Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's fourth musical, South Pacific, was based on several stories in James A. Michener's book Tales of the South Pacific, specifically two that dealt with wartime romances complicated by racial issues. Lyricist and co-librettist Hammerstein explored the relationship between an older French planter with two young half-Polynesian children and a young American nurse, and between an American lieutenant and a native girl. The cultural contrasts were supported by musical ones: The score veered between lush, operatic ballads ("Some Enchanted Evening," "This Nearly Was Mine") and earthy comedic numbers ("There Is Nothin' Like a Dame," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair").
The story also allowed Rodgers & Hammerstein to portray the rough-edged, lusty character of U.S. servicemen and to present music with an exotic flavor ("Bali Ha'i"). The result was a massive hit. Opening on Broadway April 7, 1949, South Pacific ran 1,925 performances, longer than any musical before it except Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! The score was even more popular, if possible. At a time when many different record companies might put out their own covers of a popular song, "Some Enchanted Evening" was a Top Ten hit for no less than six artists, with Perry Como's version hitting number one. Margaret Whiting beat out three chart competitors for the top version of "A Wonderful Guy." But it was the original Broadway cast album that was the real blockbuster. Released at a time when record formats were changing, it came out on 78s, EPs, and an early 12" LP, and became the longest running number one hit in history. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Rodgers & Hammerstein (Composer), Rodgers & Hammerstein (Main Performer), André Kostelanetz (Conductor), André Kostelanetz (Performer), Mandy Patinkin (Performer), The London Symphony Orchestra (Performer), Richard Rodgers (Producer), José Carreras (Performer), Mary Martin (Vocals), Mary Martin (Performer), Mary Martin (Cast), Juanita Hall (Vocals), Juanita Hall (Performer), Juanita Hall (Cast), Philadelphia Orchestra (Orchestra), Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (Performer), The Ambrosian Singers (Performer), Ezio Pinza (Vocals), Ezio Pinza (Performer), Ezio Pinza (Cast), Robert Russell Bennett (Arranger), Robert Russell Bennett (Liner Notes), Robert Russell Bennett (Orchestration), Salvatore Dell'lsola (Drums), Salvatore Dell'lsola (Musical Director), Salvatore Dell'lsola (Musical Direction), Salvatore Dell'lsola (Music Direction), Didier C. Deutsch (Reissue Producer), Didier C. Deutsch (Soundtrack Reissue Producer), Lehman Engel (Conductor), Oscar Hammerstein II (Lyricist), Oscar Hammerstein II (Book), Leland Hayward (Producer), Leland Hayward (?), Goddard Lieberson (Producer), Goddard Lieberson (Soundtrack Producer), Goddard Lieberson (Original Album Producer), Fred Plaut (Engineer), Sarah Vaughan (Performer), Eugene Smith (Vocals), Eugene Smith (Cast), John Springer (Photography), Billy Tabbert (Vocals), Billy Tabbert (Cast), Mort Goode (Liner Notes), Bill Dwyer (Vocals), Bill Dwyer (Cast), Robert Waller (Engineer), Darcy Proper (Reissue Producer), Darcy Proper (Mastering), Darcy Proper (Mastering Engineer), Marc Kirkeby (Liner Notes), Marc Kirkeby (Synopsis), Jim Hawthorne (Vocals), Jim Hawthorne (Cast), Joy Gilbert (Product Manager), Jo Mielziner (Lighting), Jo Mielziner (Scenery), Mardi Bayne (Vocals), Mardi Bayne (Cast), Don Fellows (Vocals), Don Fellows (Cast), Ken Fredette (Art Direction), Ken Fredette (Design), Thomas Gleason (Vocals), Thomas Gleason (Cast), Pat Northrop (Vocals), Pat Northrop (Cast), Culver Pictures (Photography), Fred Sadoff (Vocals), Fred Sadoff (Cast), Theodore S. Chapin (Liner Notes), Chris Woehrle (Art Direction), Trude Rittmann (Arranger), Trude Rittmann (Dance Arrangement), Alan Gilbert (Vocals), Alan Gilbert (Cast), Biff McGuire (Vocals), Biff McGuire (Cast), John Swope (Photography), Billy Ferguson (Vocals), Evelyn Colby (Vocals), Evelyn Colby (Cast), Sandra Deel (Vocals), Sandra Deel (Cast), Michael DeLeon (Vocals), Michael DeLeon (?), Michael DeLeon (Cast), Noel DeLeon (Vocals), Noel DeLeon (Cast), Dickinson Eastham (Vocals), Dickinson Eastham (Cast), Richard Ferguson (Cast), Jacqueline Fisher (Vocals), Jacqueline Fisher (Cast), Jack Fontan (Vocals), Jack Fontan (Cast), Richard Loo (Vocals), Richard Loo (Cast), Roslyn Lowe (Vocals), Roslyn Lowe (Cast), Barbara Luna (Vocals), Barbara Luna (Performer), Barbara Luna (Cast), Myron McCormick (Vocals), Myron McCormick (?), Myron McCormick (Cast), Gloria Meli (Vocals), Gloria Meli (Cast), Henry Michel (Vocals), Henry Michel (Cast), James A. Michener (Adaptation), Motley (Costume Design), Alex Nicol (Vocals), Alex Nicol (Cast), Mary Ann Reeve (Vocals), Mary Ann Reeve (Cast), Betta St. John (Vocals), Betta St. John (Cast), Bernice Saunders (Vocals), Bernice Saunders (Cast), Archie Savage (Vocals), Archie Savage (Cast), Helena Schurgot (Vocals), Helena Schurgot (Cast), Richard Silvera (Vocals), Richard Silvera (Cast), Henry Slate (Vocals), Henry Slate (Cast), Harvey Stephens (Vocals), Harvey Stephens (Cast), Beau Tilden (Vocals), Beau Tilden (Cast), Robert "E.S.T." Waller (Engineer), Musa Williams (Vocals), Musa Williams (Cast), Martin Wolfson (Vocals), Martin Wolfson (Cast), Chin Yu (Vocals), Chin Yu (Cast), Eleanor Becker (Editorial Production), Joshua Logan (Director), Joshua Logan (?), Joshua Logan (Book), Joshua Logan (Staging)
![South Pacific [Original Broadway Cast]](http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/amg/pop_albums/cov200/drd300/d347/d347164q02t.jpg)
