One does not watch SP for the story, but for the glorious music. And the score still brings a lump to my throat, even after many years and countless hearings. But I always found the story rather trite and a bit boring, plus full of racial stereotypes. Also the whole reason for Nellie's initial rejection of Emile, after falling for him, so laughably inconsequential that it was a feeble excuse to add some dramatic tension to the story. I also thought all that color filter stuff rather silly.
I abhor any film version that does not follow the original stage version faithfully and cutting out or replacing songs is sacriligious. That might make the film seem "stagey", but that's fine with me, musicals are an "artficial" art form anyway. Although in the case of SP it wasn't truncated too much, but cutting down "Gonna Wash ...." was disgraceful, it being one of the wittiest songs in the show. The best thing for me about the film was the addition of the song "My Girl Back Home", such a pretty song and I don't understand why it was cut from the stage version. That's one thing I enjoy about present day revivals of those classic musicals, they put the cut songs back in.
I for one find it sad that our present day culture has little room for musicals, although due to the High School Musical phenomenon it seems to be coming back in fashion.
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shulma2002
14 years ago
A good but not terrific version. It was spoiled by the casting and the constant use of color films which mars the beauty of Kauai. Ms. Gaynors' acting could have been better but Bloody Mary, John Kerr, and Rosanno Brazzi were good. The musical numbers were done well and the photography (except for those color filters) was great. My sister hates this film, too but I disagree. Maybe Nellie should have been played by Shirley Jones or Doris Day.
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friendoffilm
8 years ago
The only trouble is, however, that (Although I've admittedly never seen South Pacific, either on stage or on screen.) is that many musical revivals today are somewhat of a shell of their original selves, because the producers are all too eager to make them more "hip" and up to date for today's younger generations. Why the originals can't be introduced to today's generations is beyond me.
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