This post was originally an episode of The Old Time Review Daily Podcast. In each edition, Jamie Dyer spoke off the cuff about a famous person, film or song for up to three minutes. The following is a transcription, which has been cleaned up to remove any hesitation and some repetition. Where possible, the subject has been expanded on from the original broadcast.
This is the Old Time Review Daily Podcast for the 19th of May. 2021. And this is Jamie Dyer speaking to you from the UK. Around this time in 1958, the soundtrack to South Pacific was ruling high at the top of the charts, not only in the US but in the UK as well. Now it’s important to note that in that year, 1958, the film South Pacific was released with Mitzi Gaynor, of course, and John Kerr, etc.
The other thing to take note of is the soundtrack, which was a very popular thing to do at the time with musicals, releasing them onto vinyl or record, however, you like to say it, and them being massive successes. But this one, if you look at the original soundtrack, it says it’s the soundtrack to the film, but the film itself was based on the 1949 musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein. A lot of the songs on the album are recorded by different singers to those who actually starred In the movie.
Now, as far as I know, this is a choice of the composers and It’s really to sell the songs, isn’t it? Because it’s got an amazing amount of songs on this album, many of which have crossed over into other places, like Happy Talk, Some Enchanted Evening, and There’s Nothing Like a Dame. there are so many songs in that soundtrack, and if you’ve never heard it, it is available on Spotify.
The film was made in collaboration with 20th Century Fox, which Disney now owns. I’m waiting for the day it comes to Disney+. I suspect I shall have to wait a while. In the meantime, it is often shown on TV and available on physical media.
I do recommend going to check out the soundtrack, which was riding high at this time in 1958. And that is your Old Time Review Daily for today. This is Jamie Dyer saying have a good day.
