South Pacific 1958.. how frequent are the color filters?

[movie]

South Pacific Blu-ray

South Pacific Blu-ray Review

The Silver Screen article on South Pacific



I'm thinking of getting this movie so I was wondering how often those colored filters were used in the movie? 10%, 50%, 30%?

[merlich]

I watched this movie some time ago. As I remember, every musical number is color-filtered, and the color actually changes during the number. Very annoying.

[Hoosier205]

You are 52 year late to complain about this.

[bluskies]

Actually, the filters are annoying when you see a normal broadcast on TV, at least I have always found it so. BUT on Blu, they look much better.

[Popcorn_Bliss]

It's all the moments that aren't in filters and that are in classic saturated color that makes South Pacific beautiful to me. But I happen to love the look of 70mm films in general and so I definitely enjoy it.

I suppose the degree of annoyance (or un-annoyance) for the color filters scenes is, like anything, simply a matter of personal taste. I think in my case I don't mind them because a) I mostly love the film for its otherwise vivid and beautiful colors in the "normal" scenes and because b) I just tend to treat the filtered scenes as a "unique" charm to the normal look of the film. In other words, one can either look at them as a glass half full or a glass half empty.

Of course, if one doesn't like 70mm, Todd-AO widescreen films, classic 50's era movies or the general vividness or theme of South Pacific to begin with, then indeed, the filtered scenes will likely only make one not enjoy such a film even more...

[movie]

Thanks for the reply's! Yeah, I like the 70mm films with the rich colors so I'm tempted to just get it even though I'm not a fan of filters of any kind.

[garyrc]

Shortly after South Pacific came out, Josh Logan (the director) said that the filters were an experiment and he opposed their use (or at least the use of some of them?) in the final film, but someone (I simply forget who) overruled him ... I guess it could have been the studio, or Rodgers & Hammerstein. I hope it wasn't R & H. I presume & hope that the filters were added in the lab, so a print could be made without them. Since the director ended up opposing them, this would be an instance in which they could include two disks, one with the filters, and one without.. I think he repeated his dissfaction with them in his autobiography.

Logan had directed the hit Broadway version, and I suspect that they used similar colored lighting on the stage during those songs. It may have worked on the stage, but not in Todd-A0, with the great natural beauty of Kawai.

The parts of the film that are not filtered are truly beautiful in 70 mm.

Logan made up for this when he directed Paint Yout Wagon, also at least projected in 70 mm, which was smashing, despite the rumors that on location Logan was dealing with his bipolarity, Alan Jay Learner with his injections obtained from the notorious Dr. Feelgood,
Lee Marvin in character with a little alchohol, while Clint Eastwood munched on organic granola.

[movie]

That's interesting stuff, thanks Garyrc. Since we are in the HD generation, would be great if the studios made an effort to release a 2 disc special edition to appease everyone instead of just a few.

[KubrickFan]

I had heard that the filters simply were too strong, and that more people (DP perhaps?) didn't like them, but that it was too late to change them.

[Popcorn_Bliss]

Although this is off-topic from 70mm or Todd-AO, all this reminds me how much I'd also love to see Blue Hawaii 1961 on blu-ray!

It's one of my favorites as well and love the beauty of the Hawaiian scenery in that one too! And the cute Joan Blackman as well...

[bluskies]

Originally Posted by movie

That's interesting stuff, thanks Garyrc. Since we are in the HD generation, would be great if the studios made an effort to release a 2 disc special edition to appease everyone instead of just a few.

Unfortunately, it is not an option. The film doesn't exist without the filters. From what I recall reading in the past, the filters were used at the filming itself. They had to use the film as it was.

[in2video2]

Simply do not hesitate to rush out and buy South Pacific. It is one of the most impressive Blu-Ray transfers of a classic catalogue release, aside from How the West was Won and North By Northwest. The soundtrack on this Blu-Ray is so rich - just sit back and listen to the Overture and you will appreciate the old grandeur of a 70mm 6-Track Stereo presentation in your home. In the context of the musical (and it is a romantic lyrical setting) it works for the most part. As to those color filters... Think of it as Joshua Logan's artistic expression or folly. Have to admit it is unusual - Fortunately it is not a MAJOR distraction to the wonderful musical score and it's storytelling. You get used to it... after a while. And it kinda makes sense.

[movie]

Originally Posted by in2video2

Simply do not hesitate to rush out and buy South Pacific. It is one of the most impressive Blu-Ray transfers of a classic catalogue release, aside from How the West was Won and North By Northwest. The soundtrack on this Blu-Ray is so rich - just sit back and listen to the Overture and you will appreciate the old grandeur of a 70mm 6-Track Stereo presentation in your home. In the context of the musical (and it is a romantic lyrical setting) it works for the most part. Think of it as Joshua Logan's artistic expression or folly. Have to admit it is unusual - Fortunately it was not a MAJOR distraction to the wonderful musical score and it's storytelling. You get used to it... after a while. And it kinda makes sense.

Ok, you got me sold on it now If I end up hating it, I can always put it up for trade and no harm done.

[JJJ225]

South Pacific is one of my favorite musicals, but the movie version is bad and the color filters are horrendously annoying.

[rkolinski]

There is not a single aspect of the presentation of this movie that annoys me; highly recommended and a must own on Blu if you enjoy musicals!

[roxyv]

Originally Posted by movie

That's interesting stuff, thanks Garyrc. Since we are in the HD generation, would be great if the studios made an effort to release a 2 disc special edition to appease everyone instead of just a few.

this is a 2 disc version

[in2video2]

Originally Posted by garyrc

Logan made up for this when he directed Paint Yout Wagon, also at least projected in 70 mm, which was smashing, despite the rumors that on location Logan was dealing with his bipolarity, Alan Jay Learner with his injections obtained from the notorious Dr. Feelgood,
Lee Marvin in character with a little alchohol, while Clint Eastwood munched on organic granola.

Must agree with you, I always find PAINT YOUR WAGON to be a lot of fun - one of my favourite musicals. Hope Paramount consider bringing it to Blu-Ray as well. Maybe Warner will beat them to the punch by releasing CAMELOT on Blu-Ray first. Just goes to show how versatile Joshua Logan was as a Director.

[benjaminh]

Originally Posted by in2video2

Must agree with you, I always find PAINT YOUR WAGON to be a lot of fun - one of my favourite musicals. Hope Paramount consider bringing it to Blu-Ray as well. Maybe Warner will beat them to the punch by releasing CAMELOT on Blu-Ray first. Just goes to show how versatile Joshua Logan was as a Director.

All three by the same guy. Interesting. Count me as a fan of Paint too--although I know some don't like it at all. But it's the best epic Western musical starring a singing Clint Eastwood that I've ever seen!

And jaw dropping pq on South Pacific, I must say. I like the filters. They're weird, but for one movie it makes an interesting change. Good film. If you like musicals you should find something to like in South Pacific...

[Steve Steckel]

This was, for many years, my favorite movie and, still is one of my favorites. It has a GREAT story with sadness, comedy, racial prejudice, some war scenes. I have always found the color filters mildly annoying but, the MOST annoying aspect of this movie, for me, was the selection of Rossano Brazzi to portray Emile Debeque. In my opinion, he simply wasn't up to the challenge. I saw E.D. portrayed by Cesare Sepi (Sp.?) on stage. He was MAGNIFICENT and would have been a far better choice than Brazzi. Everything else about the movie was GREAT! I especially liked the mens chorus in " Bloody Mary " and " There Is Nothing Like A Dame ". I first saw the movie in one of the theaters in my hometown when I was about 17. Many of my friends simply rolled their eyes in disgust at the musical numbers. I thought then and I think now that the music added a lot to the story. This is especially noteworthy in " Carefully Taught " wherein racial prejudice is addressed. I have always wondered why the actor that portayed "stewpot", Ken Clark, never, to the best of my knowledge, appeared in other movies. Ray Walston as "Luther Billis", for me, "stole the show". I too would like to see " Paint Your Wagon " on Blu-Ray. Speaking of "Paint Your Wagon", the late Harve Presnell would also have been a great Emile Debeque and his singing voice would not have had to be dubbed as Brazzis was. One listen to his rendition of "They Call The Wind Maria" and I think that many will agree.

[garyrc]

Originally Posted by Steve Steckel

.... the MOST annoying aspect of this movie, for me, was the selection of Rossano Brazzi to portray Emile Debeque. In my opinion, he simply wasn't up to the challenge. I saw E.D. portrayed by Cesare Sepi (Sp.?) on stage. He was MAGNIFICENT and would have been a far better choice than Brazzi ..... the late Harve Presnell would also have been a great Emile Debeque and his singing voice would not have had to be dubbed as Brazzis was.

Brazzi claimed he sang some of the softer sections of the songs in an interview in one of the glossy magazines of the time (Time? Newsweek?). I think you can hear the point in Some Enchanted Evening where Gigorio (?) Tozzi (?) takes over -- either that, or they change over to another recording "take," perhaps in another studio? In the theater, this change stood like a sore thumb in 70 mm Todd-AO's wonderful sound, and I could detect it on the VHS on my system. I'll have to check the Blu-ray.

They used a much larger orchestra for the film than they could afford night after night on Broadway (for Broadway Original Cast Lp albums, they generally brought in many extra players). It is masterfully recorded, and was earth moving in Todd-AO. Shortly after the film premiered, I cranked up the soundtrack Lp on my mono HiFi system in the basement that was my teencave (horn loaded JBLs), and a group of people walking by on the sidewalk (many yards away and beyond a brick wall) came up an knocked on the basement door. They said they just had to hear it up close, so I invited then in. A surperb recording.

Large orchestra, well balanced magnetic multichannel soundtracks (those not trying to be over-bright) of the time were South Pacific, Oklahoma!, 80 Days, The King and I, and later, Paint Your Wagon, West Side Story, and Disney's Grand Canyon (Ferde Grofe's music). Mary Poppins was very bright, but still sounded powerful. On the other hand, Sweet Charity was too bright, and lost some of its potential power. The biggest dissapointment, with comparitively lifeless sound and playing was My Fair Lady -- the Broadway Lp (not the London) had twice the energy of the film music, even when the film was experienced in 70 mm, and was the only instance, IMO, of the Broadway having more impressive orchestral dynamics than the film.