South Pacific [DVD]

I am a huge fan of Mitzi Gaynor and love "South Pacific." This DVD has Mitzi's original screen test for the movie, plus several other wonderful extras. This is also the restored "road show" version of the movie, so it has 17 minutes cut from the original that played in theaters and on TV. Whenever I am having a down or gloomy day I can watch the movie or some of the extras and it makes the day much better!

I Love The Music, Humor, Drama and Great Romance In This Fabulous Classic Movie!

Good selection of DVD's

It’s a very clean and clear picture, easy watching,

Great classic Rogers & Hammerstein movie. I loved this musical many years ago (even though I'm usually not a big fan of musicals) and have tried to find it streaming for free on Netflix or Amazon Prime for so long, I finally gave up and sprung for streaming it on Amazon for the paid 48-hour rental fee. Enjoyed the movie a lot, but a couple of technical aspects to note:First off, be warned: This movie starts out with NO PICTURE at all, just an instrumental soundtrack of the film's many songs playing over a completely blank screen. Just know that this is NOT your disc player or a streaming problem; it is made that way, and if you sit it out for a few minutes ( or advance ahead if you don't want to listen to the glorious soundtrack), the picture comes along and then the credits begin to roll. As another reviewer noted, that's the way the movie was made! It's something they used to do with big motion pictures with spectacular orchestral soundtracks back in the 50's, playing this "overture" in the theater while people are taking their seats and before the picture starts up. Same deal with the "intermission" midway through the film. Just enjoy a few minutes of listening to the music while you take a quick bathroom break and run to the snack bar without having to pause the movie. The movie really should have some kind of warning about this when you buy or rent it, because so many people these days would have no idea that that's why they're getting sound with no picture, and I bet countless younger viewers have been fooled and frustrated by this, and waste their time or money on trying other formats or players, or simply give up and return the movie.The other not-so-groovy thing about seeing this movie in its remastered or HD digital version is that is has some VERY distracting, over-the-top, cheesy coloration issues that seriously brought it down a notch or two in my eyes. Even though it was already made in Technicolor and contained a lot of gorgeous colorful scenery and cinematography, it seems they got the not-so-bright idea of changing the hue of the scenes in which some of the songs are being sung by the characters, and also giving a large area of the picture a fuzzy/blurred-out, soft vignetting around the edges framing the singer. Cheesy. Just cheesy, I'm afraid. Distracting and unnecessary, so it constantly drew attention to itself.The hue-altering first came in on the song "Bali Hai", when Bloody Mary was sing about this magical, mystical island, so I thought maybe the subtle color change over the whole picture was meant to have that effect for that scene only, but then the color change became so extreme and UN-subtle that you start to realize this must be computer-generated tinkering for effect, and the colors go way too extreme, swinging from all-over purple to way too greenish-yellow during the song, until it feels like some amateur was just fooling with the basic color adjustments in a cheap video app. It was a relief when the song ended and normal color ranges returned to the screen. Unfortunately, they do this silly effect again repeatedly on other songs, where any magical, mystical island effects have nothing to do with it, so it just serves no good purpose. Ugh.As for the blurring around the edges during musical numbers, same thing. Distracts from the original film, which should be thought of as a stage play brought to the "big screen" to really appreciate what you're looking at to begin with, so seeing anything about it that looks like special effects layered onto it just kind of pops you out of the good old fashioned place you're trying to put your mind in to enjoy this in the first place.It is, after all, very old fashioned, as a story set in World War II and produced in the late fifties. This movie is a pretty fun romp I f you like to spend a couple of fairly light-hearted hours immersing yourself in that bygone era when women (or "girls") were called "dames" and the idea of people bursting into song every two minutes onscreen was much more common, so why remind the viewer repeatedly that they're seeing a new, updated copy of this film, which is, keep in mind, really a pretty out-of-date vehicle for singing, acting, storytelling and expressions in dialogue that you'd never see in today's movies. For an old classic like this, it's all about "suspension of disbelief." The music is fun, the lyrics are admirable, the acting is old-style, the stereotypes are not today's version of PC, but it's Rogers & Hamm at their best -- you know what you're getting here; if you're into that, or willing to check it out (and be prepared for these old-style musicals to be much slower paced than today's blockbusters), just enjoy the ride for what it is. That's the way I view it, anyway, so I just feel the after-the-fact adding on of PhotoShop-like effects is anachronistic and annoying.All that said, I still find this to be a fine example of a fun musical from the heyday of big picture musicals, filled with a lot of good songs that stand the test of time, memorable characters, and great scenery, and would recommend it. And if you know where to find an un-retouched version of it, probably even better.

First of all I must say this is an OUTSTANDING Blu-ray exclusive sensational experience!!!NOTE: Before I begin the explanation I must set my forum. I have a HD Home Theater with a HD Projector (9 foot HD wall screen) Sony Playstation3 (Blu-ray player) and matching Sony Blu-ray Sound System. This system is the equivalent of a mini - IMAX Theater.Now, "South Pacific" was a movie phenomenon in 1958. Photographed in TODD-AO (70mm with 6 track stereo sound (65mm for film and 5mm for sound)). BOTTOMLINE (in a nutshell)- 70mm is twice 35mm size film w/6channel vs 2 channel stereo. Shot originally at 30 frames per second vs 24 for regular film. TODD-AO also had DEEP FOCUSING (early high resolution panning without losing focus). The answer to CINERAMA w/3 cameras, TODD-AO only used one camera with 128 degree screen, almost 3 dimensional effect. This movie is a great visual and listening experience. Now with the Blu-ray touch it leaps us back to the BIG THEATER EXPERIENCE. So please make sure you have the biggest and best sound system you can get to enjoy this Rodgers and Hammerstein 50th Anniversary Blu-ray Disc set.This means to enjoy this amazing Blu-ray 2 Disc totally revamped for this exclusive release you MUST VIEW it on the largest screen possible and at least a 5.1 Sound System to experience this wonderful movie experience.This Blu-ray 2 Disc set is loaded with 2 version of the movie, Disc 1 General Release Show (w/commentary)and Disc 2 the Road Show (an additional 15 minutes) (shown exclusively at Palace Theaters w/reserve seating) (plus commentary and many Bonus Features)INFAMOUS COLOR FILTERs - Let me say until this release I agreed that the use of the color filters were annoying and confusing to say the least. Especially on the small screen (less than 60"). Now with the new remastered Blu-ray versions and Bonus Features in HD improves the experience. BOTTOMLINE - the use of the filters in my opinion are effective because you focus on the characters mood and it establishes the focal point for you the audience ie: the panoramic screen is so large and filled with distractions so the filter draws our eyes to the characters, songs and the moment. VERY EFFECTIVE (I only realized this after watching it on the big screen like it was originally made to see.)Disc 1 - Original General Release Version The version we've seen on video tape and DVD's. Now the TODD-AO effect can be enjoyed better than the original. South Pacific has one of the BEST MUSICAL Tracks and the BEST SONGS. Commentary is full of interesting background information and trivia. (Like Actress Joan Fontaine made a cameo appearance) Also Singalong Karaoke Subtitles and Songs Only Option.Disc 2 - The extended "ROAD SHOW" version. Commentary extensive background information regarding the new scenes and links to the subplots. ALERT - This extended versions added 15 minutes are not the same high standards because the original 70mm film of the ROAD SHOWS were lost when they edited it down to the General Release Version. But we can still experience the full original Road Show take on South Pacific. Many secrets and exclamations revealed. FUN STUFF!!! Bonus Features on Disc 2 - An OUTSTANDING 90 minute documentary "Passion, Prejudice and South Pacific" hosted by Mitzi Gaynor. Making of SOUTH PACIFIC featurette. 60 minutes Diane Sawyer interviews James Michener, Author of "TALES OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC". Stage Excerpts featuring Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza. (the original Nellie and Emile) Mitzi's screen test, and much more.Once again I must say this latest Blu-ray versions of SOUTH PACIFIC are the HD HOME THEATERS CAVIAR!!! A must have for your movie musical library. ENJOY!

Worked well

Esta película era de las favoritas de mi mamá de sus épocas de juventud. Hace muchos años había yo comprado el DVD de una colección de clásicos pero se perdió. Ahora que ví que estaba disponible, la compré y no me arrepentí. Preferí comprar el DVD al Blu-Ray; la calidad es muy buena, trae el típico segundo disco con muchos extras y el disco de la película trae un menú para poner sólo las canciones. El idioma español hablado es de España, no tiene versión latina. Estamos muy contentos con la compra.

This is a brilliant film!

J'AI ETAIS RAVIE DE REVOIR CETTE SPLENDIDE FILM APRES TANT D'ANNEES;

Gran musical, el Blu Ray edición Reino Unido, ASIN B00428MXMO, aunque en la carátula no lo indique, está doblado y subtitulado al castellano, pero sólo la película, los extras sólo traen subtítulos en inglés. Pero vale la pena, gran calidad de imagen y sonido.