7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.7 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.7 |
Two stories set side by side about love and loss set in the wartime tropics. Adaptation of the 1949 stage play.
Starring: Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr (II), Ray Walston, Juanita HallRomance | 100% |
Musical | 80% |
War | 26% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.19:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.20:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 4.0
English: Dolby Digital 2.0
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified)
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
Some enchanted evening...
Once upon a time there was a cinematic genre that was perhaps more sincere, approachable, and
lovable than any other -- the Musical. It was a genre where song and, sometimes, dance, served
as
an integral part of the story -- either stating or reinforcing plot points -- and added another level
of
fun and magic to the tale. Throughout the course of cinema history, from The Wizard of Oz to
High School Musical,
the genre has seen ups and downs, surges and declines in popularity, and films aimed at just
about
every audience. The genre enjoyed its peak -- in popularity, quality of films, and
broadest appeal -- during the era of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, a collaboration
quite unlike any other, the names forever linked as one Broadway's, and subsequently
Hollywood's, most popular, successful,
and ingenious tandems. Though 1958's South Pacific may not enjoy the same level of
admiration and acclaim as some of Rodger's and Hammerstein's other films, particularly 1956's
The King and I and 1965's The Sound of Music, it is nevertheless a
quintessential Musical, one that covers the themes of love, loss, confusion, and hope in a time of
great distress. The film certainly lacks the grace of The King and I and the timelessness
of The Sound of Music, but it's nevertheless essential cinema and a fantastic Musical in
its own right.
Will love conquer all in the South Pacific?
20th Century Fox presents South Pacific on Blu-ray with a gorgeous 1080p, 2.20:1-framed transfer. The film looks positively immaculate, and is proof-positive of the power and wonder of the Blu-ray format in its ability to revive the classics. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the disc is the mesmerizing color reproduction. Blues are the most pleasing to the eye, both in the beautiful and clear Pacific waters and the denim-colored shirts worn by the seamen. The sandy beaches and the tan-colored Naval dress uniforms, in addition to the lush and lovely green vegetation, all come together to offer the film a pleasing, classic technicolor look. As noted above, the film will sometimes drastically alter its color scheme, with particular hues dominating the scene that reinforce the themes of love and loss in the film. The image may take on a heavy blue or golden tint, for example, that lends a very uniform and unique look to the picture. South Pacific also enjoys excellent detail throughout; the wooden appointments of the military headquarters, the clothing, and the vegetation all offer viewers the chance to absorb the finer details and textures of practically every object on-screen. Flesh tones are consistently accurate throughout, and the disc sports a fine layer of film grain that lends a wonderful finishing touch on what is one of, if not the, finest transfers -- classic catalogue title or not -- available on Blu-ray. With releases like South Pacific, 20th Century Fox has positioned itself as the leader in quality in classic catalogue releases on Blu-ray.
South Pacific debuts on Blu-ray with a quality DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack, in addition to four-channel and two-channel Dolby Digital tracks. Like the video, the soundtrack is a pleasure to behold. Dialogue and song lyrics are presented with authority and vigor, strong and clear as the solos flow from the center channel with the singing of the full cast emanating from the entire front soundstage. From the most raucous of songs to those sung quietly and "internally" -- the characters thinking to themselves in song -- all are presented clearly and accurately. The accompanying orchestral music is strong and clear, each instrument heard distinctly and together making for a harmonious, pleasant, crisp experience. The rear channels are sparsely used, the best outburst heard during an action sequence near the end of the film. Atmospherics are decent; the rolling Pacific waves may be heard rushing onto the beach in several scenes, with the water audibly flowing, albeit lightly, across the front. The film's action-oriented sequences, such as a plane under fire from surface flack, rumble the soundstage a bit while the constant hum of the propellers spreads out across the front, doing a decent job of placing the listeners in the craft's cockpit. The lossless soundtrack adds a nice bit of extended range and clarity to the experience. Thankfully, the presentation here hasn't been aggressively re-mixed to throw music and effects all over the soundstage. South Pacific makes for a pleasant, high-quality listen that supports the lavish visuals nicely.
South Pacific comes to Blu-ray with a myriad of supplements spread across two discs.
Disc
one offers viewers the 157-minute "general release" cut of the film. The abbreviated
supplements included on this disc begin with a feature-length commentary track with President
of the Rodgers and Hammerstein
Organization Ted Chapin and Gerard Alessandrini. The pair share a wealth of knowledge about
the
history of the production, both the stage version and the film iterations. Their vast knowledge of
the cast, from the primaries to tertiary characters; the differences between stage show and film;
the
variations between the numerous releases of the film; and more, shine through with each
sentence. Their track is about as
interesting
as the film, with honest comments and observations that often feels like friends discussing the
film
rather than dryly recounting anecdotes and filmmaking techniques. Also available on disc one is
Singalong, an on-screen karaoke-style presentation of 19 songs from the film, and
Songs Only Chapter List, simply allowing viewers to skip directly to their favorite songs.
Disc two features the long-thought-lost "Road Show" version of South Pacific, a cut that
increases the film's length by 14 minutes. The added footage is of noticeably lesser quality,
particularly evidenced by faded colors, thanks to the limited availability of prints from which to cull
the missing scenes. Please note that no lossless audio track is available with this version; only
several Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks -- 5.1, 4.0, and 2.0. -- are included. Nevertheless, the additional
scenes are a welcome addition, and one cannot
knock either quality or the studio for including them. Moving on to the bonus materials, disc two
also begins with a commentary track, this one featuring Musical historian Richard Barrios. Barrios
addresses the particular version of the film presented on disc two, pointing out the new edits and
why the
extended edition works better than the more readily available and widely-seen "general release"
edition. His commentary is generally wonderful; Barrios delivers his comments with an easygoing
authority, and his knowledge seems limitless. This is a rare commentary track that is a definite
must-listen for all viewers.
Passion, Prejudice, and 'South Pacific:' Creating an American Masterpiece (1080i,
1:34:05) is a four-part feature that examines the film in-depth, beginning by placing it in the
historical context of World War II and the segregation of America, and moving on to looking at
the writing of the screenplay and music for the stage and, finally, the silver screen. Examined is
the search for lead characters, the themes of prejudice that run throughout the movie, the
quality of the songs, the use of the Todd-AO wide-angle camera, and much more. 20th
Century Fox always seems to produce first-rate documentaries for their classic films (Behind the Planet of the
Apes, for example), and the studio has another winner here.
Making of 'South Pacific' (1080p, 14:01) is a vintage black-and-white making-of piece
that looks at the use of the Todd-AO camera, the construction of sets, casting, shooting the
combat scenes, the native people's hospitality towards the cast and crew, and more. 60
Minutes: The Tales of the South Pacific (480p, 22:25) is a piece hosted by Diane Sawyer that
looks at the life works of Author James Michener. Vintage Stage Excerpt (480p, 9:38)
features several black-and-white clips from the actual stage production, including I'm Gonna
Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair, Finale, Some Enchanted Evening, and
A Wonderful Guy performed by Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza. Fox Movietonews is
a pair of vintage pieces -- 'South Pacific' on the Screen - A Perfect Hit (480p, 1:20) and
State Department Confers Highest Honor on 'South Pacific' (480p, 0:52). Screen
Test: Mitzi Gaynor (1080p, 6:51) features the actress rehearsing for her role. Concluding
this impressive assemblage of special features is a still gallery and the film's theatrical trailer
(1080p, 2:43).
South Pacific is a classic Musical with all the right touches to make it a timeless picture with broad appeal. The songs are fun and catchy, the romance a bit sappy but well-developed, and the action exciting and meaningful. The film enjoys great direction, locations, and acting, punctuated by a series of dreamy, surreal scenes that set apart the film's segments that feature the progression of love and romance set against the backdrop of World War II. South Pacific isn't the best of the Rodgers and Hammerstein cannon, but it's fantastic classic cinema that is family-friendly and a fine example of filmmaking at its best. 20th Century Fox continues to impress with its dedication to catalogue titles on Blu-ray. South Pacific is another title that is revitalized thanks to Blu-ray, the format allowing this classic to sparkle as brightly as ever with vivid colors and breathtaking detail. The soundtrack, too, is quite good for all that it is, and the studio has included a treasure trove of extras, not to mention two complete versions of the film. South Pacific marks an important title on Blu-ray, the first Rodgers and Hammerstein Musical released to the format, and if this presentation is any indication, film fans need be thrilled at the prospects of additional like-titles in the future. South Pacific is easily an early candidate for 2009 Blu-ray release of the year, and it earns my highest recommendation.
1958
with The Greatest Showman Movie Cash
1958
65th Anniversary Edition
1958
1955
1945
1956
1956
Warner Archive Collection
1942
1951
50th Anniversary Edition
1961
1948
+ Director's Cut on Blu-ray
1977
Warner Archive Collection
1955
1944
Fox Studio Classics
1969
1941
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1943
Warner Archive Collection
1950
1955
1964
Warner Archive Collection
1933
Warner Archive Collection
1929
1953