South Pacific [50th Anniversary Edition] [2 Discs] [Blu-ray]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

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 (Rosanno 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 Rosanno Brazzi (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. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 2
• Subtitle: Spa/Cantonese/Mandarin/Ko/P
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Features:
  • Disc One:
  • Audio Commentary by Ted Chapin and Gerard Alessandrini (Theatrical Version)
  • Singalong Karaoke Subtitles (English)
  • Songs-Only Option
  • Disc Two:
  • Extended "Road-Show" Version of the Film
  • Audio Commentary by Richard Barrios ("Road Show" Version)
  • Passion, Prejudice and South Pacific: Creating an American Masterpiece Documentary
  • The Making of South Pacific Featurette
  • Diane Sawyer Interview with James Michener, Author of Tales of the South Pacific
  • Vintage Stage Excerpts Featuring Performances by Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza
  • Fox Movietonews
  • Still Gallery
  • Mitzi Gaynor Screen Test

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Won Best Sound - 1958 (Fred Hynes)
•     Nominated Best Color Cinematography - 1958 (Leon Shamroy)
•     Nominated Best Musical Score - 1958 (Ken Darby, Alfred Newman)

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Nominated Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Com - 1958 (Mitzi Gaynor)
•     Nominated Best Picture - Musical - 1958

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       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

• Director:

  Joshua Logan

• Producer:

  Buddy Adler

• Book Author:

  James Michener

• Play Author:

  Joshua Logan

• Screenwriter:

  Paul Osborn

• Cinematographer:

  Leon Shamroy

• Composer (Music Score):

  Ken Darby

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Ken Darby

• From Musical by:

  Oscar Hammerstein II

• Composer (Music Score):

  Alfred Newman

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Alfred Newman

• Composer (Music Score):

  Rodgers & Hammerstein, Richard Rodgers

• From Musical by:

  Richard Rodgers

• Editor:

  Robert L. Simpson

• Art Director:

  Paul S. Fox, Walter Scott, Lyle Wheeler, John De Cuir

• Set Designer:

  Paul S. Fox, Walter Scott

• Costume Designer:

  Dorothy Jeakins

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Fred Hynes

• Makeup:

  Ben Nye, Sr.

• Special Effects:

  L.B. Abbott

• First Assistant Director:

  Ben Kadish

• Choreography:

  LeRoy J. Prinz

REVIEW:

• 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." ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi