South Pacific (2001 film)
| South Pacific | |
|---|---|
DVD cover
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| Written by |
Oscar Hammerstein II Joshua Logan James A. Michener Lawrence D. Cohen |
| Directed by | Richard Pearce |
| Starring |
Glenn Close Harry Connick, Jr. Rade Sherbedgia Ilene Graff Natalie Mendoza |
| Theme music composer |
Richard Rodgers Michael Small |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Christine A. Sacani |
| Cinematography | Stephen F. Windon |
| Running time | 135 minutes |
| Distributor | Buena Vista |
| Budget | $15 million |
| Release | |
| Original network | American Broadcasting Company |
| Original release | March 26, 2001 |
| South Pacific: Original TV Soundtrack | |
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| Soundtrack album by Richard Rodgers | |
| Released | March 20, 2001 |
| Recorded | Studio 301, Sydney, Australia |
| Genre | Film/Soundtrack |
| Label | Columbia Records/Sony Music |
| Producer | Michael Gore, Paul Bogaev |
Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific is a 2001 made-for-television movie, based on the musical South Pacific (1949). This ABC production was directed by Richard Pearce, and starred Glenn Close, Harry Connick, Jr., and Rade Šerbedžija (billed in U.S. as Rade Sherbedgia). It was also released on DVD.
South Pacific was filmed primarily in Australia, with some scenes shot in Moorea, an island close to Tahiti. Sixteen songs from the musical are featured in the movie, which omitted the well-known song "Happy Talk" and cut the even more popular song "Bali Hai" in half. Several new scenes, such as Nellie and Emile's very first meeting at the officer's club, were added, and a new character was created to serve as Nellie's best friend and confidante. The sex scenes between Liat and Lt. Cable were also dealt with more frankly in the film than in the 1949 musical.
The movie and Close were praised by the critic for The New York Times, who wrote, "Ms. Close, lean and more mature, hints that a touch of desperation lies in Nellie's cockeyed optimism. 'I'm stuck like a dope with a thing like hope' means one thing when you are in your 20's, something else when you are not." He also noted that the movie "is beautifully produced, better than the stagy 1958 film. ... The other cast members, including Ms. Close, also sing well." The New York Post reviewer wrote that "Notions of racism toward the islanders were glossed over in the 1958 movie, but in tonight's remake, the racial themes are brought to the surface, to the production's advantage ... there's a heightened sense of drama and tension in the remake because the war is closer at hand ... the rewards are great."
The Washington Post reviewer noted:
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