The 1958 film adaptation of the musical play “South Pacific,” based on stories in James A. Michener’s book “Tales of the South Pacific,” with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, was filmed on Kaua‘i during August
The 1958 film adaptation of the musical play “South Pacific,” based on stories in James A. Michener’s book “Tales of the South Pacific,” with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, was filmed on Kaua‘i during August through early October of 1957.
Kaua‘i became the setting of an imaginary South Seas island located in the Pacific during World War II, where an American nurse and a wealthy French planter have a romantic affair and a Marine lieutenant falls in love with a beautiful Vietnamese girl on nearby Bali Hai, which was portrayed by the real-life island of Tioman in Malaysia.
Rossano Brazzi was the French planter and Mitzi Gaynor was the American nurse. John Kerr and France Nuyen made a perfect match as Lt. Cable and Liat. Juanita Hall played the role of Bloody Mary, a souvenir seller and Liat’s mother.
Filmed at Ha‘ena, Lumaha‘i Beach, Hanalei, Kilauea, Valley House in Keapana, Coco Palms, Barking Sands, Kalapaki and Allerton Gardens, many locals had parts in the movie. Among them were Anna Faye James, who’d performed in the Honolulu Community Theater’s stage production of “South Pacific,” and Deborah Wilcox, both of whom found parts as dancers.
French planter parts went to Mr. and Mrs. Sam Wilcox and Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Ellis. Charles Kawaihalau, William Brede and Joseph Kahaunaele played island warriors.
David Penhallow, George Huddy and Ethel Carvalho served as stand-ins for John Kerr, Rossano Brazzi and Mitzi Gaynor respectively.
Mr. and Mrs. Holbrook Goodale became extras in a party scene in the Birkmyre home above Hanalei. Musicians and servants in the same scene included Sam, Ezra and Asa Pa, Jeremiah Kaialoa, William Brede, Louis Beralas, Charles Kawaihalau and Abraham Kawaihalau.
