SOUTH PACIFIC Set to Return to the Big Screen — Page 3

I know the music but never saw the movie in its entirety or a stage production of it.

I went to the opening of the National Tour's stop in Denver this evening and it was pretty incredible. I don't think a re-make could improve on what I saw tonight and I now want to see the movie in its entirety.

Almira, your comment about Billis is interesting. After reading it and thinking back to this evening, I can see where you may think that.

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I'm not a fan of the 1958 movie, mostly because of Mitzi and the bloated and labored direction by Logan.

Mitzi is good ... but not great. She's 75-percent of what Debbie Reynolds would have been in the role. She charms, but doesn't have the wattage to truly grab me. I have always liked her on screen, but never loved her. The performances always fall a little flat, in the acting, the comic timing, and even the energy level, as hard as she's trying. That's the best I can describe it. I enjoy Mitzi in movies best when she's one of an ensemble of leads or a second lead. Not when she's carrying a film like this one.

I do pretty much like the rest of the cast. I didn't think it was necessary to dub Tony-winner Juanita Hall with opera singer and Broadway star Muriel Smith. And the voice match for John Kerr in the songs is terrible (sorry, Bill Lee). To me, this is symbolic of Logan's entire approach to the film: make it more weighty, important, refined, and impressive.

It ended up just being big and bloated instead.

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Updated On: 7/21/10 at 08:22 AM