I've never understood why this movie, and none other I've seen, used this ridiculous color filtration. It's not just TV, and unlike "Fantasia" and some other films and cartoons of the period, it doesn't fit in to the LSD experiments of the era.
I've been haunted by this glorious melody ever since I reluctantly ( ! ) went to see the film with my parents when it was released.Timeless and simply beautiful.
-Saw this wonderful film when very young. If I've had half Juanita Hall's presence as an actress, that's alright with me. - Bali Ha'i is my dream place and the song magical.
I’m sure all of us have at one time or another let our minds drift to that far away isle in the South Pacific, where beauty and tranquillity intertwine, the South Pacific - that region of the earth that is truly pacific (peaceful). This clip is a tribute to that vibe.
@RandomPersonman - Yeah, some actors really need to be dubbed (did you ever see the movie version of Mamma Mia?) -- but Juanita Hall did NOT need to be dubbed. Sometimes film producers or movie studios think too much of their intelligence.
the filters just ruined it for me. The producers must not have had enough faith in the beautiful on location scenery, so they had to f--- it up with camera gadgetry. Trying to give a 'mood' when it was already there!!! Luckily the beautiful songs are in place.
@windstorm1000 - Hollywood went a bit crazy with garish color in the 1950's (especially in in comedies and musicals). They were competing to survive against TV which was mostly black-and-white then, and were practically yelling at the audience "LOOK AT ALL OUR COLORS!!"
To be honest, the first time I heard this song, I felt completely spellbound by the colors and the lyrics. The island itself in the island is like tempting you to go there.
I read somewhere that this movie was shot in Tioman Island, Malaysia. If you ever check out this tropical paradise, don't forget to visit also nearby Singapore where it is paradise to live, work and play. :-)
Roger & Hammerstein did a wonderful job on the musical numbers but the musical's score was written and arranged by Alfred Newman and if you like this you should check out his other stuff. BTW, when i was watching the movie today on TCM i was wondering if the would ever go to that island.
I found this record when I was like 6 years old in my mothers things... and found the South Pacific Record... I listened to that thing so much - I wore out the vinyl... and here 34 years later... Bali Hai...LOL - Cool ;) I'm not into musicals really - but this one - takes the cake! :)
One thing i thought was funny, was when she first met the marine, he tells her he's a lieutinet, and she says "lieutinet...You sexy man!" LOL!! I'm currently in the Navy, and when we were in france recently a woman at a bar said the same thing to me, only I'm a seaman(e-3), not an officer.
Still sounds like they're singing about Ballyheigue (a seaside resort in Co. Kerry, Ireland), even after all these years. Never fails to make me laugh :)
The movie was filmed entirely on Pulau Tioman in the South China Sea off the east coast of Malaysia. We spent a vacation there. Loved it. It's still only a little developed. You can actually visit Happy Talk Falls at the south end of the island.
Interesting--the dub voice was that of Muriel Smith, another African American singer and actor, born in NY, who was living in London. Rogers & Hammerstein chose her voice (she'd appeared in the London version as Bloody Mary), so maybe they just liked her voice better than that of Juanita Hall for some reason. ?
Why was she dubbed, she won a freaking Tony for originating that role.. clearly she can sing the song perfectly... and we know musical theatre actors can easily transition to screen (and not so much the other way around...)
@WWEQAF - Only Mitzi Gaynor and Ray Walston weren't dubbed. It's a mystery to me. There were so many questionable things about this production, it could have been so much better. The dubbing was needless and the weird color-filtering was annoying to say the least.
However it was from Rodgers and Hammerstein. They were on such a hot run that no matter what a studio did, their films like this one were guaranteed box office gold.
Oh my do I love this song and do I love this musical "South Pacific". I was 13 yrs old when SP came to the screen and I was enchanted the first time I saw it. I was so fortunate this past November (2009) to see the revival Broadway version of South Pacific from Lincoln Center. It played in Chicago for just a few short days (I don't know why); but I got a single ticket and cried many times and was just filled with all the emotion that this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical emotes.
The movie version was very good but the Broadway version was spectacular. i can only imagine what the original production was like with the great Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin. When a considerable number of the audience had actually served in the Pacific. It was a time when America usually accomplished what it set out to do.
Geez, I was ten years old when I saw this. From that movie and especially this song, I knew there would be great joy, and that the sadness of the time would soon be over. There was hope. Juanita Halls' voice will forever be beautiful and suggest there is joy just with another ocean breez. Many many thanks for posting this! I have been waiting for years and years......Now there is Joy once mre!
FYI - Muriel Smith, who sings the vocals for Juanita Hall in this film, played the part of Aicha in John Houston's 1952 film "Moulin Rouge" and sang the vocals for Zsa Zsa Gabor in that film as well.
janellorozco, that is a very touching story; I'm glad you found this beautiful song... yes you have to see the film; This was the first musical I saw and one of the best...
spent 9 months on yap island in the marianas islands in the navy ,seabees in which the seabees are in this movie, my heart aches because the people of the islands are so much like the movie. the best days of my life.
@camarorider67: While the average range of a baritone and tenor are close, it's all about the timbre and sound quality of what you produce. For example, I find my chest and head voice breaking between each other around C to D, whereas a tenor would break around F or G. In short, listen to a few songs a tenor is singing and a baritone is singing. If you can't hum it, so says Luciano Pavarotti, you may not be able to sing it. ;)
So CLASSIC...I sing this all the time was about 5 when I saw the movie and subconciously rememberr all the tunes...perhaps readying myself for a move to the South Pacific?
I first heard this back in the 60's as a child watching "Captain Kangaroo". LOL It was on some skit they did, since then I've always liked it, I finally saw the movie in the '80's and thought "oh THATS where the song came from". And I had no idea that lady was Black - I thought she was a Pacific Islander. I still like this song alot.
Then somewhere on this site - a person posted the video saying that the original actress and vocals was by a black woman. Personally, even though I'm african american, I don't care if she was a Martian, I still like the song and the clip. I also thought she may have been either Black, Hawaiian, or Tongan
@cnote4461 I agree cnote, I wouldn't care if she was a Martian either but since so many people of color go unheralded for their contributions to so many fields I think it's worth noting that Juanita Hall who played the part both on stage (where she did her own singing) and in the film was an African American woman from Keyport, New Jersey. The woman who did the vocals in the film was Muriel Smith, another African American woman from New York City.
@cnote4461 In case you don't see my other post, Muriel Smith also played the part of Aicha, the black can-can dancer in John Houston's 1952 film "Moulin Rouge" where she also did the vocals for the songs performed by Zsa Zsa Gabor.
@OPortifoy ......hahahaha, yes you are most certainly correct and I made a typing mistake knowing she was African American and I guess I was focused on 13 Mexican workers who I was watching dig my new pool and wrote Mexican by mistake so thank you very much for catching that Sir....I loved Juanita and she was a jersey gal but with no accent like those easterners...LOL
I'm using Bali Hai in a play about my childhood sweetheart .We both were romantics, It ended when her father forbid his Polish daughter to see her Jewish boyfriend (me). In the play I am grown up, visiting Bali Hai, telling my story to Emile. Since her father had been taught prejudice. I also sing Carefully Taught.
Es Vedra rock structure in Ibiza - more than a ` passing resemblance`! - and yes, South Pacific was filmed at various locations in Ibiza - visited them, but ` Bali Hai` will live in my memory forever - I was only 6 years old when the film was released, have viewed it numerous times, plus listened to the OST on vinyl!Haunting music!
yeah, my mother trouped us up; to NYC to see an afternoon matinee when I was a kid. my younger brother came too. this is one of the songs that made a big impact on my back then. FT
I had forgotten this woman's, [Juanita Hall], beautiful voice. I have the original record album of South Pacific. I wonder how Susan Boyle would sing it?
But this is not Juanita Hall's voice - it is Muriel Smith's. To hear Juanita sing it, click on my video response above. I also have info there as to why she was dubbed.
Juanita Hall was a black performer on Broadyway and in movies. She sang in the original 1949 South Pacific and the album. Her voice was dubbed in the 1958 movie. I have the original South Pacific album.
Yes, I'm aware of that. Did you watch my video response that I mentioned in my note? I've restored her voice and told the story of why she was dubbed.
Richard Rodgers slaved over every song he wrote. But according to one story Bali Hai was an exception: It came to him out of the blue and he wrote it on a tablecloth !
So happy I found this, My mom used to sing it to me as a lullaby, sadly she was taken from me when she was a mere 35yrs old, maybe she found her island too :) anyways I have surpassed her in age now but I sang this to my children as a lullaby but never had heard the original. Wow .. Now I am going to have to watch the movie. Thanks for putting it on here and brighting my day!
Wow Janellorozco, I'm sorry for your loss, but upon thinking about it, this would make a nice lullaby. Just remember that you will always have the memory of your mother singing this to you, and you even established a wonderful tradition by singing it to your children.
janellorozco, that is a very touching story; I'm glad you found this beautiful song... yes you have to see the film; This was the first musical I saw and one of the best...
@janellorozco janellorozco, that is a very touching story; I'm glad you found this beautiful song... yes you have to see the film; This was the first musical I saw and one of the best...
@janellorozco Its a lovely song, and you have a lovely connection to it. Happy you got to see the clip.... rent the move, its great. Best Wishes. :-)
Once I heard Juanita Hall's own voice in the stage version recording. I remember that she sounded rather hoarse than what we hear in this clip. I wonder why she needed to be dubbed in the film version of "South Pacific".
Does anyone know this musical was based on James Mitchner's novel - Tales of the South Pacific - the two love stories were used in the movie.. This is the best version - the original from 1958..
I agree... sometimes the clor was overkill and made the film itself... different. But, on the other hand, this song works well for the color, I think.
I saw this film when I was 8 and living in Sheffield. I never quite got got over this song the drifting smoke, the sun tanned bodies, the blue sky and palm trees and the Todd-ao widescreen and colour blend during the musical numbers. Exotic. Most certainly and that distant island where you just have to go to experience it for yourself. Particularly enhanced by Juanita Hall's bizarre character and the background choir of disembodied spirit voices. And the sea was as warm as it looked on film.
Bali Hai is based on the real island of Ambae. It is located in Vanuatu. Ambae is visible on the horizon from Espiritu Santo island. In the 1958 film, Bali Ha'i is portrayed by the real-life island of Tioman. The film, however, was shot on-location on the north shore of Kauaʻi, Hawaii. Lumahai Beach, was where Nellie sings "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy". Tunnel's Beach is often referred to as "Nurse's Beach" and the scene where Bloody Mary sings of Bali Ha'i takes place on Hanalei Bay
OMG. I am not even CLOSE to singing like her. Damn Vocal Federation.. UGHH
415SamoanBeauty 11 hours ago
Wonderful use of color, the people who need this film to look "normal" are bores.
darlinkula1 1 month ago 4
Spectacular
RoadkilIerCop 2 months ago
;-)
RoadkilIerCop 2 months ago
This scene was filmed on a beach in Kauai called Lumahai beach. I was so excited to be there with my new wife. We loved the movie.
goodtogonow3 3 months ago
The woman singing this looks so sad and blue.
IthoSmith9 3 months ago
I personally love the filtering.
christineonthecoast 3 months ago
Comment removed
honorius1146 3 months ago
This was the song of this movie that I always looked forward to hearing.
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Some enchanted evening.
.
and younger than springtime, back when musicals were musicals.
.
And guys had normal bodies not all ripped with steroids. These guys look like they did push-ups and sit-ups like we did in the 1960's in gym.
.
Men need to get back in shape like this again, do it guys!
pompom11 4 months ago
I've never understood why this movie, and none other I've seen, used this ridiculous color filtration. It's not just TV, and unlike "Fantasia" and some other films and cartoons of the period, it doesn't fit in to the LSD experiments of the era.
LurlineAtAnchor 4 months ago
and im on isle of wight. I`d swap anyday
johnbarry007 4 months ago 2
i think its lovely, looks so much nicer than here
johnbarry007 4 months ago
Luv South Pacific-Bali Hai
jungjung46 4 months ago in playlist Ave Maria, Bali Hi
I have the original 78 records of this sound track but no way to play it
bubblesfindlay 5 months ago
oh, look. It's saxy lutellan
thetimelady42 5 months ago 2
I've been haunted by this glorious melody ever since I reluctantly ( ! ) went to see the film with my parents when it was released.Timeless and simply beautiful.
flammasherman 5 months ago
Chills!!!!
dylantiger2 6 months ago
i dont know... it seems kind of dull. maybe they should add some color? it seems pretty gray as it is
jfalconi3 6 months ago
Hi from Bali :)
ferdifeather 6 months ago
Priceless music....
fjbutch 6 months ago
-Saw this wonderful film when very young. If I've had half Juanita Hall's presence as an actress, that's alright with me. - Bali Ha'i is my dream place and the song magical.
Josie5100 6 months ago
I’m sure all of us have at one time or another let our minds drift to that far away isle in the South Pacific, where beauty and tranquillity intertwine, the South Pacific - that region of the earth that is truly pacific (peaceful). This clip is a tribute to that vibe.
philmartellus 7 months ago
@philmartellus Well said. Bali Ha'i is one of the greatest melodies of the 20th century.
selatik1 4 months ago 2
Way to much color film. I wish there could be a new version with it color.
dahsuerk 8 months ago
so screwed for my music exam tomorrow...
TheCiclid 8 months ago
no one ever watches this shit! i dnt think shes an islander might be some light skined fijian
SIRCORALEONE 8 months ago
@SIRCORALEONE You've been on the planet since smoko yesterday and you reckon nobody likes this...''.get your hand off it''.....
fjbutch 6 months ago
OH MY o.o i remember this song!! hahah, such a long time wow
kitttykat248 8 months ago
When I was a kid I saw South Pacific. This song haunted me. Amazingly beautiful. It gave me chills and still does...
46skyward 8 months ago 2
This song has eternal magic.
tnekkc 9 months ago
Has anyone else noticed that the melody of this is a direct lift from the Bride's Theme from Bride of Frankenstein?
CallumJStewart 9 months ago
This particular scene was filmed on the North Shore of Kauai. Hanalei area.
JWHusby 9 months ago 3
@Theseriousjoker13 - Cool!
cooper79jeffr 10 months ago
im just confused as to why they would dub the real deal
RandomPersonman 10 months ago
@RandomPersonman - Yeah, some actors really need to be dubbed (did you ever see the movie version of Mamma Mia?) -- but Juanita Hall did NOT need to be dubbed. Sometimes film producers or movie studios think too much of their intelligence.
cooper79jeffr 10 months ago
this song is so haunting--I've always loved it....I think we all look for a island to get away from life's many worries.
windstorm1000 11 months ago
the filters just ruined it for me. The producers must not have had enough faith in the beautiful on location scenery, so they had to f--- it up with camera gadgetry. Trying to give a 'mood' when it was already there!!! Luckily the beautiful songs are in place.
windstorm1000 11 months ago
@windstorm1000 - Hollywood went a bit crazy with garish color in the 1950's (especially in in comedies and musicals). They were competing to survive against TV which was mostly black-and-white then, and were practically yelling at the audience "LOOK AT ALL OUR COLORS!!"
cooper79jeffr 11 months ago 19
@cooper79jeffr and they called it "Technicolour" *D
DonnaSunAgain 1 month ago
can't stop watching it... beautiful !!!!!!!!!!
fjbutch 1 year ago
To be honest, the first time I heard this song, I felt completely spellbound by the colors and the lyrics. The island itself in the island is like tempting you to go there.
darthstarkiller1912 1 year ago
I read somewhere that this movie was shot in Tioman Island, Malaysia. If you ever check out this tropical paradise, don't forget to visit also nearby Singapore where it is paradise to live, work and play. :-)
achahei 1 year ago
@achahei It was shot in Tahiti. I know a lady from several years ago who had a relative in the movie & said alot was in Tahiti.
BBBYpsi 1 year ago
@achahei Actually this was filmed on the Hawaiian island of Oahu according to a documentary...
Sugarbehr1967 10 months ago
Talk about spellbound, that was beautiful. The way the fella was mesmorised throughout the song. Magical ...
fjbutch 1 year ago
Roger & Hammerstein did a wonderful job on the musical numbers but the musical's score was written and arranged by Alfred Newman and if you like this you should check out his other stuff. BTW, when i was watching the movie today on TCM i was wondering if the would ever go to that island.
EthanOberlin 1 year ago
OMG! SHEER NOSTALGIA!
Cris1949 1 year ago
enchanted song and magical singing!!
fl0ryan 1 year ago 2
they did that for the movie he lighting idk y but they did. but god doesnt that woman have a amazing voice?
tropedotropedo 1 year ago
Cool lady who sings this.
AlohaFromANaniWahine 1 year ago
What's up with the lighting?
solshine26 1 year ago
I love this song so much!!
NiCHOLASJONASLUV3R 1 year ago
やっぱり、これぞ、バリハイ！ まさに魅惑の島 ばぁちゃん怪しい(;¬_¬)
tuiteruaiai5 1 year ago
I found this record when I was like 6 years old in my mothers things... and found the South Pacific Record... I listened to that thing so much - I wore out the vinyl... and here 34 years later... Bali Hai...LOL - Cool ;) I'm not into musicals really - but this one - takes the cake! :)
JegasLLC 1 year ago
Just saw the Broadway production of this yesterday. Omg, I forgot how amazing this song was!!
MedicineMan1226 1 year ago
Manhattan?
ancientinfant 1 year ago
I'm singing this song for my audition piece for Oklahoma!, and I'm ready for it.
norgeskuespiller19 1 year ago
@norgeskuespiller19 Hope your audition went well! I'm considering this and Little Mermaid's 'Poor Unfortunate Souls'.
Blackthorne369 1 year ago
One thing i thought was funny, was when she first met the marine, he tells her he's a lieutinet, and she says "lieutinet...You sexy man!" LOL!! I'm currently in the Navy, and when we were in france recently a woman at a bar said the same thing to me, only I'm a seaman(e-3), not an officer.
SpikeLanta 1 year ago
Still sounds like they're singing about Ballyheigue (a seaside resort in Co. Kerry, Ireland), even after all these years. Never fails to make me laugh :)
jojothevilpooh 1 year ago
The movie was filmed entirely on Pulau Tioman in the South China Sea off the east coast of Malaysia. We spent a vacation there. Loved it. It's still only a little developed. You can actually visit Happy Talk Falls at the south end of the island.
alizaderic 1 year ago
How old is this series?
cubanboy740 1 year ago
@cubanboy740 The movie was made in 1958, if that's what you meant by series.
Rhythmics101 1 year ago
Interesting--the dub voice was that of Muriel Smith, another African American singer and actor, born in NY, who was living in London. Rogers & Hammerstein chose her voice (she'd appeared in the London version as Bloody Mary), so maybe they just liked her voice better than that of Juanita Hall for some reason. ?
MrJerise 1 year ago
I get to be an Island Girl in my school's production of South Pacfic! I get to sing the reprise of this song! I love it.
missbunniswan 1 year ago
i fell in love with this song when i saw 'south pacific' when i was just a little girl...i still love it.
astridlbailey7 1 year ago
its so haunting
Orderr66 1 year ago 2
this is so magical,...beautiful. ty
MOUTHFULOGRASS 1 year ago
Why was she dubbed, she won a freaking Tony for originating that role.. clearly she can sing the song perfectly... and we know musical theatre actors can easily transition to screen (and not so much the other way around...)
WWEQAF 1 year ago
@WWEQAF - Only Mitzi Gaynor and Ray Walston weren't dubbed. It's a mystery to me. There were so many questionable things about this production, it could have been so much better. The dubbing was needless and the weird color-filtering was annoying to say the least.
However it was from Rodgers and Hammerstein. They were on such a hot run that no matter what a studio did, their films like this one were guaranteed box office gold.
cooper79jeffr 1 year ago
@cooper79jeffr I agree about the filtering---it almost ruined the movie for me. There was NO need for it.
windstorm1000 11 months ago 10
@windstorm1000 I think it did ruin the movie, I'm sorry to say.
MacInnich 3 weeks ago
I just saw the tour of the revival last ight (8/3) absolutley fantastic!
coasterjudge 1 year ago
Oh my do I love this song and do I love this musical "South Pacific". I was 13 yrs old when SP came to the screen and I was enchanted the first time I saw it. I was so fortunate this past November (2009) to see the revival Broadway version of South Pacific from Lincoln Center. It played in Chicago for just a few short days (I don't know why); but I got a single ticket and cried many times and was just filled with all the emotion that this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical emotes.
chgorich 1 year ago
omg, i'm so moved i used to watch this with my father,aww the memories,so happy gotta call him now
ebonylustress 1 year ago
I am singing this song for musical theater camp.
xoxokayleigh123 1 year ago
Is it weird that I want to name my future daughter Bali Ha'i? I think it may be but I love the name and the imagery it gives. :P
butters11984 1 year ago
cant believe this is so old...1958 wow
bestbalihotel 1 year ago
The movie version was very good but the Broadway version was spectacular. i can only imagine what the original production was like with the great Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin. When a considerable number of the audience had actually served in the Pacific. It was a time when America usually accomplished what it set out to do.
trajan75 1 year ago 2
@trajan75 Yea, you're right, I saw it with Robert Goulet about 10 years ago. I do think the film does a really awesome job at creating an atmosphere.
Unfortunately it was at the expense of certain people, minimum wage was at 40 cents, minorities were seen as inferior.
Sshelly34213 1 year ago
such a great show, and beautiful song!!! I like this show a lot.
I'm auditioning for this part at my high school any advice on what song i should sing?
asianpriss 1 year ago
This is one of my favorite songs from the film and play. Have been enchanted by Rodgers & Hammerstein since I was a child.
prkendora 1 year ago
Geez, I was ten years old when I saw this. From that movie and especially this song, I knew there would be great joy, and that the sadness of the time would soon be over. There was hope. Juanita Halls' voice will forever be beautiful and suggest there is joy just with another ocean breez. Many many thanks for posting this! I have been waiting for years and years......Now there is Joy once mre!
SUYE48 1 year ago
I am probably going to sing this somg for my sping choir concert
misamisa31 1 year ago
FYI - Muriel Smith, who sings the vocals for Juanita Hall in this film, played the part of Aicha in John Houston's 1952 film "Moulin Rouge" and sang the vocals for Zsa Zsa Gabor in that film as well.
OPortifoy 1 year ago
This has to be one of the most hypnotically beautiful pieces of music R+H ever wrote.
villageguy13 1 year ago
omg, That is just too beautiful for words.
iliveintimbuktoo 1 year ago
אינדונזיה
shai493 1 year ago
janellorozco, that is a very touching story; I'm glad you found this beautiful song... yes you have to see the film; This was the first musical I saw and one of the best...
manolosar 1 year ago
This song remind me of my childhood.. when i first went tothe movies with my dad in 1960.
2849carmen 1 year ago
This song always reminds me of 3rd Rock from the Sun.
Snoopies622 1 year ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
The Pacific is getting good. I just saw episode 3 at lastnightstvshows (.) com
ambiguousrat1810 1 year ago
you people are insane..
dang it.
Antontrex 1 year ago
Awesome. Very stoned film.
stanthology 1 year ago 2
Mc Hell's Island...
harponercam 1 year ago
spent 9 months on yap island in the marianas islands in the navy ,seabees in which the seabees are in this movie, my heart aches because the people of the islands are so much like the movie. the best days of my life.
bucmac 1 year ago
can anyone tell me how to figure out weither im a baritone or tenor?
camarorider67 1 year ago
Have someone kick yourself in the groin. If your voice is immediately the same, you are a tenor. Oh... sorry... that's a soprano. Never mind.
BigDiamondCutter 1 year ago 2
@camarorider67: While the average range of a baritone and tenor are close, it's all about the timbre and sound quality of what you produce. For example, I find my chest and head voice breaking between each other around C to D, whereas a tenor would break around F or G. In short, listen to a few songs a tenor is singing and a baritone is singing. If you can't hum it, so says Luciano Pavarotti, you may not be able to sing it. ;)
shmajent 1 year ago
So CLASSIC...I sing this all the time was about 5 when I saw the movie and subconciously rememberr all the tunes...perhaps readying myself for a move to the South Pacific?
3dogsdesert 1 year ago 22
I just saw the Broadway revival for the 2nd time. It is outstanding.
milepost53 1 year ago
I first heard this back in the 60's as a child watching "Captain Kangaroo". LOL It was on some skit they did, since then I've always liked it, I finally saw the movie in the '80's and thought "oh THATS where the song came from". And I had no idea that lady was Black - I thought she was a Pacific Islander. I still like this song alot.
cnote4461 1 year ago
she's not black! she's tonkenese...
laughingbabeh 1 year ago
Then somewhere on this site - a person posted the video saying that the original actress and vocals was by a black woman. Personally, even though I'm african american, I don't care if she was a Martian, I still like the song and the clip. I also thought she may have been either Black, Hawaiian, or Tongan
cnote4461 1 year ago
@cnote4461 I agree cnote, I wouldn't care if she was a Martian either but since so many people of color go unheralded for their contributions to so many fields I think it's worth noting that Juanita Hall who played the part both on stage (where she did her own singing) and in the film was an African American woman from Keyport, New Jersey. The woman who did the vocals in the film was Muriel Smith, another African American woman from New York City.
OPortifoy 1 year ago
@cnote4461 In case you don't see my other post, Muriel Smith also played the part of Aicha, the black can-can dancer in John Houston's 1952 film "Moulin Rouge" where she also did the vocals for the songs performed by Zsa Zsa Gabor.
OPortifoy 1 year ago
She played a Tonkenese for the movie but she was born a Mexican named Juanita Long...
Maskedman46 1 year ago 2
@Maskedman46
Sorry Maskedman but she was African American and born in Keyport, New Jersey.
OPortifoy 1 year ago
@OPortifoy ......hahahaha, yes you are most certainly correct and I made a typing mistake knowing she was African American and I guess I was focused on 13 Mexican workers who I was watching dig my new pool and wrote Mexican by mistake so thank you very much for catching that Sir....I loved Juanita and she was a jersey gal but with no accent like those easterners...LOL
Maskedman46 1 year ago
@Maskedman46 HEY!! I'm an easterner! New England east!! What accent!? LOL...just kidding!
OPortifoy 1 year ago
@OPortifoy ....I know the accent quite well being from NH and having a summer home on Cape Cod...LOL
Maskedman46 1 year ago
I'm using Bali Hai in a play about my childhood sweetheart .We both were romantics, It ended when her father forbid his Polish daughter to see her Jewish boyfriend (me). In the play I am grown up, visiting Bali Hai, telling my story to Emile. Since her father had been taught prejudice. I also sing Carefully Taught.
dolphin330 2 years ago
@dolphin: forbade
spurnthemuse 1 year ago
I'm going to see this in May/ June/ July! It's going to be at the Ahmanson!
indyjake210 2 years ago
Goodness he looks like Jude Law!
sairamnagarajan 2 years ago
Wow...Bali Ha'i. Certainly one of the most memorable songs in the history of musicals...the haunting, mysterious beauty of the song is incredible.
ParsecondSpace 2 years ago
One of the greatest cinematography marvels of the modern screen. Absolutely breathtaking! Love the use of the color filters. 10+ stars!
jsbach15 2 years ago 15
- I wonder if Robert Plant was thinking about this song when he wrote the vocal to 'Immigrant Song' -
AEROSMITH Bassist Tom Hamilton
ToteMontoya 2 years ago
Does anyone know why she was dubbed in the movie?
lizzyll9 2 years ago
@lizzyll9
Check my channel.
lostvocals4 2 years ago
Great song - mysterious memorible...
Russ821 2 years ago 2
Es Vedra rock structure in Ibiza - more than a ` passing resemblance`! - and yes, South Pacific was filmed at various locations in Ibiza - visited them, but ` Bali Hai` will live in my memory forever - I was only 6 years old when the film was released, have viewed it numerous times, plus listened to the OST on vinyl!Haunting music!
truefactsth 2 years ago
yeah, my mother trouped us up; to NYC to see an afternoon matinee when I was a kid. my younger brother came too. this is one of the songs that made a big impact on my back then. FT
FellowTraveller 2 years ago
I wonder what was the reason for dubbing her as she was the creator of the role on Broadway?
honggiangvogia 2 years ago
I had forgotten this woman's, [Juanita Hall], beautiful voice. I have the original record album of South Pacific. I wonder how Susan Boyle would sing it?
DIANNEELEE 2 years ago
@DIANNEELEE
But this is not Juanita Hall's voice - it is Muriel Smith's. To hear Juanita sing it, click on my video response above. I also have info there as to why she was dubbed.
lostvocals4 2 years ago
Juanita Hall was a black performer on Broadyway and in movies. She sang in the original 1949 South Pacific and the album. Her voice was dubbed in the 1958 movie. I have the original South Pacific album.
DIANNEELEE 2 years ago
Yes, I'm aware of that. Did you watch my video response that I mentioned in my note? I've restored her voice and told the story of why she was dubbed.
lostvocals4 2 years ago
I'm supposed to sing 1:41 - 2:13
I4gotmyMANTRA 2 years ago
cant wait to do this is as a play this year wonderful song
musicsavedmivida 2 years ago
im singing this in MHS choir. :)
xhollyxeffinxwoodx 2 years ago
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Speh-seeal?
C33Four 2 years ago
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casee was in this play... my step sister she was gr8 also my friend mackenzie bath was in it too she was gr8 too!
check out karlaabc123 comment and subscribe plese! gr8 vids;)
karlaabc123 2 years ago
This is my all time favorite musical song- first heard in High School 1974.
wgaines94115 2 years ago
Always loveed this song. So haunting.
weegerri1sm 2 years ago 3
I saw the original movie version of SP when it came out in '58. There's a remake but it doesn't have the magic of the orig. Thanx so much for this!!
caiatransplant 2 years ago
holy crap cultured people on line I LOVE IT
stwaban 2 years ago 19
@stwaban -There are a few of us, you know.
ChaChaDave 1 year ago
A very haunting song in both music and lyrics. Who wouldn't want to go to their own "special island?"
davidemerling 2 years ago 13
Richard Rodgers slaved over every song he wrote. But according to one story Bali Hai was an exception: It came to him out of the blue and he wrote it on a tablecloth !
alexalex3131 2 years ago
Love it!!! Loved South Pacific!
eria01 2 years ago
It's time to bring the classics back!
bigfanguy 2 years ago 4
isnt he just georgeous!!! xxxx
christinedaae87 2 years ago 2
So happy I found this, My mom used to sing it to me as a lullaby, sadly she was taken from me when she was a mere 35yrs old, maybe she found her island too :) anyways I have surpassed her in age now but I sang this to my children as a lullaby but never had heard the original. Wow .. Now I am going to have to watch the movie. Thanks for putting it on here and brighting my day!
janellorozco 2 years ago 85
Wow Janellorozco, I'm sorry for your loss, but upon thinking about it, this would make a nice lullaby. Just remember that you will always have the memory of your mother singing this to you, and you even established a wonderful tradition by singing it to your children.
SataiDelenn 2 years ago 2
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janellorozco, that is a very touching story; I'm glad you found this beautiful song... yes you have to see the film; This was the first musical I saw and one of the best...
manolosar 1 year ago
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@janellorozco janellorozco, that is a very touching story; I'm glad you found this beautiful song... yes you have to see the film; This was the first musical I saw and one of the best...
manolosar 1 year ago
@janellorozco Its a lovely song, and you have a lovely connection to it. Happy you got to see the clip.... rent the move, its great. Best Wishes. :-)
SWSimpson 1 year ago
@janellorozco I sing this song to my kids also
v49624430 1 year ago
@janellorozco
Oh, that is a wonderful story.
God bless your mom.
I've heard this song for almost 50 years now and I think your story is the one I'll most remember about it.
And God bless Juanita Hall.
Music just brings out the best in us, doesn't it?
kenrfc 1 year ago
@janellorozco I'm sorry about your mother :'(
god7man 1 year ago
@janellorozco That is so wonderful for you, and so sweet that you are keeping the connection going. It is truly a beautiful song.
psychicoutlaw 1 year ago
I just saw this on Broadway! So amazing!!!!
alexisamazazing 2 years ago 4
.....it's okay!!
she's so talented..
freakymoinai 2 years ago
That was just lovely, my Mothers favorite musical, her birthday today, not with us anymore, maybe she found her special island! we hope so
letsgocaleta 2 years ago 3
i prefer her original voice, its more natural...
franque68 2 years ago
I agree...she was one of a kind...
a great stage presence,
and a wonderful, strong voice.
why would they use her,
but not her voice??
Hollywood is so odd that way.
rshnrvrrbrt 2 years ago
thank you thank you thank you for making sure Juanita's version is here for us all to enjoy..OP you rock
sitbadpup 2 years ago
wonderful indeed nithing can compare
jmprhythm279 2 years ago 2
wonderful indeed!!!
nothing can compare with juanita hall
jmprhythm279 2 years ago 2
One of the most beautiful songs written for a musical..
hisbiscusrose999 2 years ago 32
they used the bali hi motive in the theme from fantasy island
spacepatrolman 2 years ago
Once I heard Juanita Hall's own voice in the stage version recording. I remember that she sounded rather hoarse than what we hear in this clip. I wonder why she needed to be dubbed in the film version of "South Pacific".
Operalover12002 2 years ago
Does anyone know this musical was based on James Mitchner's novel - Tales of the South Pacific - the two love stories were used in the movie.. This is the best version - the original from 1958..
hisbiscusrose999 2 years ago
That's your opinion. I like Peggy Lee's version more.
chriskardos 2 years ago
we are singing that song in chorus
bitarstar 2 years ago
i went to c my big bro in this musical it was great
Megz2009baby 2 years ago
I agree... sometimes the clor was overkill and made the film itself... different. But, on the other hand, this song works well for the color, I think.
Akira842 2 years ago
I liked the color effects in this one.
I think the mistake they made was using the color filters in EVERY song. With this one, it's appropriate.
watcherFA 2 years ago
If only they'd have just let Juanita Hall sing the damned song instead of making it appear she's fighting toxic fumes on another planet.
unclealand 2 years ago 2
I want to kill whoever stuck the color in there and completely fucked over the beautiful South Pacific scenery.
Wowguy667 2 years ago
Awesome.
Aorticax 2 years ago 3
I saw this film when I was 8 and living in Sheffield. I never quite got got over this song the drifting smoke, the sun tanned bodies, the blue sky and palm trees and the Todd-ao widescreen and colour blend during the musical numbers. Exotic. Most certainly and that distant island where you just have to go to experience it for yourself. Particularly enhanced by Juanita Hall's bizarre character and the background choir of disembodied spirit voices. And the sea was as warm as it looked on film.
grouchyguy 2 years ago 4
For me the song has always conjured, some kind of primal longing of a distant time and place.
exsoteric 3 years ago 9
Great song! But, the special island may have not been an island after all. I think Bloody Mary was singing about her daughter...
TheDecidicator 3 years ago
Bali Hai is based on the real island of Ambae. It is located in Vanuatu. Ambae is visible on the horizon from Espiritu Santo island. In the 1958 film, Bali Ha'i is portrayed by the real-life island of Tioman. The film, however, was shot on-location on the north shore of Kauaʻi, Hawaii. Lumahai Beach, was where Nellie sings "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy". Tunnel's Beach is often referred to as "Nurse's Beach" and the scene where Bloody Mary sings of Bali Ha'i takes place on Hanalei Bay
ILIVE4BEAUTY 3 years ago 2
Oh gosh, i luv this film
but the orange-ness dus get anoying, but dus really add magical-ness, lush actors and everything, i wanna go there and sing with them ^-^
Verycuteyeah 3 years ago
I adore this song. I sang it in choir a couple years back.
supaslim 3 years ago 2