South Pacific

38. South Pacific (1958) (Logan) The film version of the famous R&H musical. In general, I prefer energetic musicals like "Top Hat" or "Singing in the Rain" over the operetta R&H shows. But even with my lower expectations this was a major disappointment. Not all bad, it did have some good songs and great location shots (Kauai). But the direction is slack, the dancing seems perfunctory, and story just drones on and on for two and half hours. The cast has a FEW high-spots - Hall is excellent, Brazzi adequate, and Mitzi Gaynor good (Doris Day would have been perfect) but Kerr is a complete zero and nobody else seems believable or compelling. The supporting cast list is full of nobodies. Even Ray Walton is unfunny and far too old. No doubt R&H thought "South Pacific" was a guaranteed box office hit - so why spend money on Stars? Summary: Another Josh Logan disaster. The songs are good and so are the shots of Kauai - otherwise a heavy footed ponderous bore. Rating **