South Pacific

"When all you care about is here, this is a good place to be."

It is WWII in the South Pacific, on a little island with the Navy, French planters, and the natives. On the island there is constant competition between local Bloody Mary (Hall) and everyone else: she hires other locals so the French planters can't make them work in the fields and charges the Navy extra just for the fun of it. Her major competition is Navy shyster Luter (Walston) who is always looking for a scam...and women. When the army sends Joe (Kerr) to the island for a special mission, Luther sees his chance to see the island where all the women (and the boar's tooth ceremony) are kept. Paralleling Joe's story is Nellie (Gaynor) one of the nurses, who falls in love with French planter Emile de Becque (Brazzi). But racism stands in the way of love for both Joe & Nellie, along with a dangerous mission.

This film is beautiful. Mostly shot on location the film luxuriates in its tropical surroundings. Overall the film is well acted, well sung, and well-done. My major problem is the filters. Throughout the film colored filters were applied to emphasize certain aspects of scenes...and while this was a good idea, the colors are overpowering and distract the audience from the scene (I usually start laughing at that point in time). It is a powerful story and makes me cry every time...but the filters hurt the story. But watch it anyway...and maybe you will accept the filters the way the filmmakers wanted them to be viewed! (I still love it...and own it!!)

South Pacific (1958) 157-171 minutes

Director: Joshua Logan

based on the stage musical by Rogers & Hammerstein

Starring: Rossano Brazzi as Emile de Becque

Mitzi Gaynor as Nellie Forbush

John Kerr as Lt. Joseph Cable

Ray Walston as Luther Billis

Juanita Hall as Bloody Mary

France Nuyen as Liat

Russ Brown as Capt. George Brackett
Floyd Simmons as Cmdr. Bill Harbison