South Pacific

Who was the cockeyed optimist who cast Glenn Close, 54, as nurse Nellie Forbush, who is supposed to be naive and "corny as Kansas in August?" Well, at least they didn't cast Britney Spears to hook the teen audience. This Disney made-for-TV production is a serviceable mounting of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical based on James Michener's WWII set Tales of the South Pacific. While Nellie's supposed May-December romance with mysterious local planter Emile de Becque (Rade Sherbedgia) doesn't work (they seem more like contemporaries), the forbidden affair between American soldier Lt. Joe Cable (Harry Connick, Jr.) and an island girl casts an exotic spell. Purists may balk at the shuffling of the song order (here, "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" sets the stage). Still, despite the considerable talent involved, this is not quite an enchanted evening, and as the sailors sing in "Bloody Mary," now ain't that too damn bad. An optional purchase. (K. Lee Benson) [DVD Review—June 4, 2019—Kino Lorber, 135 min., TV-PG, DVD: $14.99—Making its latest appearance on DVD, 2001’s South Pacific features a fine transfer and a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include audio commentary by film historian Lee Gambin, an audio interview with Gambin and costar Ilene Graff (24 min.), an 'On Location with Glenn Close' behind-the-scenes featurette (22 min.), and a deleted scene (4 min.). Bottom line: this made-for-TV musical still doesn’t hold a candle to the Rodgers and Hammerstein original.]