A flaccid, sad production, completely lacking in passion and showing little understanding or even appreciation for the powerful music in this classic. Someone even decided to throw out the great under-scoring for the scenes from the original Richard Rodgers music! Some idiot thought that original music would be used under the dialog, instead of the sweeping score that Rodgers so carefully crafted to go along with the dialog and move the emotions from scene to scene.
Glenn Close tries gamely in a role she is completely miscast in. She struggles to play a 20-ish role of an unworldly, naive young woman in love with a much older man. Playing what must be the Navy's oldest ensign, her flighty behavior might work for a young innocent, but in a 40ish (50ish?) woman just seems hopeless.
The director doesn't seem to understand the musical form or even the power and passion of the music. For all his actors, he seems to insist on intense staring to represent passion. Bal'i Hai is stripped of all mystery and exotic power, being merely a make-out island. This also strips the Bloody Mary character of her dignity and magical power.
The high-point of passion in this silly movie was Nellie's taking bows at the finale of the frivolous Thanksgiving follies. That was the only moment of passionate music -- a sad statement that the director of this show cannot find any passion in love or in a world at war, but only in the insular little world of entertainment.
Also, script changes reflected the writers unfamiliarity with military protocol, treating the direct disobeying of orders and the violent assault by an enlisted man against an officer as something unimportant, instead of the court-martial offenses that they are.
Where was the Rodgers & Hammerstein foundation when this was being made? Why aren't they protecting the integrity of this classic?
Glenn Close tries gamely in a role she is completely miscast in. She struggles to play a 20-ish role of an unworldly, naive young woman in love with a much older man. Playing what must be the Navy's oldest ensign, her flighty behavior might work for a young innocent, but in a 40ish (50ish?) woman just seems hopeless.
The director doesn't seem to understand the musical form or even the power and passion of the music. For all his actors, he seems to insist on intense staring to represent passion. Bal'i Hai is stripped of all mystery and exotic power, being merely a make-out island. This also strips the Bloody Mary character of her dignity and magical power.
The high-point of passion in this silly movie was Nellie's taking bows at the finale of the frivolous Thanksgiving follies. That was the only moment of passionate music -- a sad statement that the director of this show cannot find any passion in love or in a world at war, but only in the insular little world of entertainment.
Also, script changes reflected the writers unfamiliarity with military protocol, treating the direct disobeying of orders and the violent assault by an enlisted man against an officer as something unimportant, instead of the court-martial offenses that they are.
Where was the Rodgers & Hammerstein foundation when this was being made? Why aren't they protecting the integrity of this classic?