South Pacific [Blu-ray] [1958]

Terrific evening entertainment with old fashioned intermission - loved the colour sequences all the rage back when ….😀👏👏

This two disc Blu-ray set, packed with extras as well as two versions of the film (the main theatrical plus extended 'Road Show' versions) will be a dream ticket for all those who saw the original cinema production and have known the DVD to fall short of that memory.There are, of course, dated aspects of both plot and screenplay. These need to be expected and accepted as the inevitable consequence of watching a film from 1958. Utopia was much more easily achieved way back then than seems possible in our multi-layered and more complex modern world!However, more importantly, this film / musical must be seen and appreciated simply in the context of what it was and still is - a wonderful escapist vision where love finally conquers all and where the ideal becomes reality! The songs are, of course, glorious peaks of the American Songbook and the emotional icing on the cake. They follow one after another with utterly memorably melodies combined with equally memorable lyrics - a tremendous example of sustained musical invention at the highest level in this genre.The technical restoration of this film is a remarkable achievement with finely restored Todd-AO colour and a well restored soundtrack in 5.1 surround. The Road Show version is in stereo only but most will choose to watch the original theatrical version.In my opinion this is a totally successful restoration of a perennial favourite and fully deserving of a 5 star rating. It should give much pleasure to all of those who are returning to it with rose-tinted glasses as well as having much to offer for younger viewers!................................Further information kindly supplied by Al Baker:Some confusion here as to what constitutes the original version. The so called theatrical version is the cut version produced for 35mm screening on general release (cut in order to get more screenings in during the day). The original première version is the roadshow version and it is a great pity that this has not been fully restored.........................................Some dialogue from the comments section that may offer further help:Some confusion here as to what constitutes the original version. The so called theatrical version is the cut version produced for 35mm screening on general release (cut in order to get more screenings in during the day). The original première version is the roadshow version and it is a great pity that this has not been fully restored. (U.K. review)............................................

What a tremendous work! At times, the music never seems to stop, whether as background, in full magnificent singing, or simply during talking scenes where the character's emotions are present in full force.The story and characterisation are far less soupily sentimental than, say, 'Oklahoma' , presumably due to Michener's in-depth understandings of how people actually work. Some of the scenes are a bit clunky, and both editing and timing need a little work.But above all, the glorious music carries all before it on a seas of eternal longing. How two such extraordinarily clever Jewish boys managed such feats of soaring imagination is beyond me.In comparison, today's musicals are thin and wretched. This one has already proved its staing power many times over.

I was a teenager when this film first came out and I watched it in complete awe, in all twelve times, unfortunately I am a teenager no more the joy of this film has not diminished, wonderful

No point in reviewing the movie. That is well covered in many other reviews though I will say it is one of my all-time favourite musicals, great story, great cast, Mitzi Gaynor shines.But I want to address the Blu-ray transfer compared to the DVD I have had for many years. The DVD was formatted for 4x3 screens so I always had to use the aspect ratio controls to bring it up to the full width of the TV but on my Panasonic Plasma TV this looked quite good. There were problems on that DVD to do with how it was reconstituted from the black and white colour separations, with some shrinkage of the film stock resulting in some pronounced blue fringing late in the movie, particularly noticeable when Rossano Brazzi was sitting with his head in his hands. Also the scene where Mitzi was dancing on the upturned boat was rather poor. But these scenes were faultless in the Blu-ray. Throughout I was impressed at the definition and colour purity. There were a few scenes that to my eyes were a little on the dark side and a few scenes where the colour saturation was either a bit too high or a bit too low. But that comes under nit-picking. Compared with the DVD I noticed a few times that there were some subtle facial expressions I was seeing that I had not noticed while watching the DVD.The Blu-ray version is very well worth getting.

I rate this movie a 5 star-movie, because of the music. It's incredible that Rodgers and Hammerstein, like in "Oklahoma", could fill a musical with so many evergreens. One can hum along on almost every song in this musical-(can you find a musical of today where you can do that?).I recall seeing this movie in the newest movie theatre in Copenhagen, when I was probably around 20, and the audience were talking excitedly about the huge Todd A-O screen, and the clarity of it.About the the movie itself I don't know, if I am that crazy about Rossano Brazzi's character, but otherwise the cast is great, especially Mitzi Gaynor.(Some 15 years later I was visiting a furniture store in Westwood, L.A. and was talking to the manager, when "lieutenant" John Kerr walked in, so it was a thrill to talk with him about the movie and his later career).One thing that I still don't like are the color filters used; it works ok in the Bali Hai scene at the start of the movie, when Bloody sings about the mystery island, but later the filters are more of a nuisance than really good. You find yourself longing to get back to the Technicolor pictures.I watched only part of the roadshow version, and didn't really find it interesting. Maybe people older than me - if they exist! - will take interest in watching Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza in the stage version, and again talking about age I found them too old for the parts.However, enjoy the beautiful music; it doesn't come better.

Good sound and picture as expected.

Feel good golden oldie! Love it