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South Pacific Overview:

South Pacific (1958) was a Musical - Romance Film directed by Joshua Logan and produced by Buddy Adler and George P. Skouras.

SYNOPSIS

The Rodgers and Hammerstein songs from this musical classic rank with the best of their prodigious careers. The film adaptation of the unprecedented Broadway smash, directed by its stage director, Logan, may not have the boisterous energy found on recordings of the renowned stage production starring Mary Martin, but it substitutes lush Hawaiian locations and sumptuous photography. The story builds two love affairs, one between a midwestern nurse (Gaynor) and an older planter (Brazzi) with children and an ambivalence to the war that encroaches on his paradise, and one between a native girl (Nuyen) and a young American sailor (Kerr). Songs include "Some Enchanted Evening," "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy," and "Bali H'ai."

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1958 --- Ceremony Number 31 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best CinematographyLeon ShamroyNominated
Best Music - ScoringAlfred Newman, Ken DarbyNominated
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South Pacific BlogHub Articles:

Win Tickets to see “TCM Big Screen Classics: South Pacific” (60th Anniversary) (Giveaway runs through August 11)

By Annmarie Gatti on Jul 20, 2018 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Win tickets to see “South Pacific” on the big screen!  In Select Cinemas Nationwide Sun Aug 26 and Wed Aug 29! “When all you care about is here, this is a good place to be.” CMH continues into our 3rd year of our partnership with Fathom Events - with the 9th of our 13 mo... Read full article

Musical Monday: South Pacific (1958)

on May 28, 2018 From Comet Over Hollywood

It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals. In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 500. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals. This week’s musical: “South Pacific&#82... Read full article

South Pacific (1958)

By Beatrice on Oct 5, 2016 From Flickers in Time

South Pacific Directed by Joshua Logan Written by Paul Osborn based on the play by Oscar Hammerstein III and the novel by James Michener 1958/USA Magna Carta Theatre Corporation/South Pacific Enterprises/Rodgers & Hammerstein Productions/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation Repeat viewing/A... Read full article

Rodgers and Hammerstein Blu-ray Collection: South Pacific (1958)

on May 27, 2014 From Journeys in Classic Film

You know you’re in for a wild ride when you decide to listen to the audio commentary about a movie to hear nothing but rationalizations and acknowledgments of the film’s flaws for near-three hours.  I’ll discuss the bonus content when I present my final wrap-up of the box set, but... Read full article

France Nuyen and Mitzi Gaynor at the Screening of South Pacific (1958)

By Raquel Stecher on May 13, 2013 From Out of the Past - A Classic Film Blog

My photo On Thursday April 25th, 2013, I attended a special screening of South Pacific (1958) at the pool of the historial Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. It began right after the opening night party and I got to hang out with Jessica of Comet Over Hollywood and Kaci. There were drinks and hors d'o... Read full article

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South Pacific Quotes:

Capt. George Brackett: [fuming] Cable, it is a common mistake for boys of your age and athletic ability to underestimate men who have reached their maturity. Young women frequently find older men attractive, strange as it may seem. I myself am over fifty. I am a bachelor. And Cable, I do not, by any means, consider myself th-r-rough.
Bloody Mary: [the ancient Mary is looking him up and down] Lieu-tellen, you sexy man.
Lt. Cable: Thanks... You're looking pretty... er, fit yourself.
Nellie: (singing) I'm as corny as Kansas in August / I'm as normal as blueberry pie. / No more a smart little girl with no heart / I have found me a wonderful guy!
Emile de Becque: When all you care about is here, this is a good place to be.
Nellie: What a pinhead I was!
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South Pacific Facts
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, and won the 1950 Tony Award for the Best Musical, Libretto and Score. Both stars won the Tony Award for Best Actor and Best Actress in a Musical. Juanita Hall reprises her role as Bloody Mary in the movie.
France Nuyen had not yet learned English when playing the role of "Liat". Fortunately, she was able to converse in her native language (French) with co-star Rossano Brazzi, who spoke French as well as his native Italian.
Patti Page relates in her new book that she was among those who tested for the role of Nellie Forbush before Mitzi Gaynor was cast. Another who was momentarily considered for the role was Elizabeth Taylor, who was a 'hot commodity' in the late 1950s. Taylor wasn't particularly interested in the part and her lack of singing ability quickly had the producers looking elsewhere.
Fernando Lamas was considered for the role of Emile, but he could not get out of his contract to the Broadway show "Happy Hunting."
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were also pressured to eliminate the song "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught", but they resisted.
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