Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

Believe it or not, Hollywood still cranks out a ton of musicals every year. However, in between the endless remakes (next up: Fame) and high school musicals, it's fairly safe to say that they don't make 'em like South Pacific anymore.

Take the subject matter. After all, who knew that World War II was so romantic? Apparently, everyone involved in South Pacific, one of Hollywood's most memorable musicals. However, it's not just the setting, it's also the whole interracial relationship thing, which c'mon -- was pretty risque for the time.

Fox has given the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic the Blu-ray treatment. All of the Hawaiian imagery certainly lends itself to high-def. However, if you're not a fan of the genre, this may be a tough one to kick off with. The bottom line: At 157 minutes, the theatrical version is long. That's not even counting the 14 additional minutes attached to this release's "Road Show" edition.

However, a classic is a classic, and there's no doubting that this is at the top of the musical charts. There are plenty of recognizable tracks here, including "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" and "Some Enchanted Evening." Just take advantage of the intermission in the middle of the flick, and enjoy.

The Picture

When watching a '50s movie in high-def, it's easy to write off the dated picture to, well, a dated movie. However, South Pacific blows that whole theory out of the water. This 2.30:1 transfer looks darn good. The colors are unbelievably bright and plentiful. Of course, it's not perfect. Those same colors are sometimes too bold, making fleshtones look a little extra rosy. They are singing a lot, so maybe everyone is just flushed. Also, some of the film's color filters can be blinding. Still, the island visuals are so bright and welcoming, you'll want to drink out of a coconut. Expect a few flickers here and there, but overall, we should all wish that we'd look this good at 50.

The Sound

Like the image, the sound on this release is very surprising. The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack belts out the film's many musical numbers to all of your surrounds. With such great sound, it's slightly disappointing that some of the dialogue came off a little muffled in a few spots. However, let's face it; that's not going to take away from the viewing experience. It's music you want here, and the music sounds really good. Aside from that, though, there are plenty of other little details popping out of the island surroundings. Overall, a very pleasant surprise.

The Extras

When it comes to weddings, you get gold for the 50th anniversary. In movie-land, you get Blu-ray -- a double dose. Fox has given this release two discs with an unbelievable amount of extras. Disc one includes the theatrical version, with just a few extras, including a commentary track, a short-cut to the film's songs, and a singalong option for karaoke fans. Disc two has the "Road Show" version of the film, which adds another 14 minutes, but takes out the DTS-HD Master Audio option. Other extras include plenty of peeks at the production, most notably the 14-minute making-of featurette and the 94-minute "Passion, Prejuidice and South Pacific" documentary, which talks about every possible aspect of the film, including the casting, the music, and the historical context.

Final Thoughts

OK -- it's not my favorite musical. It's not even my favorite Rogers and Hammerstein musical. Still, there's no denying that South Pacific is a classic when it comes to the genre. The film's 157-minute runtime may keep this out of your regular rotation. However, for fans, the sound, colors, and collection of extras make this release well worth buying on Blu-ray.

Where to Buy:

• South Pacific: 50th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray Disc (Amazon.com)

Product Details

• Actors: Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr, Ray Walston, Juanita Hall, France Nuyen, Russ Brown
• Director: Joshua Logan
• Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish, French), Dolby Digital 4.0 (English), Stereo (English)
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Portuguese
• Aspect Ratio: 2.20:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 2
• Rating: NR
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: March 31, 2009
• Run Time: 157 minutes (Theatrical Version), 172 minutes (Road Show Version)
• List Price: $34.98
• Extras:
  • Audio Commentary by Ted Chapin and Gerard Alessandrini (Theatrical Version)
  • Singalong Karaoke Subtitles
  • Songs-Only Option
  • Extended "Road Show" Version of the Film
  • Audio Commentary by Richard Barrios ("Road Show" Version)
  • Passion, Prejudice and South Pacific: Creating an American Documentary
  • The Making of South Pacific
  • Diane Sawyer Interview with James Michener, Author of Tales of the South Pacific
  • Vintage Stage Excerpts Featuring Performances by Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza
  • Fox Movietonenews
  • Still Gallery
  • Mitzi Gaynor Screen Test