South Pacific (film)

"This article is about the 1958 film . For the stage musical, see South Pacific (musical). For other other uses see South Pacific."

Infobox_Film
name = South Pacific


caption = DVD for 1958 film
imdb_id = 0052225
amg_id =
director = Joshua Logan
writer = Oscar Hammerstein II
Joshua Logan
James Michener
Paul Osborn
starring =
producer = Buddy Adler
music = Richard Rodgers
cinematography= Leon Shamroy
distributor = 20th Century Fox
Magna Corporation
released = March 19, 1958
runtime = 171 min. (roadshow version)
151 min. (general release version)
language = English
followed_by =

"South Pacific" is a 1958 film adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "South Pacific" which was based on James A. Michener's "Tales of the South Pacific". The film starred Rossano Brazzi and Mitzi Gaynor in the leading roles, with Juanita Hall in the part of Bloody Mary that she had played in the original stage production. Ironically, Hall, who not only sang in the stage production but also took part in the recording of the cast album, had her singing dubbed for the film version, by Muriel Smith. Metropolitan Opera star Giorgio Tozzi provided the singing voice for the role of Emile de Becque. John Kerr starred as Lt. Cable, and his voice was dubbed by Bill Lee. Ken Clark, who played Stewpot, was dubbed by Thurl Ravenscroft. Thus, Mitzi Gaynor, as well as Ray Walston, a noted Broadway musical actor, were the only principal cast members whose own singing voices were used.

Production history

Kauai, one of the Hawaiian Islands, served as the filming location for the movie (with special effects providing distant views of the fantastic island "Bali Hai"). Shots of the tropical island Tioman Island off Malaysia's south east coast are featured. Location filming provided sweeping shots of tropical island scenes, as well as a memorable sequence in which Billis, having parachuted from a damaged plane, has a boat dropped on him, then comes under a series of attacks, following his fatalistic "Oh, it's going to be one of "those" days, huh?"

The film is known for the use of colored filters during many of the song sequences, which has been a source of criticism for the film. Director Joshua Logan wanted it to be a subtle change, but 20th Century Fox, the company that would distribute the 35mm version, made it an extreme change, and since tickets to the film were pre-sold (it was a roadshow attraction), they had no time to correct it. Criticism of the filtering did not prevent the film from topping the box office that year, and the 65mm Todd-AO cinematography (by Leon Shamroy) was nominated for an Academy Award, as was the music adaptation and the sound, winning the latter. All of the songs were retained, and a song entitled "My Girl Back Home," sung by Lt. Cable and Nellie, which was cut from the Broadway show, was added.

The soundtrack album has spent more weeks at Number 1 in the UK album chart than any other album, spending 115 weeks at the top in the late 50s and early 60s. It spent 70 consecutive weeks at the top of the chart and was Number 1 for the whole of 1959.

Originally shown in a nearly 3-hour roadshow version and later cut to two-and-a-half hours for general release, the 3-hour version, long feared lost, was rediscovered in a 70mm print owned by a collector. This print was screened in Bradford, England at the National Museum of Photography, Film, and Television on March 14, 2005. [http://www.in70mm.com/widescreen_weekend/2005/index.htm] . When Fox (which by that time owned partial rights to the film, including home video) learned of the print's existence, they brought it to the United States to reinstate the 14 missing minutes and attempt to restore as much of the color as possible. [http://www.in70mm.com/news/2006/south/pacific.htm] A 2-disc DVD set of both the longer and shorter versions was released in Region 1 on November 7, 2006.

Today, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (through their acquisition of the Samuel Goldwyn Company) owns the US domestic theatrical and television rights, while Fox handles home video and all other underlying rights.

"Some Enchanted Evening" was ranked #28 on the American Film Institute's 100 Years...100 Songs (2004).

ong list

"Note: The film opens with a three-minute, thirty-second musical overture"

*"Bloody Mary"
*"There Is Nothin' Like a Dame"
*"Bali Ha'i"
*"A Cock-Eyed Optimist"
*"Twin Soliloquies"
*"Some Enchanted Evening"
*"Dites-Moi"
*"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair"
*"(I'm in Love With) A Wonderful Guy"
*"Younger Than Springtime"
*"Happy Talk"
*"Honey Bun"
*"You've Got to Be Carefully Taught"
*"My Girl Back Home"
*"This Nearly Was Mine"
*"Finale"

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

*Best Cinematography (nominated)
*Best Sound (won)
*Best Score (nominated)

Golden Globe Awards

*Best Motion Picture - Musical (nominated)
*Best Motion Picture Actress - Comedy/Musical (Mitzi Gaynor)(nominated)

External links

*
* [http://www.tcmdb.com/title/title.jsp?stid=90961 South Pacific on Turner Classic Movies site]
* [http://www.rnh.com/theatricals/show.php?show_id=37 R&H Theatricals]