South Pacific (1958)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Joshua Logan

Writers:

Paul Osborn (screenplay)
Richard Rodgers (adapted from the play "South Pacific") ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 March 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Romance | War

Tagline:

In the thrilling tradition of "Around The World In 80 Days"...

Plot:

On a South Pacific island during World War II, love blooms between a young nurse and a secretive Frenchman who's being courted for a dangerous military mission.

Plot Keywords:

Show | Hospital | Love | Pacific Island | US Navy

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 7 nominations

Cast

Rossano Brazzi	...	Emile De Becque
Mitzi Gaynor	...	Ensign Nellie Forbush, USN
John Kerr	...	Lt. Joseph Cable, USMC
Ray Walston	...	Luther Billis
Juanita Hall	...	Bloody Mary
France Nuyen	...	Liat
Russ Brown	...	Capt. Brackett, USN
Floyd Simmons	...	Commander Harbison, USN
Tom Laughlin	...	Lt. Buzz Adams
Jack Mullaney	...	The Professor
Ken Clark	...	Stewpot
Archie Savage	...	Chief - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Candace Lee	...	Ngana - Emile's Child
Warren Hsieh	...	Jerome - Emile's Child
Francis Kahele	...	Henry - Emile's Servant
Robert Jacobs	...	1st Communications Man
John Gabriel	...	2nd Communications Man
Richard Harrison	...	Co-Pilot
Ron Ely	...	Navigator (as Ronald Ely)
Steve Wiland	...	Seabee Dancer
Richard H. Cutting	...	Admiral Kester (as Richard Cutting)
Joe Bailey	...	U.S. Commander
Buck Class	...	Fighter Pilot
Richard Kiser	...	Fighter Pilot
Linc Foster	...	Pilot in Hospital
Doug McClure	...	Pilot in Hospital
Stephen Ferry	...	Pilot in Hospital
Joan Baker	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Diane Reid	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Phyllis Butcher	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Dian Goodman	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Diane Dubois	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach (as Diane DuBois)
Anna James	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Karen Gallant	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Joyce Kramer	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Barbara Cole	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Mary Bishop	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
May Fewell	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Beverly Johnson	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Jane Lucas	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Janet Hanrahan	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Barbara Nesser	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Marlene Lizzio	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Muffett Webb	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Mary Jo Flanders	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Debbie Wilcox	...	Nurse at Nurses' Beach
Faye Antaky	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Donna Pouget	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Dorothy Abbott	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Pat Volasko	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Jan Haller	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Beverly Aadland	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show (as Beverly Adland)
Bonnie Lene	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Jonni Paris	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show (as Jonnie Paris)
Diane Myles	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Barbara Donaldson	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Ila McAvoy	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Joanne Jones	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Larri Thomas	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show (as Lorri Thomas)
Darlene Engle	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Kay Tapscott	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Evelyn Ford	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Betty Bunch	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show
Susan Logan	...	Nurse in Thanksgiving Show (as Sue Logan)
Dan Wallace	...	Sailor / Seabee
Karl Heyer	...	Sailor / Seabee
James De Closs	...	Sailor / Seabee (as Jim DeCloss)
Mike Vincent	...	Sailor / Seabee
James Stacy	...	Sailor / Seabee (as Jim Stacy)
Donald Mundell	...	Sailor / Seabee
Alvin Arnold	...	Sailor / Seabee
Mark Pinkston	...	Sailor / Seabee
Gene Bergman	...	Sailor / Seabee (as Gene Bergmann)
Velton Parker	...	Sailor / Seabee
John Chasey	...	Sailor / Seabee
Lee Thomas	...	Sailor / Seabee
Carl Esser	...	Sailor / Seabee
Joseph Schlichter	...	Sailor / Seabee
Jim Ganley	...	Sailor / Seabee
Richard Smith	...	Sailor / Seabee
Murray Gaby	...	Sailor / Seabee
Robert Nielson	...	Sailor / Seabee
William Glisson	...	Sailor / Seabee
Hadley Gray	...	Sailor / Seabee
George Hooper	...	Sailor / Seabee
John Caler	...	Sailor / Seabee
Charles Joyner	...	Sailor / Seabee
Morris Harmell	...	Sailor / Seabee
Donald Lane	...	Sailor / Seabee
Donald Nobles	...	Sailor / Seabee
Tom Moore	...	Sailor / Seabee
Mike Salamunovich	...	Sailor / Seabee
Tom Logan	...	Sailor / Seabee
Durwood Bloomgren	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Charles Lunard	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Tex Brodus	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Joe Paz	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Bob Calder	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Eddie Searles	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show (as Ed Searles)
Roy Damron	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Clark Lee	...	Marine / Sailor in Thanksgiving Show
Galvan De Leon	...	Sub Chief - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer (as Galvan DeLeon)
Bob Destine	...	Whip Man - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Sidney Hurston	...	Birdman - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Leroy Hamilton	...	Birdman - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
James Truitt	...	Ashman - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Clyde Webb	...	Ashman - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Stephen Papich	...	Ashman - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer (as Steve Pappich)
Victor Upshaw	...	Firetender - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Nat Bush	...	Firetender - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Garland Thompson	...	Firetender - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
Ralph Weaver	...	Firetender - Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Dancer
James Field	...	Barua
William Washington	...	Barua
Marco López	...	Barua (as Marco Lopez)
Charles Carter	...	Barua
Alex Young	...	Barua
Ray Mendez	...	Barua
George Hall	...	Barua
Richard Domasin	...	Barua
James Malcolm	...	Barua
Maaka Nua	...	Barua
Johnny Morgan	...	Barua
Tonu Nua	...	Barua
Jack Williams	...	Barua
Selu Nua	...	Barua
Andrew Robinson	...	Barua
Niki Nua	...	Barua
Kirk Boone	...	Blue Boy
Walt Davis	...	Blue Boy (as Walter Davis)
Wesley Gale	...	Blue Boy
Don Marshall	...	Blue Boy
Clarence Landry	...	Blue Boy
David Walker	...	Blue Boy
Andrew Isaacs	...	Blue Boy
Harold Walker	...	Blue Boy
Walter Smith	...	Blue Boy
Charles Mohr	...	Blue Boy
George Davis	...	Drummer / Musician
Santiago Mos	...	Drummer / Musician
Kenneth Walker	...	Drummer / Musician
Gregory Christmas	...	Drummer / Musician
Bill Ornelles	...	Drummer / Musician
Gary Christmas	...	Drummer / Musician
Freddie Baker	...	Drummer / Musician (as Freddy Baker)
Gene Fontaine	...	Drummer / Musician
James Green	...	Drummer / Musician
Charles R. Rogers	...	Drummer / Musician
Don Martin	...	Drummer / Musician
Anita Louise Dano	...	Polynesian Woman (as Anita Dano)
Anne Darris	...	Polynesian Woman
Yvonne De Lavallade	...	Polynesian Woman
Joan Fontaine	...	Polynesian Woman
Lenmana Guerin	...	Polynesian Woman (as Lemmana Guerin)
Paulette Easley	...	Polynesian Woman
Tela Mansfield	...	Polynesian Woman (as Telu Mansfield)
Claire Alcantara	...	Polynesian Woman
Vicki Orozco	...	Polynesian Woman
Missaye Meyer	...	Polynesian Woman
Bobbi Coté	...	Polynesian Woman
Mimi Dillard	...	Polynesian Woman
Harriette Young	...	Polynesian Woman (as Harriet Young)
Giorgio Tozzi	...	Emile De Becque (singing voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Coldren	...	Marine in attack briefing (uncredited)
Hazel Daniels	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Peggy Dave	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Ed Fury	...	Sailor / Seabee (uncredited)
Marie Greene	...	Ngana (singing voice) (uncredited)
Kathryn Johnson	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Martinique Landois	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Bill Lee	...	Lieutenant Joseph Cable, USMC (singing voice) (uncredited)
Jeanna Limyou	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Harrigan Logan	...	French school girl (uncredited)
Dorothy Michener	...	Missionary (uncredited)
James Michener	...	Missionary (uncredited)
Thelma Oliver	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Jean Pace	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Thurl Ravenscroft	...	Stewpot (singing voice) (uncredited)
Frieda Rentie	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Hazel Rogers	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Muriel Smith	...	Bloody Mary (singing voice) (uncredited)
Frank D. Strong	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Jeannie Thompson	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Ercelle Tisby	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)
Cesar Ugarte	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Boots Wade	...	Negro Woman (uncredited)

Directed by
Joshua Logan

Writing credits
Paul Osborn		(screenplay)
Richard Rodgers		(adapted from the play "South Pacific") &
Oscar Hammerstein II		(adapted from the play "South Pacific") and
Joshua Logan		(adapted from the play "South Pacific")
James Michener		(book "Tales of the South Pacific") (as James A. Michener)

Produced by
Buddy Adler	....	producer
George P. Skouras	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Richard Rodgers

Cinematography by
Leon Shamroy

Film Editing by
Robert L. Simpson		(as Robert Simpson)

Art Direction by
John DeCuir		(as John De Cuir)
Lyle R. Wheeler

Set Decoration by
Paul S. Fox
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Dorothy Jeakins

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Helen Turpin	....	hair stylist
Bunny Gardel	....	body makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ben Kadish	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Fred Hynes	....	sound recording supervisor
Joseph I. Kane	....	sound recordist (as Joseph Kane)
Donald C. Rogers	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
L.B. Abbott	....	special photographic effects
Bill Middlemas	....	special effects: second unit (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alfred Baalas	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Al Baerthlin	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Delmer Blair	....	dolly grip (uncredited)
Jack Brown	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Richard Cameron	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Stanley Cortez	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Hugh Crawford	....	first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Lee Crawford	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
William Cronjager	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Leo Davis	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Eric Ericson	....	grip (uncredited)
Sam Fisher	....	electrician (uncredited)
Walter Fitchman	....	key rigging grip (uncredited)
Arthur Gerstle	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Frank Gilley	....	grip (uncredited)
Fred Hall	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Don Henderson	....	best boy electric (uncredited)
Ted Husserl	....	electrician (uncredited)
Grover Jones	....	electrician (uncredited)
William K. Jurgensen	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Ben Kershner	....	second assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Fred Kuhnau	....	electrician (uncredited)
Grover Laube	....	camera mechanic assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Al Lebowitz	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Paul Lockwood	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Gaston Longet	....	still photographer (uncredited)
W.A. Machado	....	grip (uncredited)
Frank McCardle	....	best boy grip (uncredited)
Leo McCreary	....	key grip (uncredited)
James Mitchell	....	still photographer (uncredited)
John Murray	....	grip (uncredited)
Al Parker	....	rigging lamp operator (uncredited)
John Pazzelli	....	key grip: second unit (uncredited)
Frank Powolny	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Fred Richter	....	rigging best boy grip (uncredited)
Charles Rosebrook	....	electrician (uncredited)
Bill Schneider	....	camera mechanic (uncredited)
Bob Smith	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Clyde Taylor	....	rigging best boy electric (uncredited)
Hank Vadare	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Kenneth T. Williams	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Reeder P. Boss	....	wardrobe manager (uncredited)
Norma Brown	....	wardrobe manager (uncredited)
Dale Henderson	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)
Mickey Sherrard	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Leonard Doss	....	color consultant

Music Department
George Adams	....	music editor
Robert Russell Bennett	....	orchestrator
Ken Darby	....	associate conductor
Ken Darby	....	associate music supervisor
Pete King	....	orchestrator
Robert Mayer	....	music editor
Bernard Mayers	....	orchestrator
Alfred Newman	....	conductor
Alfred Newman	....	music supervisor
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator
Murray Spivack	....	music recordist
Bill Lee	....	singing voice: Lt. Joseph Cable (uncredited)
Muriel Smith	....	singing voice: Juanita Hall (uncredited)
Betty Wand	....	singing voice: Warren Hsieh (uncredited)
John Williams	....	musician: piano (uncredited)

Other crew
Oscar Hammerstein II	....	originally produced on the stage by
Oscar Hammerstein II	....	presenter (as Hammerstein)
Leland Hayward	....	originally produced on the stage by
Joshua Logan	....	originally produced on the stage by
LeRoy Prinz	....	choreographer: Boar's Tooth Ceremonial Number
William Reynolds	....	production associate
Richard Rodgers	....	originally produced on the stage by
Richard Rodgers	....	presenter (as Rodgers)
Schuyler A. Sanford	....	Todd-AO consultant
Joseph Curtis	....	dialogue coach (uncredited)
Charles E. Dolan	....	craft service (uncredited)
Katherine Lambert	....	researcher (uncredited)
Frances Richardson	....	researcher (uncredited)
Sonia Wolfson	....	publicist (uncredited)
Marshall J. Wolins	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Magna Corporation
• Rodgers & Hammerstein Productions
• South Pacific Enterprises
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1958) (USA) (theatrical) (35mm general release)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1964) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1971) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (1983) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• CBS/Fox (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Magna Theatre Corporation (1958) (USA) (theatrical) (70mm roadshow release)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Department of Defense, The  the producers thank for their assistance in bringing this motion picture to the screen (as the Department of Defense)
• United States Navy, The  the producers thank for their assistance in bringing this motion picture to the screen (as the Navy Department)
• Fleet Marine Force, Pacific  the producers thank for their assistance in bringing this motion picture to the screen (as the Fleet Marine Force Pacific)
• American Optical Company  Todd-AO developed by (as the American Optical Company)
• United States Pacific Fleet  the producers thank for their assistance in bringing this motion picture to the screen (as the United States Pacific Fleet)

Runtime:

157 min | 171 min (roadshow version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (35 mm mag-optical prints) | Mono (35 mm optical prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Australia:G | Iceland:L | New Zealand:G | USA:Approved (certificate #18688) | Canada:G | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain

Company:

Magna Corporation

Trivia:

South Pacific won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1950 - it premiered on Broadway in April of 1949. Only six musicals have won the Pulitzer Prize in drama - one per decade from the 1930s to the 1990s. They are as follows: "Of Thee I Sing" (1931), "South Pacific" (1949), "Fiorello" (1959), "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (1961), "A Chorus Line" (1975), "Sunday in the Park with George" (1984), and "Rent" (1996).

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first scene between Nellie and Luther Billis (during the song "There is Nothing Like a Dame"), Luther's shirt unbuttons and rebuttons itself several times.

Quotes:

Lt. Cable: [Cable has been told that Nellie is in love with Emile] That's hard to believe, sir; they tell me he's a middle-aged man.
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.
[to Harbison, who is trying not to laugh]
Capt. George Brackett: What's the matter, Bill?
Cmdr. Bill Harbison: Nothing - -evidently!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Facts of Life: Green-Eyed Monster (#3.12)" (1982)

Soundtrack:

Bali Ha'i

As Corny As Kansas In August, But High As A Flag On The Fourth of July

Commence groaning as necessary for that summary, but at least prepare to be dazzled by R&H's most amazing, underrated musical of all time.

The love story is between a spirited young Navy nurse and an older French planter who's afraid of losing anything. While that makes for some very groan-friendly moments, everything is forgiven when you peer through the weird, multi-colored lenses and pay attention to what's actually going on: a fantastic story (besides the romance) is unfolding. It's the story of a world where everything is changing, and the road down that way could not have been better.

There's lots to love here, so don't be distracted by what you can use to maul this movie. The performances are great, the songs are probably the only songs I've never minded having looped in my head that weren't written by Richard O'Brien, and the beauty of the South Pacific is something that would be amazing to behold anywhere from a majestic silver screen to a tiny little kitchen-table TV set.

As far as musicals go, this is one of my all-time favorites and should be the same for more people.