Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

The creators and copyright holders of the successful stage production certainly went all out to make this a blockbuster. South Pacific Enterprises, owned by the composer and lyricist, was created especially for the film. These enterprises encompassed Magna Theatre Corporation, owners of Todd-AO, later 70MM, and the film was all under the supervision of 20th Century Fox. Add to this second unit aerial footage and color filer special effects, and we have a gigantic work from the start. With a final box office of $36.8 mil. against a budget of $5.2 mil., one can't say this project was a financial failure. It wasn't exactly an artistic success either. There is something staid and bland about the whole thing, try as the cast does to breathe life into the proceedings. It's hard to pin down just what went wrong, but the sea-bees look almost like mannequins going through their paces. Their lips move (obviously to a pre-recorded track) but their hearts don't seem to be in it. The leads are all professional enough, yet there's something stagy and stock in their work. Bloody Mary in particular looks lame and lifeless (probably because they didn't allow Juanita Hall to do her own singing). Finally the controversial use of color filters look extreme and overdone. The entire production's deficit must lay at the feet of Josuha Logan, who seemed to have a very spotty directorial career, veering from the brilliant to the average. This was not one of his banner products. Yet, with all the initial battering ammunition pumped into the proceedings, it really couldn't fail. It's an acceptable, inoffensive filmization of a genuine Broadway classic.

I first saw this movie in 1968 in a TODD-AO 70 mm print on an 84 Ft. D-150 screen with full six channel surround. (The screen was almost as big as the first IMAX I saw and the film grain wasn't as bad as the IMAX film.) I was seventeen. I was blown away. It was gorgeous aurally and visually. It is a very good film, somewhat misunderstood by the new crap of critics (did I accidentally say crap instead of crop?). Most modern audiences don't understand classic film because of the effects laden and violent garbage they are being fed at the multiplex. Real movies sometimes take their time and use beautiful music and color. The casting is fairly perfect. The visuals are stunning and the camera work is wonderfully scenic. As for the color filters, they are only thing that could be held against this beautiful film, although newer films like Gladiator seem ten times worse to my eye and have an obnoxious blue fog or golden glare (The Lord of the Rings movies appear to be bleached at times.) Give this movie a chance and see it in Bluray with a proper home theater sound system (no sound bars please). You might be surprised how wonderful this film and other classic movies come across when viewed this way.

Rodgers and Hammersetein created a masterpiece on Broadway in South Pacific. After WW2 these two cerebral men got into the hearts and minds of the returning veterans of the Pacific War and created magic. Mary Martin immortalized the role of Nellie on Broadway but Ms. Martin a super star on Broadway never made the transition to films, a point that even mystified the Queen of Hollywood Bette Davis.Josh Logan who brilliantly directed the film versions of Picnic at Columbia with Kim Novak and Bill Holden and in the process created one of the more erotic moments on film in the dance sequence between Holden and Novak and Bus Stop at 20th with a celebrated performance by Marilym Monroe that should have resulted in an Oscar nomination for MM, was assigned the job of bringing South Pacific to the screen.Beautiful movie, literally with great scenery of the South Pacific and a wonderful performance by Mitzi Gaynor who like Ms. Martin never made it as a great movie star, a point that baffles this reviewer. Mitzi had it all: Sexy great looks and could sing, dance and act but the mysterious factor of what makes a star is never truly understood. Susan Hayward a box office powerhouse and a star at 20th wanted to play Nellie but refused to test for the role. Susan Hayward would have brought her intense and unforgettable presence to this movie. Doris Day was also mentioned for the role.I never like to see great films of the past remade but South Pacific should be remade. In the meantime, enjoy this film for the Songs alone. Some Enchanted Evening

Some enchanted evening, you will meet a stranger. True to form, during World War II, perky blonde nurse Mitzi Gaynor (as Nellie Forbush) and handsome navy Lt. John Kerr (as Joseph "Joe" Cable) find their strangers on a lush "South Pacific" island. She meets middle-aged French planter Rossano Brazzi (as Emile De Becque). And, he finds nubile native girl France Nuyen (as Liat), with help from weighty mother Juanita Hall (as "Bloody Mary"). Unfortunately, racial prejudices and other factors threaten to railroad both romances. Above all, there is a war going on. Comic reliever Ray Walston (as Luther Billis) dons a makeshift bra for his grass-skirt number.Rodgers and Hammerstein's soundtrack music remains excellent for this adaptation of their great stage hit. However, the story involving the "mixing" of American and Asian, considered daring and/or forward-thinking at the time, looks more plainly like an old-fashioned sex date; other versions of what you see here have played the match-up better. "South Pacific" is also lengthened past its endurance level. Even greater deterrents are the often eye-bleeding color enhancements and other peculiar choices, especially Mr. Brazzi as the male lead. It's an incredible tribute to the soundtrack that sustains this version of "South Pacific" through its flaws.****** South Pacific (3/19/58) Joshua Logan ~ Mitzi Gaynor, Rossano Brazzi, John Kerr, Ray Walston