I cannot remember a time when music and movies where not a part of my life. Often when I was a child and teenager the songs I loved came from the musicals.
1963 – South Africa – South Pacific – Younger Than Spingtime and I’m Going To Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair.
With my brother in our school uniforms Cape Town.
When we lived in Cape Town, my father was stationed at the Royal Naval base at Simon’s Town . In addition to his duties in communications and weaponry..he was also the station film officer, making sure that there was a steady supply of entertainment for both those living on the station and the families who lived off base. This included the Saturday kids club which my brother and I would be taken too each week and also enabled my father to bring home certain films to show friends and neighbours after Saturday night dinner parties.
We where sent to bed with promises of left overs for breakfast… a treat not to be missed, especially when it was some of my mother’s strawberry shortcake dessert. However, I loved movies and as soon as the guests were settled, and I heard the projector whirring in the background, I would creep up the darkened corridor and sit with my back to the front door watching the screen that had been erected at the far end of the room through the slightly opened lounge door. In those days most people smoked and some ventilation was required.
My parents love musicals as well as Hitchcock thrillers, so I did see some films that were not always PG… but South Pacific was one I immediately fell in love with. Luckily for me, the guest W.C was through the dining room and next to the kitchen, which meant I was largely undisturbed in my lookout.
I have seen the film many times since and when my mother became more forgetful, we would enjoy a good sing along and reminisce about those fun days. There is one song that is guaranteed to get the tears flowing, and that is Younger than Springtime, and I had a crush on Lieutenant Cable (John Kerr) for many years…I did not know, nor care that his voice was actually dubbed by Bill Lee of the The Mellomen
South Pacific is a 1958 American romantic musical film based on the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, which in turn is based on James A. Michener’s short-story collection Tales of the South Pacific. The film, directed by Joshua Logan, stars Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr and Ray Walston in the leading roles with Juanita Hall as Bloody Mary, the part that she had played in the original stage production. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning the Academy Award for Best Sound for Fred Hynes. Wikipedia
Here is Younger than Springtime.one of the beautiful tracks from the film..sung by one of my favourite actors and tenors – Julian Ovenden with the John Wilson Orchestra
And here is one of the fun clips and songs from the movie… with Mitzi Gaynor.. I’m Gonna Wash that Man right out of my hair…thanks to Rodgers & Hammerstein
You can buy or rent South Pacific: Amazon US
And: Amazon UK
I hope you have enjoyed this musical interlude and more in a couple of weeks….thanks Sally.
Loved this, Sally! 😍❤️
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I remember this well, Sally, because I’m a fan of South Pacific as well. What memories! Thanks for sharing them with us!
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Thanks Olga very happy I can still remember them!!! hugsxx
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I love, love musicals, and South Pacific is still my favorite!!
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There isn’t a song in the musical I don’t love thanks Jennie..hugsx
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Me, too!!
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Terrific, relatable memories!
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Thanks very much Annette..hugsx
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Such wonderful memories, Sally. I love South Pacific – a fantastic musical, with incredible music, a great and dramatic story, and wonderful romances. Toni x
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Thanks Toni.. and I still get out from time to time for a little good old fashioned indulgence.. and a good cry..♥♥
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Oh sorry. Thanks for South Pacific. I finally caught up with the musical scene and even got to play Jigger Kragen in Carosol in Connecticut theater.
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LIke David my first encounter with a musical was West Side Story. I couldn’t get enough of it .I went to performances and saw the movie. I had a big-time crush on Natalie Wood as a result.
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West Side Story coming up next week John.. with my favourite song Maria again sung by Julian Ovenden.. funnily enough I used to go around singing I Want to Be in America.. and 25 years later I was…perhaps that how wishes work.. repeat them until the universe gets fed up and gives it to you lol..xxx
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Great strategy. I’ll have to try it. Of course, 25 years of bugging the universe is not in the cards at this point.
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Never say never John… hugsxxx
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😁
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Bringing back memories of good times! Thank you.
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Thanks very much Barbara..hugsx
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What another great remembrance, Sally! Thank you for sharing. I think i have to read some times more, and watching the very interesting vidclips too. xx Michael
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks so much Michael for sharing my memories..hugsxxx
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To be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of musicals, but heard the album of South Pacific a lot as a kid – Mum loved it! And who knew that Julian Ovenden has such a wonderful voice: I didn’t get any clue to that when watching him in Foyle’s War!
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Thanks Clive… it is stunning and I there is a wonderful selection on YouTube.. he was also very good in Downton Abbey and Knightfall
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I’ll have to seek those out, as he’s well worth further listening. I agree on Downton but haven’t seen Knightfall. He has also made several guest appearances in other shows – I think he may have been in Death In Paradise, but most actors have!
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I think it is a useful gig if you need a break from the UK weather… a few weeks in Paradise, I suspect they would be happy to pay for the privilege ..
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I can think of worse jobs!
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me too….
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I enjoy musicals too Sally and encouraged my daughters towards performing arts. My eldest Natasha still loves musicals and has a beautiful singing voice. 🙂
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That’s wonderful Marje and it builds confidence across so many other situations in life..hugsxx
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Don’t.. It doesn’t bear thinking about sometimes.. Xxx
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Loved that shampoo commercial and the musical…Thank you for the trip down memory lane…Hugs xx
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Thanks very much Carol.. hard to believe nearly 60 years lol.. ♥
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As a youngster I’d grimace if anyone suggested watching a musical. It wasn’t that I didn’t like specific songs but I couldn’t get my head round anyone singing their lines. I must have been around 14 when I got my first record player and I can remember my first two singles were I got you babe by Sonny and Cher and Eve of destruction by Barry Maguire (which my mother liked). On my birthday a neighbour gave me a copy of West Side Story which in a moment of absolute boredom I played. Once I heard Maria, and There’s a place for us I was hooked, and remained so when I heard them sung by P.J.Proby whom I thought was better than Elvis. I found the one and only musical film I could watch too. I was able to listen to Songs from the shows at any time or film soundtracks with no (or few) grimaces, but here was a musical I could sit through. Nothing has changed and for me those are the best two songs ever to come from a musical.
Hugs Galore
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Thanks David and I have always found those two songs haunting and Julian Ovenden also sings Maria.. which is stunning and I share West Side Story next week with his version.. I wanted to be in the hollywood musicals but by the time I was in my teens they were fading out…xxxhugsxxx
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You had excellent taste at 14 – both of those singles are favourites of mine! I saw West Side Story when on a school exchange visit to France and (to my enormous relief) it was subtitled rather than dubbed. I fell in love with the film and with George Chakiris…
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I bet he didn’t play Officer Kripke then. How many women would have come out and said “Wasn’t Kripke gorgeous?” About the same number as picked me probably, your friendly neighbourhood Dracula,
Huge Hugs
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I love musicals. The two excerpts remind me of simpler times. Thankfully, these melodies never grow old. Thank you, Sally!
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Thank you Marian delighted to take you down Memory Lane..hugsx
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Loved this Sal. And you and me as kids, so much the same – inquisitive and crafty. I used to hide behind a hallway wall and listen to my parents fight so I could know if my dad would be leaving again. And so that’s where you got your love for musicals. Now I know where that shampoo commercial ad came from lol. ❤
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Glad you enjoyed.. South Pacific had so many wonderful songs and I knew all the words and would sing them in the back of the car..and my parents had no idea where I could have heard them!!! Nearly gave the game away lol.. ♥
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Lolllllllllllllllllllll so funny. ❤
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♥♥
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I listened to both songs. They remind me so much of my mother. She dearly loved “South Pacific” and played the album regularly when I was growing up.
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A lady with great taste then Liz.. I still find myself singing the songs and I watched the film again last year when we were going through the musicals again.. cried more tears over lieutenant Cable…xxx
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My hubsand and I cry over sad movies as an enjoyable pastime.
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I will admit to the same.. my husband gets pollen in his eyes at critical times. ! xx
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🙂
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So did my mom!
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When I was about eight I lived in Eccles, near Manchester, and two of my friends were in the stage version of South Pacific. They taught me Dites-moi and Happy Talk with all the actions, plus some of the other songs, too. I loved the melody of Younger than Springtime but the words didn’t mean much to me then. I’ve enjoyed revisiting these today – thanks! xx
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That was a great way to discover the musical Alex and I didn’t quite get the Younger than Springtime nuances either until I was older… but stands out as one of the most romantic moments in film for me…hugsxx
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