tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post2357275596250527780..comments2024-03-23T21:46:50.843-04:00Comments on the passionate moviegoer: cinema obscura: the pre-release "South Pacific"joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-74132527743562981732018-10-28T13:10:57.405-04:002018-10-28T13:10:57.405-04:00Wonderful story, Paul! -JWonderful story, Paul! -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-60678266630742049022018-10-28T13:02:00.617-04:002018-10-28T13:02:00.617-04:00Also, Joe, I was 6 when the film was released. My ...Also, Joe, I was 6 when the film was released. My family owned shops on the boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ. Just up from my grandparents store was a movie theater which showed "roadshow" versions of films, usually one film all summer. When they showed South Pacific, they place a large stereo record player on the boardwalk in front of the theater and played the soundtrack album over and over and over.<br /><br />You could hear the music clear from the beach where I would play. So, after a couple of weeks, a 6 year old could sing every song in the film. It's one reason why I have a special memory when I see the film.<br />Paul Margulieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04357628086168148184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-23901129608939357062018-10-28T12:53:29.482-04:002018-10-28T12:53:29.482-04:00Yes, Mike, the DVD does contain the roadshow cut -...Yes, Mike, the DVD does contain the roadshow cut - or at least the regular version with the cut stuff - all faded - re-inserted. The entire film isn't faded, just the added material. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-56389170874470932862018-09-28T21:25:32.731-04:002018-09-28T21:25:32.731-04:00I seem to recall a DVD release of SP that included...I seem to recall a DVD release of SP that included a faded version of the roadshow cut as a bonus. Perhaps there are still copies out there.mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-61822564641490216242018-09-19T13:33:49.989-04:002018-09-19T13:33:49.989-04:00Joe
I worked at Sardi’s as the “celebrity” captain...Joe<br />I worked at Sardi’s as the “celebrity” captain (in other words, I took care of the prima dons and donnas). Joshua Logan came in a few times and I asked him once about that print we saw. He didn’t know it existed. He was going to check on it, but I never saw him again.<br /> <br />The answer from the Festival director was that the “discovered” print is what’s on the Blu-ray Disc 2. Not what we saw. <br /> <br />This is going to end up as our own Rosebud.Paul Margulieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04357628086168148184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-50037019337645832682018-09-19T12:56:41.523-04:002018-09-19T12:56:41.523-04:00Wow! What a year that was. We did much the same th...Wow! What a year that was. We did much the same thing in Sydney in 1974 with roadshow musicals. When I saw the "South Pacific" title card, I nearly fainted. Yeah, what a year.Brennannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-30939556215699354362018-09-18T19:21:38.480-04:002018-09-18T19:21:38.480-04:00I just saw this on a large theater screen as part ...I just saw this on a large theater screen as part of some ' oldies but goodies' films show at the Cinemark theaters, presumably wherever they are located, and have to admit, it;s still one of my all time favorite musicals, the others two being ' Singin' in the Rain' and ' West Side Story', and yes, I will also add ' Band Wagon'.........Waltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-61440190165660075342018-09-18T18:59:17.701-04:002018-09-18T18:59:17.701-04:00Paul- If "My Girl Back Home" was not in ...Paul- If "My Girl Back Home" was not in the print of "South Pacific" that we saw in '79, it kind of makes sense, given that the version we saw was planned to faithfully follow the original stage musical. Fact is "My Girl Back Home" was not in the play. It was added to the film, presumably so that Rodger and Hammerstein could qualify for a "best original song" Oscar nomination. At some point, it was decided by the powers not to replicate the play and so the opening numbers were re-arranged and "My Girl Back Home" - perhaps filmed with the idea that it might never be used - was added for the film's release. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-73348486722584962112018-09-18T14:57:13.621-04:002018-09-18T14:57:13.621-04:00Joe,
I remember being vexed that "My Girl Ba...Joe, <br />I remember being vexed that "My Girl Back Home" was not in the print we saw.<br /><br />I'm currently doing a bit of research about the version that was "discovered" in a collector's closet and subsequently shown in Bradford, England at the 2005 Widescreen Weekend festival I'll let you know what I come up with. But, since that print was subsequently shipped to California to use for the blu-ray/dvd release, I don't think it's the version we saw. (I just skimmed the blu-ray to check the order on the "roadshow" disc.<br />Paul Margulieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04357628086168148184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-37592927987349283062018-09-18T10:28:36.589-04:002018-09-18T10:28:36.589-04:00You know, Brian, I can't fully recall but &quo...You know, Brian, I can't fully recall but "My Girl Back Home" might have been missing from the print I saw in New York in '79. Not sure. I'll have to check with Paul M. Paul are you there? -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-20371243815829712222018-09-18T09:09:46.586-04:002018-09-18T09:09:46.586-04:00To Kevin Barry- Re, the "My Girl Back Home&qu...To Kevin Barry- Re, the "My Girl Back Home" number, I believe that it was the only song removed from the "European" version of the film that I mentioned in my previous post.Brian Lucasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-64450134807667897802018-09-18T08:26:19.772-04:002018-09-18T08:26:19.772-04:00Kevin- Small world. I also saw "It's a Ma...Kevin- Small world. I also saw "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" at the Warner Cinerama. Sid Caesar was there and he was signing everyone's souvenir program, including mine. I still have it. Funny, every time I tell someone my "South Pacific" story, I identify the theater in question as the Warner Cinerama, forgetting that, at one point, it was sold to RKO. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-83965301267527212882018-09-18T08:19:08.846-04:002018-09-18T08:19:08.846-04:00Joe, you jogged my memory once again. I remember t...Joe, you jogged my memory once again. I remember that musical series well. It was at what was once the Warner Cinerama (and was called The Strand before that). I also saw It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World and Grand Prix there, and George Stevens' Greatest Story Ever Told when it ran over 4 hours!). I always thought the film version of South Pacific got a bum rap from critics. It is gorgeous to look at and listen to (It does wobble in the last 30 minutes but recovers for that final glorious crane shot that gives me chills). The duet between John Kerr and Mitzi Gaynor - My Girl Back Home - is a favorite moment, beautifully touching. I am also puzzled by a generation that will swoon over music videos and shows like Glee, yet complain that the singing in old movie musicals is unreal and corny. It displays an embarrassing cultural ignorance of an art form that is a specifically American contribution. You've got to be carefully taught, I guess.Kevin Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16951372389921640120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-59129424168263752362018-09-18T06:39:06.070-04:002018-09-18T06:39:06.070-04:00Thanks for the info and the links, Paul. And, yes,...Thanks for the info and the links, Paul. And, yes, we did see the film that day together, but, no, it was not at the Rivoli. It was indeed the RKO Cinerama. I even ran the ad for the series along with my essay! Ralph found an old Todd-AO projector and had it installed in the theater for both “Oklahoma!” and “South Pacific” for the occasion, and I vaguely recall him saying that he got it from the Rivoli. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-55765103059319694282018-09-18T02:37:10.344-04:002018-09-18T02:37:10.344-04:00As I recall, I was sitting next to you at that sho...As I recall, I was sitting next to you at that show and it was at the Rivoli, but I recall it as just being in 70mm, but shown on their old curved Cinerama screen. The only theater that had shown Todd-AO was the Rivoli, and that's where the premiere of the film was.<br /><br />But, the Cinerama (which was around the corner from my apartment), at least had the deep curve screen from its Cinerama (3-strip) days. <br /><br />There's a really wonderful website which will give you some further info, including a memo from Logan regarding the filters.<br /><br />For those of you who are Cinerama fans, if you can manage to be in Bradford, England on Saturday, October 13 @9am, you can get to see an original 3-strip Cinerama screening of How the West Was Won<br /><br />Here are the links:<br />http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/widescreen/wingto11.htm<br /><br />https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/widescreen-weekend/how-west-was-wonPaul Margulieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04357628086168148184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-36031869764072257242018-09-17T22:41:49.111-04:002018-09-17T22:41:49.111-04:00Connie- I'm reluctant to challenge you, but ev...Connie- I'm reluctant to challenge you, but even the souvenir program has an editor's note referring to the trimming of the song. I've seen the film more times than I care to admit and the song is always truncated.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-67394256776647968192018-09-17T22:38:42.889-04:002018-09-17T22:38:42.889-04:00When I first saw the movie decades ago (!), the se...When I first saw the movie decades ago (!), the second verse of "I'm gonna wash that man right out of m hair" was included. I remember the theater manager, who was a friend, commenting that a new print was coming in and the notes said that the song would be shortened.<br />Connienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-46301417516005909752018-09-17T22:19:13.664-04:002018-09-17T22:19:13.664-04:00Brian! Thanks much for the added info. Interestin...Brian! Thanks much for the added info. Interesting that Logan's original cut made it into the European marketsjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-34002704767030302922018-09-17T22:06:37.243-04:002018-09-17T22:06:37.243-04:00Joe- I don't know if your DVD has the same com...Joe- I don't know if your DVD has the same commentary on the roadshow disc as the Blu Ray that I own, but the commentator mentions that "the European release" of the roadshow version was in the same running order as the show, and that the souvenir book sold at the showings, as you mention, had the songs in the "Broadway" order.<br /><br /><br /><br />Brian Lucasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-83286080254032519092018-09-17T21:50:09.946-04:002018-09-17T21:50:09.946-04:00Logan himself wrote that he wanted the filters rem...Logan himself wrote that he wanted the filters removed:<br /><br />"When [Logan] asked to have them removed, he found out that it couldn't be done in time to meet the film's bookings, so it went out with the tinting. In his memoirs, he would write that he wanted to picket each showing of the film with a sign reading, "I DIRECTED IT, AND I DON'T LIKE THE COLOR EITHER!" <br />Mark M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-9623808382358330982018-09-17T21:32:44.272-04:002018-09-17T21:32:44.272-04:00Jim- To the best of my knowledge, the filters were...Jim- To the best of my knowledge, the filters were completely Joshua Logan's idea.<br /><br />The cinematographer, the great Leon Shamroy, strongly advised against them because once the movie was filmed through the filters, the look was permanent. The appearance of the film couldn't be changed. Shamroy suggested tinting the film in post-production instead, but Logan was adamant. He wanted the filters.<br /><br />Logan claiming that he asked Fox to "remove" the filters frankly doesn't make sense. Even if Fox agreed with him, it simply couldn't be done, as far as I know. Both Fox and Logan were stuck with the coloring that the filters provided. <br /><br />Personally, I can't understand why critics of the film continue to complain about the filters. They work perfectly fine, putting the audience in the mood for a musical number. It was a very creative idea and, given that most audiences are uncomfortable when characters in a film suddenly burst into song, I'm surprised it hasn't been used more often, as it "prepares" the viewer for a song.<br /><br />BTW, for me, the nighttime sequence prior to the film's intermission is gorgeous because the filter used by Shamroy gave the scene a black-&-white look. Very dramatic.<br /><br />Anyway, based on the info that you have, it sounds as if Logan was trying to save face and placate his critics. Instead, he should have stood behind his gutsy decision. He should have been proud of his experiment.<br />joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-49797878959044102722018-09-17T21:18:44.623-04:002018-09-17T21:18:44.623-04:00Since we're talking about alternate versions o...Since we're talking about alternate versions of "South Pacific," I remember reading that there was a debate during the recent restoration of "South Pacific" whether the colored filters used to add "mood" to the musical numbers should be removed. The filters were distracting to most critics at the time of release and they colored (no pun intended) in a negative way people's opinions of the film. The restorers ultimately decided to leave the filters in place because they were part of the film's history.<br /><br />I was sorry to read that this decision had been made. Director Joshua Logan had himself asked Fox to remove the filters AFTER initial exhibitions of the movie had taken place because he felt their inclusion had ruined the film. Fox had refused to remove them at the time on the grounds that it would have been too expensive to withdrawal the film and then re-release it in a different version. Logan spent the rest of his life apologizing for the use of the filters whenever the film was mentioned.<br /><br />With all the attention given today to director's cuts of films that had been altered by their studios, shouldn't we also have a version of "South Pacific" that conforms to the director's final wishes?<br />Jimnoreply@blogger.com