South Pacific (1958 film)
| South Pacific | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Joshua Logan |
| Produced by | Buddy Adler |
| Screenplay by | Paul Osborn |
| Based on |
South Pacific by Oscar Hammerstein II Joshua Logan Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener |
| Starring |
Rossano Brazzi Mitzi Gaynor John Kerr Juanita Hall France Nuyen Ray Walston |
| Music by |
Richard Rodgers (music) Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) |
| Cinematography | Leon Shamroy |
| Edited by | Robert L. Simpson |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
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Release date
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Running time
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171 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English French |
| Budget | $5.61 million |
| Box office | $36,800,000 |
South Pacific is a 1958 American romantic musical film adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, and based on James A. Michener's Tales of the South Pacific. The film, directed by Joshua Logan, starred Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr and Ray Walston in the leading roles with Juanita Hall as Bloody Mary, the part that she had played in the original stage production. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning the Academy Award for Best Sound for Fred Hynes.
Note: The film opens with an orchestral overture lasting 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
Following the success of the film version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! (1955), the producers decided to tackle a big-screen adaptation of South Pacific as their next project.
The film was produced by "South Pacific Enterprises", a company created specifically for the production, owned by Rodgers, Hammerstein, Logan, Magna Theatre Corporation (owners of the Todd-AO widescreen process the film would be photographed in), and Leland Hayward, producer of the original stage production.20th Century Fox partially invested in the production in exchange for some distribution rights. Additionally, all the departments and department heads were Fox's.
The producers' original plan was to have Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin, the two leads of the original Broadway cast, reprise their roles for the film, but Pinza died. Had he survived long enough to perform in the film, the producers would have cast Martin. Instead, Doris Day was offered the part of Nellie, but passed; Elizabeth Taylor tested for the same role, but was rejected by Rodgers after she suffered stage fright in her audition. Logan later heard her sing but was unable to persuade Rodgers to change his mind. Ultimately, Mitzi Gaynor, who had prior work in musical films, and had tested twice for Nellie, was cast in the role.Rossano Brazzi was cast as Emile, a role that was first offered to such established stars as Charles Boyer, Vittorio De Sica and Fernando Lamas. Walston, a noted Broadway musical actor, played the part of Seabee Luther Billis, which he previously played on stage in London.
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