ABC PREMIERE EVENT: RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S SOUTH PACIFIC (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television film presents the 1949 Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical "South Pacific," a tale of love, danger, and racial prejudice in World War II. As the battle heats up in the Pacific, Marine Lieutenant Joe Cable, a veteran of combat and intelligence work, joins members of the U.S. Navy on a remote island where Ensign Nellie Forbush works as a nurse. Cable is introduced to life on the island by Luther Billis, a good-natured black marketeer who, along with the male company, moans about the paucity of women in "There Is Nothing Like a Dame." That evening at the officer's club, Nellie is drawn to the mysterious French planter Emile de Becque. She expresses her upbeat personality in "A Cock-Eyed Optimist," and he invites her to lunch at his plantation later in the week. When Cable reports to Captain Brackett, the Marine reveals that the Air Force wishes to build a bomber strip on the island. Ideally, he explains, the navy would place a man with a radio on a nearby island to report on Japanese movements. Cable volunteers to act as the radio man, but Brackett explains that a local guide will be necessary. As Cable gets to know the island, he meets Bloody Mary, a Tonkinese woman. Mary makes a living trading with the naval men, who sing "Bloody Mary Is the Girl I Love." Taken with Cable, Mary tells him of an idyllic nearby island in "Bali Hai." A few days later, Nellie and de Becque reveal their attraction in "Twin Soliloquies," and the planter declares his love for the nurse in "Some Enchanted Evening." He disturbs her by telling her of his past in France, however. After Nellie's departure, de Becque plays with his two half-Asian children, and the three sing "Dites-Moi."
Soon, Nellie's emotions are further confused when Captain Brackett and Cable ask her to tell them about de Becque, whom they hope to involve in their mission. Cable takes a break with a trip to Bali Hai, where Bloody Mary introduces him to a lovely Tonkinese girl named Liat. Cable and Liat are instantly attracted, and he sums up her appeal to him in "Younger Than Springtime." The next morning, Mary reveals that Liat is her own daughter, and Cable becomes concerned about his feelings for an Asian woman. Nellie tries to solve her own romantic difficulties by deciding not to see de Becque again; she and the other nurses sing, "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair." When she meets him again, however, the two reprise "Some Enchanted Evening," and shortly thereafter she sings to the nurses of her love for "A Wonderful Guy." Brackett and Cable approach de Becque about spying on the Japanese, but he refuses, declaring that he now values his life too much to risk it. Depressed, Cable visits Liat again, but when Mary shows up and suggests that he marry the young woman he unhappily refuses, unable to face the thought of returning to the U.S. with a native wife. Nellie's love life also hits a snag when de Becque introduces her to his children. Aghast at the thought that his first wife was "colored," she races away in confusion. Meanwhile, a discouraged Cable picks a fight with a group of rowdy naval men.
Captain Brackett visits a bruised Joe Cable in sick bay to tell the Marine that he will not be allowed to spy on the Japanese without an escort. Cable confides his love for Liat to Nellie and ponders the roots of racial prejudice in "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught." Nellie refuses to respond to letters from Emile de Becque, who muses on his lost love in "This Nearly Was Mine." At the base Thanksgiving show, Nellie, Luther Billis, and the nurses provide a few light moments with the song "Honeybun," but Nellie is brought down to earth after the show when de Becque seeks her out. She confesses that she will not marry him because his children's mother was colored, confessing, "I can't help it. . . . I don't know why I feel the way I do." Despondent, de Becque tells Cable that he will accompany him to spy on the Japanese. Back in her tent, Nellie faces up to her prejudices and decides to apologize to Emile, but when she reaches his home she is too late. On the island of Marie Louise, Cable and de Becque radio important information to the base but are quickly sought by the Japanese. Nellie tries to comfort Liat, who vows she will marry no one but Cable. As troops move out of the base, Nellie decides to stay with de Becque's children, and the three sing "Dites-Moi" as they wait for news. Includes commercials and promos.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Verizon Foundation.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: March 26, 2001 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:59:18
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:64342
- GENRE: Music; Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Musical revues, comedies, etc.; Race discrimination - Drama; World War II - Pacific campaign - Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 2001
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Remember the Titans" (feature film on video/DVD)
- TV - Commercials - AT&T Wireless cellular telephone plans
- TV - Commercials - Actonel osteoporosis medication
- TV - Commercials - Advil pain reliever
- TV - Commercials - BMW automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Bank of America investment services
- TV - Commercials - Benadryl allergy medication
- TV - Commercials - Burger King fast food
- TV - Commercials - Carl Jr.'s restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Centrum vitamins
- TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Chili's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Chips Ahoy cookies
- TV - Commercials - Chrysler/Plymouth automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Cingular wireless networks
- TV - Commercials - Citi-card credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Diet Coke soft drink
- TV - Commercials - Discover Card credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Downey wrinkle releaser ironing substitute
- TV - Commercials - Dr. Pepper soft drinks
- TV - Commercials - Federal Express shipping service
- TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Gateway computers
- TV - Commercials - Glade Plug-Ins air fresheners
- TV - Commercials - Hershey's Kisses chocolate candy
- TV - Commercials - Hoover vacuum cleaners
- TV - Commercials - Ikea household furnishings
- TV - Commercials - Jeep automobiles
- TV - Commercials - K-Mart discount stores
- TV - Commercials - KFC/Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food
- TV - Commercials - KIA automobiles
- TV - Commercials - KISS-FM radio station
- TV - Commercials - Lipton Sizzle & Stir meals
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's fast food
- TV - Commercials - Meridia weight-loss medication
- TV - Commercials - Metabolife diet beverage
- TV - Commercials - Old Navy clothing stores
- TV - Commercials - Olive Garden restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Pacific Bell computer networking
- TV - Commercials - Patanol eye-allergy medication
- TV - Commercials - Pedigree dog treats
- TV - Commercials - Philip Morris Company corporate goodwill
- TV - Commercials - Pledge Grab-It dust mitts
- TV - Commercials - Polaroid cameras
- TV - Commercials - Purina Dog Chow dog food
- TV - Commercials - Saturn automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Sears Portrait Studio photography
- TV - Commercials - Skechers athletic shoes at Sears department stores
- TV - Commercials - Sprint PCS cellular telephones and long distance
- TV - Commercials - Sprite soft drink
- TV - Commercials - State Farm insurance
- TV - Commercials - Target discount stores
- TV - Commercials - Tide laundry detergent
- TV - Commercials - Tropicana Orange Juice
- TV - Commercials - Ultimate TV videotaping service
- TV - Commercials - Victoria's Secret lingerie
- TV - Commercials - Vioxx osteo-arthritis medication
- TV - Commercials - Windex glass cleaner
- TV - Commercials - Zocor cholesterol medication
- TV - Commercials - Zyrtec allergy medication
- TV - Promos - "Dharma and Greg"
- TV - Promos - "Eyewitness News"
- TV - Promos - "My Wife & Kids"
- TV - Promos - "NYPD Blue"
- TV - Promos - "Once and Again"
- TV - Promos - "Oprah"
- TV - Promos - "Picture Perfect"
- TV - Promos - "Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher"
- TV - Promos - "Primetime"
- TV - Promos - "Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific" home video and soundtrack
- TV - Promos - "The Drew Carey Show"
- TV - Promos - "The Job"
- TV - Promos - "Town and Country" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "What About Joan"
CREDITS
- Michael Gore … Executive Producer
- Glenn Close … Executive Producer
- Michael Jaffe … Executive Producer
- Howard Braunstein … Executive Producer
- Lawrence D. Cohen … Executive Producer, Writer
- Christine Sacani … Producer
- Richard Pearce … Director
- James A. Michener … Based on the novel by
- Oscar Hammerstein II … Adapted from the play by
- Joshua Logan … Adapted from the play by
- Richard Rodgers … Adapted from the play by, Music by
- Paul Bogaev … Conductor
- Vincent Paterson … Choreographer
- Glenn Close … Cast, Nellie Forbush
- Harry Connick … Cast, Lt. Joseph Cable
- Sherbedgia, Rade (Rade Serbedzija) … Cast, Emile de Becque
- Jack Thompson … Cast, Captain George Brackett
- Lori Tan Chinn … Cast, Bloody Mary
- Ilene Graff … Cast, Dinah Culbert
- Natalie Mendoza … Cast, Liat
- Simon Burke … Cast, Hardison
- Steve Bastoni … Cast, Bus Adams
- Kimberley Davies … Cast, Luann
- Robert Pastorelli … Cast, Luther Billis
- Craig Ball … Cast, Austin
- Salvatore Coco … Cast, Devito
- Peter Lamb … Cast, Bruno
- John Sheerin … Cast, Dr. Benoway
- Ashley Lyons … Cast, Keller
- Henri Szeps … Cast, Benoit
- Benjamin Adams … Cast, Pilot
- Caroline Brazier … Cast, Rasa
- Dylan Currie … Cast, Lt. Ted Evans
- Matthew Dole … Cast, Forklift Operator
- Helen Dallimore … Cast, Nurse
- Marguerite DeFerranti … Cast, Nurse
- Mark Dickinson … Cast, Forklift Operator
- Jenelle Favazzo … Cast, Bev
- Sara Gleeson … Cast, Nurse
- Ilene Groff … Cast, Singing Ngama
- Pippa Grandison … Cast, Nurse
- Michael Griffiths … Cast, Crewman
- Brendan Hanson … Cast, Sailor
- David Harris … Cast, Dreamy Solo
- Damon Herriman … Cast, Professor
- Armando Hurley … Cast, Stewpot
- Simon Hyland … Cast, Tenor Marine
- Craig Ilott … Cast, Crewman
- Stephen LeMarquand … Cast, Stewpot
- Tony LePage … Cast, Crewman
- Chris Lloyds … Cast, Pilot
- Madison McKay … Cast, Seabee Johnson
- Liam McLachlan … Cast, Crewman
- Karl McMillan … Cast, Aide to Captain Brackett
- Janet Morton … Cast, Sister Marie-Clement
- Angeline Neville … Cast, Nurse
- Natalie O'Donnell … Cast, Nurse
- Leonie Page … Cast, Nurse
- Simon Pryce … Cast, Bass Sergeant
- Jacqui Rae … Cast, Nurse
- Yvette Robinson … Cast, Nurse
- Justin Smith … Cast, Forklift Operator
- Annie Starke … Cast, Singing Jerome
- Jonathan Stuart … Cast, Sailor
- Troy Sussman … Cast, Seabee
- Rodger Tavergeux … Cast, Henri
- Angela Toohey … Cast, Nurse
- Peter Tuitama … Cast, Bartender
- Capa Vendegou … Cast, Ngama
- Ketiwar Vendegou … Cast, Jerome
- Anthony Weigh … Cast, McCaffrey