South Pacific

Authors: Al
Location: New York

““Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific”

Directed by Anthony Minghella
Written by Paul Haggis
Music and Lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Additional Music by Hans Zimmer

Principal Cast:

Nicole Kidman: Ensign Nellie Forbush
Gérard Depardieu: Emeile de Becque
Jake Gyllenhaal : Lt. Joseph Cable
Alec Baldwin : Luther Billis
Zhang Ziyi : Liat

Tagline: "Love can prosper in paradise"

Synopsis: On an island in the South Pacific during World War II, an innocent and naive U.S. Navy nurse, Nellie Forbush, falls in love with a middle-aged French plantation owner, Emile de Becque. On the island reside American sailors, led by the sleazy, entrepreneurial Luther Billis are restless due to the lack of any women or even combat. Lieutenant Joe Cable, a Marine, arrives on the island to take part in a dangerous spy mission that could help the U.S. turn the tide against the winning Japanese forces. Billis seizes an opportunity and convinces Cable to take him out on a boat to the mysterious and lucrative island of Bali Ha’i . At Bali Ha’i, Bloody Mary, the soldiers’ native souvenir dealer, introduces him to her stunning daughter Liat. Nellie and Cable find themselves falling deeper and deeper into love with their respective partners. However, Nellie is shocked that Emile has mixed-race children and walks out on him tearfully. Cable proposes to Liat, but is struck with a pang of regret over his girlfriend back home and the fact that Liat is Polynesian, and leaves her. Cable finally convinces the dejected Emile to go out on a spy mission with him as the sailors are finally sent out to combat. Cable dies, but Emile survives and comes home triumphantly to his children and Nellie, who has come to her senses and looks to her future together with Emile. South Pacific is a poignant story about if or how love can triumph over racism, with one of the greatest musical scores of all time by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

What the press would say:

An artistic masterpiece. Anthony Minghella has made an epic love story to rival that of The English Patient’s. Haggis’ screenplay is one of his best yet, aided by the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical score. Miraculously, Minghella takes a movie that could have seemed dated and instead makes it seem strangely current in a time of passive intolerance. Nicole Kidman is unbelievable in her best performance yet, conveying a youthful, optimistic personality not seen in a long time. Hopefully, Gérard Depardieu will finally be discovered by American audiences in this masterful performance. Jake Gyllenhaal turns in one of his best performances yet, along with Alec Baldwin, who is unbelievably slimy and over-the-top, and inhabits his character more than anyone else in this movie. Zhang Ziyi is radiant in a role that otherwise could have been a castoff part with very little lines. Overall, the movie is an instant classic and one of the best World War II movies and musicals in years.

For Your Consideration:

Best Picture
Best Director: Anthony Minghella
Best Actress: Nicole Kidman
Best Actor: Gérard Depardieu
Best Supporting Actor: Jake Gyllenhaal
Best Supporting Actor: Alec Baldwin
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Haggis
Best Art Direction
Best Score
Best Sound Mixing
Best Sound Editing
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Costumes
Best Makeup