SOUTH PACIFIC

US, 1958, 170 minutes, Colour.
Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr, Ray Walston.
Directed by Joshua Logan.

South Pacific is a 1950s big-screen version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's successful Broadway musical. They had, by this time, written Oklahoma and were soon to write The King and I, Carousel and, then, The Sound of Music, amongst other musicals. Fred Zinnemann had made a screen version of Oklahoma. Henry King had made a version of Carousel.

South Pacific was directed by stage director, Joshua Logan. Logan had made the successful film Picnic. He also worked on Major Roberts, although he was helped by John Ford. Logan was also to make a rather heavy-handed version in the mid-'60s of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot.

The film is remembered with its use of colour filters, the screen going blue, orange and a variety of colours which proved distracting to audiences and militated against the success of the film.

The film has its very cheerful side with the sailors on the South Pacific island and songs like 'I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair'. However, the film is also a serious romance with such songs as 'Some Enchanted Evening'. The local colour is presented with 'Bali Hai'. However, there is a serious undertone and a reflection on racism with the song about learning to hate, 'Carefully Taught'.

Mitzi Gaynor has a bright personality as the lead. Rossano Brazzi brings a seriousness to the role of the plantation owner, although his voice was dubbed. Ray Walston brings comedy. John Kerr brings pathos and anguish.

In the 1990s a new and fuller version was made with Glenn Close in the lead.

1. The reputation of this play, film? Rogers and Hammerstein? The build-up in 1958? Its impact then, now? Quality as a musical, entertainment? The underlying themes of war, love, race?

2. The reputation of the Rogers and Hammerstein score and lyrics? Their quality as music? The visual presentation of them throughout the film? Their dramatic use, revelation of character, theme? Themes of love, the army, Bali Hi, the French, the racism?

3. The film's big budget, use of colour, the special use of coloured filters for various atmospheres? The use of locations? The atmosphere of World War 11 and the South Pacific? The derivation from Michener’s stories?

4. The structure of the musical? Was it evident that it was based on a play? Was the impact of the stage evident in the film? Comment on the frequent use of close-ups, especially in the songs? The staging of the various songs and the style of the choreography?

5. How important was the war situation? The build-up of American involvement in the South Pacific, dangers, the Japanese, the South Pacific natives? The interaction between the Americans and the natives of the South Pacific? Americans away from home during the war? The comments on Fascism and bullying? The questions about what people were fighting against and what they were fighting for?

6. Audiences identifying with Cable and flying in with him? The explanation of the war, the atmosphere, attacks? The effect of identification with Cable and his dying? As the heroic young American type? The America- Philadelphia background? The initial encounter with Mary? His mission? The blending of Bloody Mary's designs for her daughter and his mission? His work as a soldier, his falling in love? The racial question and his fear? The fact that this was unresolved even though he sang the song about racism? His dying? Which songs best illustrated his character?

7. Emile Lebeq? As an older hero for the film? The importance of the romantic aura about him as a Frenchman on a South Pacific paradise island? The explanation of his background at home, the death of the man? The fact that Nellie was a sympathetic heroine and the audience heard the stories mainly with her point of view? His home in the Pacific, wife, her death, the children? His love for Nellie? The importance of the romantic evening sequences? The introduction of the children and Nellie's reaction and his trying to cope? The importance of his being investigated, invited to go on the mission, his reasons for refusing? The extent to which he was hurt by Nellie, the reasons for his change, his working with Cable? The heroism of his work, his communications, reputation amongst the Americans? Audience expectations of his return, hopes that he was not dead, the possibility of a romantic ending? The importance of the songs as revealing his character? His house on a hilltop, the importance of 'Some Enchanted Evening'?

8. Nellie as the ordinary American girl? From Little Rock and being thrust into the middle of a war? Her relationship with the American soldiers? Her work? The importance of her falling in love with Emile - the songs? Her humorous songs for example 'Wash That Man Right Out of My Hai', 'Cock-eyed Optimist'? The more serious songs with Emile, with Cable? The importance of her discovery about Emile's children and her reaction? The racist theme? Her behaviour at the revue - the comedy of Honey Bun and her being hurt by Emile? What made her realize her stupidity? The song with Cable? Her return and singing the French song with the children? Did she deserve the happy ending?

9. The presence of Bloody Mary, her role on the island with trading, her influence on the soldiers, the effect of the war? Her trading, humour? The aura of Bali Hi and her singing of the song? Her luring Cable to the Island, her plans for her daughter? The song of ‘Happy Talk’? Her reaction at Cable's rejection? Her sadness?

10. Liat as the lovely heroine? In the South Pacific? Her mother's daughter, her charm, the romantic lyrical episodes with Cable? The swimming, the love scenes? Happy Talk? Her rejection and hurt? Her receding into the distance? Nellie's breaking the news sympathetically of his death?

11. The comedy and critique of the American soldier? Luther and his role on the island, of wheeler-dealer, humour, his role in the revue? His stupidity and heroism? Blameworthy and praiseworthy? Typical of the American soldiers and marines?

12. The atmosphere of realism with the naval officers, the plan about the mission, the pilot and his attitude? The dangers on the island, the mission and the fleet movements?

13. The picture of isolated Americans during the war, morale? 'There Is Nothing Like A Dame'? How comic, how serious?

14. How realistic a picture of war? Within the framework of the musical conventions? How did the film have a cumulative effect in blending its various plots and sub-plots, the cross-cutting and the parallels made between the various couples and their romantic and racial questions? Has the reputation of South Pacific withstood time and changes of fashion?