothing to lose, agrees to go on the mission. His partner in this venture is Lt. Joseph Cable (John Kerr), who like Nellie is a victim of prejudicial feelings; Cable has previously thrown away a chance at lasting happiness by refusing to marry Liat (France Nuyen), the dark-skinned daughter of Tokinese trader Bloody Mary (Juanita Hall). When Cable is killed and DeBecque is seemingly lost in battle, Nellie, realizing the stupidity of her racism, prays for Emile's safe return. The dramatic elements of South Pacific are offset by the low-comedy antics of "Big Dealer" seabee Luther Billis (Ray Walston). Outside of Walston and Hall, both repeating their stage characterizations, South Pacific suffers from a largely noncharismatic cast. Mitzi Gaynor never rises above cuteness in the difficult role of Nellie Forbush, while Rossanno Brazi (whose singing is dubbed by Giorgio Tozzi) seems to be striking poses rather than acting as Emile DeBecque. These casting deficiencies might have been ignored had not South Pacific been laboring under an additional handicap: director Joshua Logan's decision to use colored filters in several key scenes, representing the emotions experienced by the actors. The constant color shift is more unsettling than attractive, drawing attention to Logan's technique and thereby taking the audience "out" of the picture. With all this going against it, however, South Pacific has much to be treasured. For one thing, all of Rodgers & Hammerstein's immortal songs--"Some Enchanted Evening," "Bali H'ai," "There is Nothing Like a Dame," "I'm in Love With a Wonderful Guy," "Younger Than Springtime" etc.--are retained, and, as a bonus, a song cut from the original stage production, "My Girl Back Home," is revived herein. In addition, the film is a bonanza for movie buffs who enjoy playing "spot the bit player:" among the supporting-cast ranks are Tom McLaughlin, Ron Ely, Doug McClure, John Gabriel and James Stacy (rumors persist that Joan Fontaine shows up unbilled as a nurse, but we've yet to spot her). Though artistically disappointing, South Pacific ended up one of the biggest box-office gold mines of the 1950s.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/31/2017
UPC:	0024543346531
Original Release:	1958
Rating:	G
Source:	20Th Century Fox
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound]
Time:	2:37:00
Sales rank:	3,230

Special Features

Closed Caption; Disc 1: ; South Pacific (Theatrical Version); Sing-Along subtitles (English); Songs-only option; And More!; ; Disc 2: ; South Pacific (Extended "Road Show" Version); The making of South Pacific; Fox Movietone News; Mitzi Gaynor screen test; Original theatrical trailer; And More!

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Rossano Brazzi	Emile de Becque
Mitzi Gaynor	Nellie Forbush
John Kerr	Lt. Joseph Cable
Ray Walston	Luther Billis
Juanita Hall	Bloody Mary
France Nuyen	Liat
Russ Brown	Capt. George Brackett
Jack Mullaney	Professor
Floyd Simmons	Bill Harbison
Candace Lee	Ngana, Emile's Daughter
Warren Hsieh	Jerome
Tom Laughlin	Buzz Adams
Galvan de Leon	Sub Chief
Ron Ely	Navigator
Robert Jacobs	Communications Man
Archie Savage	Ceremonial Dance Chief
Darleen Engle	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Richard H. Cutting	Adm. Kester
Beverly Aadland	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Joe Bailey	US Commander
Ken Clark	Stewpot
Buck Class	Fighter Pilot
Stephen Ferry	Pilot
Joan Fontaine	Polynesian Woman
John Gabriel	2nd Communcations Man
Richard Harrison	Co-Pilot
Doug McClure	Pilot
James Stacy	Actor
Georgio Tozzi	Voice Only

Technical Credits

Paul Osborn

Joshua Logan	Director
L.B. Abbott	Special Effects
Buddy Adler	Producer
Ken Darby	Score Composer,Musical Direction/Supervision
James A. Michener	Source Author
John F. de Cuir	Art Director
Paul S. Fox	Art Director,Set Decoration/Design
Dorothy Jeakins	Costumes/Costume Designer
Ben Kadish	Asst. Director
Alfred Newman	Score Composer,Musical Direction/Supervision
Ben Nye	Makeup
Paul Osborn	Screenwriter
LeRoy J. Prinz	Choreography
Richard Rodgers	Score Composer
Rodgers & Hammerstein	Score Composer
Walter Scott	Art Director,Set Decoration/Design
Leon Shamroy	Cinematographer
Robert L. Simpson	Editor
Lyle Wheeler	Art Director

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- South Pacific - Theatrical Version
1. Overture
2. Main Titles
3. Arriving By Air
4. Bloody Mary
5. Making A Deal
6. That Darn Bali Ha'i
7. There Is Nothin' Like A Dame
8. Sexy Man
9. The Officer That Luther Needs
10. Bali Ha'i
11. Navy Property
12. A Marine Under Orders
13. Fugitives
14. A Cockeyed Optimist
15. Twin Soliloquies
16. Some Enchanted Evening
17. Emile's Confession
18. Dites-moi
19. Some Dope On The Frenchman
20. Planning A Boat Trip
21. Friendly Advice
22. I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair
23. Dinner Invitation
24. A Wonderful Guy
25. Weighing Life's Values
26. Island Ceremony
27. Falling For Liat
28. Younger Than Springtime
29. After The Party
30. Reprises
31. A Surprise For Nellie
32. Entr'acte
33. Joys Of Bali Ha'i
34. Happy Talk
35. Saying Goodbye
36. The Spirit Of The Thanksgiving Follies
37. Honey Bun
38. Diplomatic Difficulties
39. My Girl Back Home
40. You've Got To Be Carefully Taught
41. This Nearly Was Mine
42. Secret Mission
43. A Costly Stunt; News From De-Becque
44. Hospital Talk
45. A Sad Message
46. Operation Alligator
47. Together Again
48. End Credits; Exit Music
1. Bloody Mary [1:26]
2. Chapter 2 [:03]
3. There Is Nothin' Like A Dame [5:33]
4. Bali Ha'i [3:56]
5. A Cockeyed Optimist [1:33]
6. Twin Soliloquies [2:13]
7. Some Enchanted Evening [3:03]
8. Dites-moi [:38]
9. I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair [1:35]
10. Chapter 10 [:12]
11. Some Enchanted Evening Reprise [1:37]
12. A Wonderful Guy [3:20]
13. Younger Than Springtime [3:21]
14. A Wonderful Guy Reprise [1:10]
15. A Cockeyed Optimist Reprise [:54]
16. Happy Talk [3:40]
17. Honey Bun [5:32]
18. My Girl Back Home [1:35]
19. You've Got To Be Carefully Taught [1:14]
20. This Nearly Was Mine [1:53]
21. Dites-moi Reprise [:43]
Disc #2 -- South Pacific - Extended "Road Show" Version
1. Overture
2. Main Titles
3. Arriving By Air
4. Bloody Mary
5. Making A Deal
6. That Darn Bali Ha'i
7. There Is Nothin' Like A Dame
8. Sexy Man
9. The Officer That Luther Needs
10. Bali Ha'i
11. Navy Property
12. A Marine Under Orders
13. Fugitives
14. A Cockeyed Optimist
15. Twin Soliloquies
16. Some Enchanted Evening
17. Emile's Confession
18. Dites-moi
19. Some Dope On The Frenchman
20. Planning A Boat Trip
21. Friendly Advice
22. I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair
23. Dinner Invitation
24. A Wonderful Guy
25. Weighing Life's Values
26. Island Ceremony
27. Falling For Liat
28. Younger Than Springtime
29. After The Party
30. Reprises
31. A Surprise For Nellie
32. Entr'acte
33. Joys Of Bali Ha'i
34. Happy Talk
35. Saying Goodbye
36. The Spirit Of The Thanksgiving Follies
37. Honey Bun
38. Diplomatic Difficulties
39. My Girl Back Home
40. You've Got To Be Carefully Taught
41. This Nearly Was Mine
42. Secret Mission
43. A Costly Stunt; News From De-Becque
44. Hospital Talk
45. A Sad Message
46. Operation Alligator
47. Together Again
48. End Credits; Exit Music

Menu

Disc #1 -- South Pacific - Theatrical Version
   Play Movie
   Language Selection
      English 5.0 Dolby Stereo
      English Stereo
      French Mono
      Spanish Mono
      Feature Commentary By Ted Chapin And Gerard Alessandrini: On
      Feature Commentary By Ted Chapin And Gerard Alessandrini: Off
      English Subtitles: On
      Singalong Subtitles: On
      Spanish Subtitles: On
      Subtitles: None
   Scene Selection
   Special Features
      Feature Commentary By Ted Chapin And Gerard Alessandrini: On
      Feature Commentary By Ted Chapin And Gerard Alessandrini: Off
      Singalong
         Play Movie With SINGALONG In English: On
         Play Movie With SINGALONG In English: Off
         Play Individual SINGALONG
      Songs Only Chapter List
         Play All
         Chapters
Disc #2 -- South Pacific - Extended "Road Show" Version
   Play Movie
   Scene Selection
   Language Selection
      English 5.0 Dolby Stereo
      English Stereo
      Feature Commentary By Richard Barrios: On
      Feature Commentary By Richard Barrios: Off
      English Subtitles: On
      Spanish Subtitles: On
      Subtitles: None
   Feature Commentary By Richard Barrios
   Making Of South Pacific
   60 Minutes: The Tales Of The South Pacific
   Vintage Stage Excerpt
   Movietone News - South Pacific On The Screen - A Perfect Hit
   Movietone News - State Department Confers High Honor On South Pacific
   Screen Test: Mitzi Gaynor
   Theatrical Trailer
   Still Gallery

Editorial Reviews

On the heels of such hit films as Oklahoma!, Carousel, and The King and I, the Broadway songwriting duo of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein produced this Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical based on James Michener's novel, Tales of the South Pacific. The film version is the epic story of a young American Navy nurse (Mitzi Gaynor) who falls in love with a French planter (Rossano Brazzi) during World War II. Long-awaited, the lavish, big-budget film was shot almost entirely on location in Hawaii and became a box-office hit even though it disappointed many critics. Director Joshua Logan changed color filters to emphasize the moods of different characters, an experiment that looks dated and amateurish in retrospect. But the lush photography and well-staged musical numbers carry the ambitious, three-hour film, in which Gaynor holds her own despite her controversial casting over Broadway veteran Mary Martin, who originated the role (and who also saw Julie Andrews take the the role that she originated in The Sound of Music). Memorable songs include "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" and "Some Enchanted Evening.""

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