Younger Than Springtime
Rogers and Hammerstein Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Younger than springtime are you
Softer than starlight are you
Warmer than winds of June
Are the gentle lips you gave me

Gayer than laughter are you
Sweeter than music are you
Sunlight and moon beans

Heaven and earth
Are you to give me
And when your youth and joy
Invade my soul
And fill my heart
As now they do, then

Younger than springtime am I
Gayer than laughter am I
Sunlight and moon beans

Heaven and earth
Am I with you

Overall Meaning

These lyrics come from Rogers and Hammerstein's classic Broadway musical "South Pacific", which was first performed in 1949. The song "Younger Than Springtime" is a romantic duet between two of the show's main characters, Lieutenant Cable and Liat. Lieutenant Cable is a young American marine who falls in love with Liat, a beautiful Tonkinese girl, while stationed in the South Pacific during World War II.

The lyrics of "Younger Than Springtime" describe the intense feelings of love that Lieutenant Cable and Liat experience towards each other. The opening line "Younger than springtime are you" suggests that Liat is a symbol of youth and vitality, and that her love is like a springtime that has renewed Cable's own youth. The second line "Softer than starlight are you" is a metaphor that compares Liat's beauty and gentleness to the twinkling of stars in the night sky. This line also suggests that Liat's love has brought a softness and tranquility to Cable's life.

The third line "Warmer than winds of June" continues the theme of Liat's love bringing warmth and happiness to Cable's life. The gentle lips that Liat bestows on Cable are a symbol of her love and affection. The second part of the song is sung by Cable, who expresses that he too is "Younger than springtime" and "Gayer than laughter". This indicates that Liat's love has filled his life with a sense of youthfulness and happiness.

Line by Line Meaning

Younger than springtime are you
You are more youthful than the season of spring by nature

Softer than starlight are you
Your softness is comparable to starlight

Warmer than winds of June
Your warmth is more intense than the June breeze

Are the gentle lips you gave me
Your lips are gentle and loving to me

Gayer than laughter are you
You bring more joy and happiness than laughter

Sweeter than music are you
You are sweeter than any form of music

Sunlight and moon beans
You are to me what sunlight and moonbeams are to the earth

Heaven and earth
You are like heaven and earth to me

Are you to give me
You give me everything that heaven and earth can provide

And when your youth and joy
And as your youthful energy and happiness

Invade my soul
Overwhelm me emotionally

And fill my heart
And completely fill my heart

As now they do, then
Just as they do now

Younger than springtime am I
Because of you, I feel more youthful than springtime

Gayer than laughter am I
You make me happier than anything else, even laughter

Sunlight and moon beans
Because of you, I feel as if I have sunlight and moonbeams following me

Heaven and earth
You make me feel like I have everything I need, like heaven and earth

Am I with you
Because of you, I feel fulfilled and complete

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: RICHARD RODGERS HAMMERSTEIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Diana Lee

1y↑84

Very very proud to let everyone know that my Dad, Bill Lee, provided the singing voice for John Kerr and so that is him singing this beautiful song so wonderfully. RIP Daddy I miss you so much ❤️❤️❤️

Margarita reyes

1y↑7

Damm..that is truly something...God Bless your DAD.

Diana Lee

1y↑15

Thank you! He passed in 1980 at just 64 years after a courageous battle with brain cancer. I miss him so much. He also did all the singing for Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music

Margarita reyes

1y↑3

@Diana Lee God bless your Dad...

Doug Hoffman

1y↑6

Your Dad was a unique talent. He also ghost sang Edelweiss for "Captain Von Trapp" in The Sound of Music. Two very mesmerizing songs as sung by your father. I am sure you heard much more from him. Lucky you, Diana! Thanks for sharing that.

Tiggywinkle

1y↑2

Diana, I saw you on television talk about your Dad. He was a wonderful singer
and so versatile. I adored this film and saw it when very young indeed and
this scene is overwhelming as is rest of the film. John Kerr so handsome
and lovely with France Nuyen. You miss your Dad as I miss mine but I
won’t forget your father’s voice. Despite my user name I am a lady! Thank you.

15 More Replies...

Bob Walling

5y↑13

This scene is one of the most incredible romantic scenes in musical history. Loved it in 1958 at age 13, and still love it today at 74. But now, I have venues where I can perform it myself! A dream come true.

Russell Thompson

5y↑40

One of the most romantic songs ever composed. Goosebumps!

Edwin Subijano

How true !!!

Steve Tutty

2y↑17

At 67 years of age this beautiful song makes me long for my youth and brings tears to my eyes. So wonderful and just so beautiful. However most of the memories are of golden days!

MARKSUFOS1 Uriarte

1y↑2

Amen Steve me too, Mark. How I wish I could have played this song as I told a beautiful young girl how much I loved her. It was the mid and late 80's. I and her were stationed in Spain in the Air Force. As I guessed it she felt the same about me. However I was an officer and a section commander a person who was lonely and she was also and a young airman of 20. It was forbidden to fraternize. I and other officers who were single were told this firmly by an Air Force general at Ramstein Air Base Germany in Nov 1985. My heart sank. I did not want especially to get her in trouble as perhaps she wanted an air force career. I know I would have had serious problems. So nothing happened but we both saw each other on base, I with a true longing. Years later I found out she lived in San Jose CA only 72 miles from where I lived, and she had never married. I contacted her and sent a letter explaining how I made a mistake and had tried to find her. I also sent her flowers. I told her about every moment we were together and about the encounter in a hotel in Pairs we had when the base had a tour of Pairs during Thanksgiving. I was careful about what I wrote and had several other women read it before I sent it . They all said it explained everything so well and some even said it was beautifully written. But Cathy was not moved, she was still so hurt all these years later. I gathered she had a sad or hard life since leaving Spain and I last saw her. She did not want to see me. She left me a voice mail and it was clear she was still hurting all these years later. All these years later, I now wish I had said dam the Air Force and taken the chance with her and dated her behind every ones back, even my colonel boss. All the places far from the base we could have gone. The Spanish Mediterranean, South of France, a tour of Italy. The first 2 only a few drive hours away. The other 3 days at most. I had a Nissan 300Z with T tops. Sometimes you get one chance at a beautiful life with someone, grab it before it is too late. Just like in this movie and me.

Zoltan Korda

6y↑111

John Kerr and France Nuyen are two people you can never imagine aging. And they're probably the two most beautiful couple in motion picture history. A touching moment for both stage and screen. We're fortunate that the motion picture censors allowed this scene to pass.

ZZR 1100 & ZX14R Kawasaki Rider

5y↑9

Agreed. Cross culture romances were not smiled upon. A ground breaker.

spacepatrolman

4y↑4

She married Robert Culp while acting in I Spy he left his wife and 4 kids Kerr became a lawyer in the play was a different actress I forgot her name

Clare Deniz

Great Acting at play. France Nuyen has said in interview that John could not speak any French so they could not communicate. . She also said he was very handsome which we all agree and that she had fallen in love with him and that he was very married with children and everything and ethical and a righteous man, what an amazing recommendation. So they appeared as a wonderful loving couple in film but were acting. Of course there are pictures more recent of France and John at reunions.I think we all were moved and felt their love. and we young girls and women also fell in love with John RIP John.

Clare Deniz

@ZZR 1100 & ZX14R Kawasaki Rider Worse than that these romances and marriages were against the law.There is always the adjoiner that John Kerr always stood against bigoted views in his life.What an amazing man in every way.

Naomi Wood

45w

@Clare Deniz I certainly did and I'm now 79!

Leslie T

11y↑29

Yes, I agree. I first saw South Pacific as an adolescent, and I never forgot this scene, and I feel the same way about it now, 45 years later !!! Truly beautiful... beautiful man and woman, beautifully filmed, and of course, an exceptionally beautiful song.

Girly Gal

7y↑23

This is still by far the most romantic scene from any movie.

DomainOfTheSun

Check out "Shall We Dance" with Yul and Deborah... Sizzling though technically they do no more than dance.

Shellac City

3y↑6

Dear God, I didn't remember this being so passionate--and moving. This movie is so profoundly underrated...

12CLASSICS

1y↑1

Their acting is astounding. They really look like they’re deeply in love. That’s what really sells this gorgeous song, which represents a special, once-in-a-lifetime love that transcends the racial and language barriers between them. Especially at 1:37; she holds him as if he’s her lifeline with pure bliss on her face. It pains me to think about how Liat was forced to live the rest of her life without him.

Bryan Rawlinson

2y↑3

Absolutely Beautiful. I still get Goosebumps when I hear this song 💓💓💓

Sonny Cannon

13y↑4

This movie means something special to me, it was one of the first movies I saw in the theater when I was about 5 years old! My oldest brother who was almost 11, took me with him one Saturday afternoon, when they used to play Bugs Bunny cartoons between movies on the double-feature Saturdays! I was "enchanted" myself, even at only 5 years old! I get teary eyed now because my brother passed recently, and this movie is so beautiful, and heartwarming, we need this kind of REALITY movie nowadays

Heart of Hawaii

6y↑41

Oh John...I played this scene over and over again as a teenage girl when I first saw it. What a beautiful man, couple, love scene..the stuff that dreams were made of..still are!..and still coming true. Thanks for sharing this.

Clare Deniz

Absolutely. What a powerful scene we all felt deep love and John was gorgeous.

Betty Bourne

5y↑26

Loved this movie. Rogers and Hammerstein wrote beautiful songs

Pamela Lawrence

1y↑2

I have seen this movie many times but this beautiful song is the best. The words, and the sound tract but most of all the singer were all perfect. The two lovers were breath taking.

Nancy Wilson

13y↑4

This movie has always touched a chord in me- i saw it with my family at a drive in on first run- my parents met in Austrailia during the war- I could feel their emotions move with the film, and we had the soundtrack for years afterwards- I love every song- mom, from Bundaberg queensland, died just short of her 92nd birthday- June 13, 2011 Dad is still alive. Younger than springtime were we then.

Briguy1027

11y↑6

I went to his memorial today -- it was nice, Frances Nuyen showed up and talked about her experiences with him. One of his attorney friends also spoke, as well as another friend. My cousin's daughter sang Danny Boy. He was a wonderful man.

jennifer corley

11y↑13

fantastic...made me cry again...i forgot how beautiful and pure it is. thank you so much!

HarrietVane

12y↑19

I went to see this with my mother when I was about 11 or 12. When we got home my dad wanted to know what I thought of it and I'm sorry to say that at the time I was more amused by Luther Billis than interested in the love stories. I think that this film meant something to my parents that I didn't realise at the time. One of my favourite films.

David Furr

5y↑35

The strings are luscious ... I wish this type of music was made today.

Anthony Flynn

4y↑1

You have this and dozens like it, to return to, over and over.

Nick Hickson

2y↑1

John Wilson orchestra.

Hred Lars

3y↑4

My mother sang in South Pacific on Broadway original cast this song still gives me chills

Nick Hickson

Same here, decades later.

Olivia Elledge

5y↑2

I love this scene. The only thing is that the camera angles or blocking seems kinda awkward. But it’s soooo romantic. You can honestly see the passion the characters feel.

stas3h

11y↑16

Saw this with my parents when it first came out in 1958. It played at the theater for the entire summer. Can you imagine that happening today?

Sir Arthur Lancelot

4y↑2

No, unfortunately because with a few exceptions, neighborhood movie theaters are a thing of the past. It seems the pleasures of family and intimacy have given way to streaming and making a buck.

Skidoo22

12y↑12

Gorgeous orchestrations from Edward B Powell. WOW!

Clare Deniz

1y↑1

Fabulous.Really beautiful arrangements throughout the movie.

Chrissie Webster

11y↑9

RIP John......... you filled my heart when I was a lot younger. Sympathy and condolences to your family xx

Kim Mailloux

11y↑19

That is totally how I feel when I see/listen to this. I too am overwhelmed by this awesome depiction of love he shows her.

Clare Deniz

I agree it is SO perfect it only makes you wonder about his very lucky wife.John was very married as France Nuyen says in interview many decades later and he never thought that he was any good in this film and no one could convince him.He being married had his twin girls as tiny children and perhaps his son too. He looks so young to be a father of three.I think he lived a lovely life true to himself.

Dave Mark

2y↑2

You can never forget beautiful music and this classic melts my heart everytime!

Prefer this the original, over all others but many others are still beautiful.

Katherine K

11y↑11

Oh Gosh! This song is so lovely. I'm glad to be part of a production of South Pacific.

KENNETH

Beautiful! Proper credit for the actual vocalists is given on most of my CD's. Marni NIxon gave a talk in town in which she discussed the matter. Saw Mitzi Gaynor's show at a local supper club. She looked, sang and danced marvelously!

Stephanie777

6y↑51

I find it interesting how so many of us saw this as kids with our parents when it’s clearly loaded with so much sexual energy! 😂

DomainOfTheSun

5y↑13

What they used to call family entertainment. Kids enjoyed it on one level, grownups on another.

fatjohn1408

The start of the great age of degeneracy!

Laurence Gladwell

Remember seeing as a child when it was on T V ,my parents loved it

Kathy Brown

3y↑7

That's why it was OK for us to see it. They had finesse then; not the vulgarity of now. God bless these genius performers who have given us all so much joy!

Deborah Craig

3y↑5

Kathy Brown as a kid I saw it as a love story with great music...Nothing sexual

2 More Replies...

Clutch Cargo

5y↑4

Love this song - i picture myself singing this to the love of my life !

harry dean brown

10y↑70

Just in case no one else has mentioned this: it isn't John Kerr singing. It's the fabulous Bill Lee. He also dubbed the Captain in Sound of Music!

gossamerwings

9y↑13

I think this was mentioned at least a couple of times over the years and some viewers were disappointed as I was. But since then I found out that many other actors didn't do the singing in musicals like West Side Story, but Richard Beymer did give credit to the guy who did his singing in the movie which was nice of him. I still think John Kerr fitted his character in the movie very well.

Mary Smith

9y↑4

harry dean brown If you look Bill Lee up on imdb, most of his beautiful singing is uncredited. It's a damn shame.

gossamerwings

9y↑8

harry dean brown also Marni Nixon was uncredited for her beautiful singing, too, don't know why they don't get their name on the screen, however Giorgio Tozzi did get credit in "South Pacific" for singing. Wish I knew what Bill Lee looked like, I've seen Marni on t.v. being interviewed and I think those that follow movie musicals know her better than Bill Lee. The actors do a good job of mouthing the songs as if they actually are singing, that must take a lot of practicing.

gossamerwings

9y↑2

harry dean brown I've heard Tony Perkins sing on youtube and he sings fairly well and wonder if he was ever considered for this movie and possibly he could've done his own singing tho' I somehow doubt that R&H's high standards would allow Perkins to sing, probably he'd be dubbed, too. Perkins does a bad version of 'Friendly Persuasion' compared to Pat Boone's title song which is great! John Kerr was supposedly offered the role in that movie but couldn't do it much to his chagrin and Perkins got the role and he did a great job!

9 More Replies...

Diika:néhi Delaronde

11y↑10

We're studying this song in musical theatre, and I had never seen South Pacific but now I want definitely to!

linds

12y↑1

History has always been something very special to me, and historical musicals....let's just say that Rodgers and Hammerstein are my heroes. I love this song. Every time I hear it, I imagine my future husband singing it to me. That's what I hope will happen at least(;

5tarAn9el

I hope someone sings this to you too

Virginia Kainen

John Kerr jump started my puberty when I saw him in South Pacific!! I was 10 and soon after I saw this movie I started menstruating!!

phoenix4165

11y↑7

My Church choir charity concert featured excerpts from South Pacific. What we found out is that it is not as easy to sing as we thought but okay on the night. I loved this film when I was a child so thanks for posting.

eilyn510

4y↑3

One of my favourite songs 🥰

Bob PerkinsDDS

35w

Beautiful song!!! Just magical!

zeena61

13y↑17

So beautiful!! I wish there was a happy ending for them!!!

Jeffrey Salgo

7y↑16

Poetry. The perfect description of Romance!

Charmaine Morley

5y↑4

Charmaine M

I saw this in the late 50s when I was only 8 or 9. It made a terrific impression on me then at that age amazingly. What a love scene and John Kerr so wonderful. Now we know the marvellous Bill Lee was singing. Sent away for photos of John Kerr recently. Rodgers and Hammerstein remain unsurpassed in all their musicals. This part of South Pacific still fills me with emotion.

margondine

10y↑37

I loved this scene when I first saw South Pacific at the cinema.
So romantic.

Rick Francis

5y↑21

There was a lot of criticism of this film when it came out. The changing colors to fit moods, the actors who many felt didn't live up the the original Broadway stars etc. I personally thought Brazzi and Mitzi Gaynor had decent chemistry and the Hawaii locales fit the mood. And these two were convincing as young lovers even though he didn't sing. He certainly was handsome and she certainly was beautiful. Some people must have liked it because it was the #1 film at the box office in 1958 (the same year I was born).

Sir Arthur Lancelot

4y↑2

Its always a challenge when a decision is made to move a Broadway show to the silver screen, particularly on whether to use the original cast or replace them with movie "stars" that the producers think are more recognizable, and therefore more bankable. Same thing happened with Camelot and My Fair Lady. I like the movie version for this show too though.

Diana Lee

Thanks for mentioning it wasn’t John Kerr singing. The spectacular voice belonged Tony Dad, Bill Lee, who also sang for Christopher Plummer inThe Sound of Music

Diana Lee

To my*

MARKSUFOS1 Uriarte

I saw this movie in 1958 when I was 8 years old. I thought it was going to be a good war movie. Yet I liked it anyway. It did not do as good as some thought it would at the Oscars because it came out at the same time as GIGI, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Another great film musical. All South Pacific got or won was Best Sound which it deserved. Few musical ever had such rich sound which really enhanced the various scenes, especially the romantic scenes.

Frank Seville

6y↑2

Bill Lee has a wonderful voice; it's the gold standard for anyone trying to sing this song.

marklovescadaques

11y↑3

Sweet Lorraine, if you read the book you'ld see that Liat didn't sell herself to an American. Neither was she an Austronesian native, she was Bloody Mary's daughter, and her family were indentured workers from Tonkin China. The fictitious island of Bali Ha'i was part of the New Hébrides, thus Melanesia. Vanuatu as such was founded in 1980 The book is superb, giving an intimate insight - albeit fictive - to what the Pacific theatre really meant, especially in human terms.

Allie Anderson

2y↑1

😭😭😭 love it so much. Thanks for sharing! ❤️

elizabeth ali

37w

John Kerr was so handsome and talented! Bill Lee had a magnificent voice. France was gorgeous and so delicate! Beautiful scene! So memorable!

10skylark

11y↑22

RIP John Kerr...i will miss you, but you will live on in my heart through your wonderful performance in "South Pacific", i'll never forget how happy you made me when you sent me an autographed pic when i wrote to you after i had seen you many years ago.

Simon Ramsay

4y↑5

How lovely :-)

Shellac City

3y↑2

He was absolutely the perfect choice for Lt. Cable.

Candace Serviss

4y↑1

Love this movie several years ago I wrote Mr Kerr after South Pacific was shown on TCM he wrote me a sweet letter back thanking me. A classy gentleman..

jaddy540

5y↑4

I am 96 and still sing this at karaoke, and still knock them dead!

BS

6y↑5

When you know John Kerr as that guy almost killed in the pit and the pendulum and then you find out he can sing

oliviadoor

Sorry to burst a bubble, but this was dubbed. The singing is by Bill Lee.

BazzasBest

13y↑1

Thanks Ray. I understand it is the voice of one Bill Lee. The audio here is from the re-mastered sound track. Notice that it does not contain the boat recall bell. In the movie it rings just before he stands up and goes out. I also lightened the picture, played with the color and changed the timing at the end. In short, the usual hocus-pocus, which in time will get me arrested!

David Ayre

when I was young boy I remember going to the cinema the magic of that girl it was heaven to me if the world could be like that maybe heaven it always makes me cry wish I had a love like that

Peter Petite

My high school put this on in 1967 or 1968, maybe 1969. I remember the music so well. It's beautiful to see this excerpt of the movie here.

Vintage brew

Beautiful lyric and melody.

Susan York

Heartbreaking , so beautiful, makes me cry every time I see it

Emily G

11y↑4

I love this movie!

Beth Kehoe

4y↑2

The most romantic scene in any movie.

Taylor Downing

3y↑1

This is the best version of this song in my humble opinion

Stephanie777

6y↑1

Beautiful poem. 👌

itsmegp46

10y↑25

My God, but France Nuyen was (and still is!) an incredibly beautiful woman!

Suzanne La Force

5y↑2

She is French and Vietnamese.

erwienchen

absolut berührendes Duett

Johnny Gainor

13y↑1

Studio vocalist BILL LEE, who also provided the singing voice for Christopher Plummer in "Sound of Music" did the singing voice for actor John Kerr in this movie. The real shame about these Musicals is that the real singers used almost never, ever, received a screen credit for doing the singing voices. In almost every major musical filmed, voice dubbing was a common occurrence, and the studio vocalist SHOULD have been given proper credit due them.

Joe Soy

Yes, I agree wholeheartedly!

Astonyshing

9y↑8

Wonderful romantic lyrics

Gluteuss Maximus

2y↑1

Beautiful !!!!

Nick Hickson

2y↑1

Beautiful people too. Dear late John Kerr.

RCPoems

12y↑7

Beautiful and timeless

Gabrielle Palomo

11y↑2

I love this song! <333 :'')

Boom Boom

11y↑3

he passed in 1980 brain tumor he was only 64 and fought the cancer for 7 years. The most respected man I ever new.

M A

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerr_(actor) actually no he didnt: he died only 5yrs ago: he became a lawyer. He and France did go on a date once... it didnt really work out

jaddy540

Bill lee, that is. The voice on the song! Not John Kerr,

batmanrr

10y↑7

I have no problems with singing this song today. I have met this special woman from another country, and this is how I feel)))

Philip Thomas

10y↑24

How can John Kerr no longer be with us - what a thing is mortality..

gossamerwings

9y↑4

Philip Thomas I do miss John very much, but we can see him for all eternity through this movie!! I wished I could've seen him acting on the stage as that's where he started his career.

Philip Thomas

9y↑6

gossamerwings I know it was the wonderful Bill Lee who actually sang this beautiful song, but for me John Kerr epitomises the magic of this scene.

gossamerwings

9y↑2

Philip Thomas I agree with you and am happy that John was chosen for this role. However I sometimes wonder if he was the first choice. He wasn't a singer and around that time Pat Boone was very popular and had his own t.v. show, perhaps he couldn't do it, also I remember he wasn't allowed to kiss anyone except his wife because of his marriage/religious views. He made "April Love" w Shirley Jones but I don't remember if he kissed her in that movie as it was advertised that he would. And in this movie John and France Nuyen do some heavy kissing, lol.

Kathryn Lobert

6y↑4

Philip Thomas he had a very long life. Left Hollywood to become an attorney, had a family, etc.He was so wonderful in this movie,❤️❤️❤️

10skylark

12y↑2

John Kerr in an interview didn't mention the Balearic islands, he said it rained and they had to shoot quickly around the weather conditions, there wasn't much time for rehearsals, i did think they were lucky to have such lovely weather up on the north shore as i've been to Kaua'i several times, but now i know through Kerr's interview that it did rain a lot. most of the film was shot in Hanalei/Princeville area and Lumahai Beach. the yellow filter did help when it was overcast.

LINDA SAGGERS

1y↑1

THE BEAUTY OF OUR WORLD..TOGETHER..JUST LOVING AND ENJOYING EVERY NATION IN IT TOGETHER..💖💖

Steve Kirby

I was 6 when I saw this movie 1958. I was with my mum and it had a lasting impression on me.

LoveContent

12y

Love this song! So cute! :)

Thomas Melchiorre

you should be very proud of your dad. Bill Lee had an amazing voice.

Christos Shugeh

3y↑2

This moves my heart and soul. Todays film and music Industry is a fabricated mess. The music industry is not interested in uniqueness. The music and artists have little soul and rap is the most dire. Simon Cowell and is ilk have suffocated true talent. Will we ever see real music played and composed by real people again.

cbi1991

11y↑39

the first movie my parents brought me to was the ten commandments, which gave me nightmares. the second movie was South Pacific, for months i could not get 'younger than springtime' and bali hai out of my head. rip mr.kerr, thanks for this wonderful memory.

Isaac P. Pearson

3y↑5

This movie had a strong influence on my older brother and me. He liked it very much, bought the album and listened to it over and over. Like Joe Cable, he was from Philadelphia and graduated from Princeton, so when he went to Vietnam and fought there, he kept singing "Carefully Taught" to himself. Fortunately, he wasn't killed there. As for me, this movie was a great influence on my life, since I first saw it when I was a child. The movie and Liat's beauty were part of the reason why I spent 35 years in Asia, in the military, the CIA and in other occupations, and married an Asian woman. So, like you, I know how powerful "South Pacific" was.

Norman Rappaport

2y↑1

THE FIRST MOVIE MY MOTHER AND FATHER TOOK ME TOO WAS STALAG 17 WITH WILLIAM HOLDEN. IT WAS HALF COMEDY HALF DRAMA. I WAS SIX YEARS OLD AT THE TIME SO THERE WERE PARTS OF THE MOVIE I DID NOT UNDERSTAND. I SAW THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AT NINE YEARS OF AGE.. IT MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPRESSION ON ME. WHAT HELPEDOLD ME WAS THE MOVIE SOUTH PACIFIC. IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT PEOPLE ARE THE SAME ALL OVER THE WORLD. OUR TWO BIGGEST ENEMIES ARE HATE AND PREJUDICE WHICH MAKES THE WORLD MORE EVIL.THERE WAS A SONG BACK IN 1965 CALLED WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE SWEET LOVE. PEOPLE WHEREVER THEY ARE LOVE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AMEN.

Olive Albers

Agreed, l never forgot this scene or the song. For over 60 years.

Diana Lee

That was my Dad, Bill Lee, who actually did the singing for John Kerr. He absolutely rocked it

Olive Albers

This is one of the most romantic songs written. l will never forget it either after 60 years.

NEWTON FORREST JA.

10y↑5

GREAT SONG MANY MEMORIES,GREAT ONES.THANKS

10skylark

11y↑17

guess this is what the director Josh Logan told Lt. Cable to do, swing her around, i think it's sweet and love it compared to the stage version of this song where both characters are standing around, in this film version Cable is holding her in his arms and they are sitting on the floor and he's looking down at Liat and she's looking up at him, so very romantic!

Andy Ong

9y↑14

Yes John WAS the Lieutenant. And yes he was good at dramas. "Tea and Sympathy" certainly one of his finest works. Sad that so many didnt make stellar status but were damn good actors : Stuart Whitman; Skip Homeier (spelling??); Robert Ivers, Earl Holliman, etc. Well...

Jose Belindo

7y↑1

Skippy Homeir

R Ainne

5y↑2

Lordy lord, utterly beautiful

Will Don.

7y↑10

I finally found Ko, my "Liat" many years after falling for France so long ago....a really lovely song and scene, from a great film.

Neil Copeland

5y↑2

Took me a moment to work out you didn't die in battle for France. :D

Carol Lipton

6y↑6

This scene made such an impression on me when I saw it as a child. He was the Ryan Gosling of the late 50s, lol.

djjim01

11y↑1

@BazzasBest, Very nice but wish you had extended this to include the entire Bali Hai refrain chorus as John Kerr walks in a daze on the beach back to the boat. Also, I've been looking for over 4 years on YouTube for the opening theme song to this movie, which is the INSTRUMENTAL version of the song Bali Hai ! Help, somebody please post South Pacific's original opening theme song. Thank You in advance.

sobojetty

12y↑3

Music like this belongs to all mankind..Why is this video viewable everywhere but not in Germany?

T's Angel MW

映画「南太平洋」の中では、最高に感動的な曲でした。

10skylark

10y↑15

so disappointed that last night's Academy Awards show didn't acknowledge John Kerr in their "In Memoriam" segment, he passed away February 2, 2013...although his career was short, he was in two memorable parts "Tea and Sympathy" and "South Pacific"; at least the Tony Awards show did acknowledge him last year in their show as he won a Tony Award for "Tea and Sympathy"...why was James Gandolfini who is known for his tv series, in the Academy's show, he isn't exactly a movie actor.

MONISA MONTOYA

Gandolfini played a memorable role in the cult film TRUE ROMANCE and over 30 films. They should not downplay actors because the do tv and movies, they should just add more people to the Memoriam. Though she was not my favorite they never mentioned Eartha Kitt when she passed. I think they waste time by not giving these people their last salute.

ohitsdaniella

12y↑2

I did the role of the girl in this scene last year in my HS production. The guy who played Lt. Cable and I had so much fun!

M A

we should petition (and crowd fund) a star on walk of fame for France Nuyen - who's in?!

John Belz

8y↑11

Voice dubbed by Bill Lee. He also did a song for Christopher Plummer in "the Sound of Music.".

Darshana Maya Greenfield

I did not know that - Christopher Plummer can sing - Loved him years later in "Cyrano"

Devin Battley

8y↑32

I have a woman that I can sing this song to and life is wonderful!

5tarAn9el

5y↑5

Then you have everything

Morgan Miller

3y↑2

Once you have found her never let her go.

shigsho

6y↑30

France Nuyen just beautiful.

ZZR 1100 & ZX14R Kawasaki Rider

5y↑3

She is stunning

Simon Ramsay

4y↑1

@ZZR 1100 & ZX14R Kawasaki Rider and she's still alive today! :-) (81 I think)

Harold Hill

Does anyone else notice the similarity between Rogers & Hammerstein's "Younger than Springtime," and "Moonlight Serenade?" Glenn Miller wrote "Moonlight" in 1939, while R&H's "Younger" was first performed in in 1949. Did R&H borrow from a then recent chart-topper whose composer was dead, and couldn't complain?

yelnats85

2y↑2

With the wonderful voice of Bill Lee

drhalsall

11y↑3

RIP John Kerr

AbStar_xx

12y↑4

While watching this movie... Me: This is a lovely scene and all, but....have they actually shared a line of dialogue? Grandfather: Shut up! Don't think about that! Me: But he's declaring he loves her and she hasn't said a word to him Grandfather: Stop it! It's not supposed to make sense!

Philip Thomas

7y↑1

Bloody wonderful

SteveBowen

5y↑1

France Nuyen's beauty is overwhelming, kind of a gut punch.

Lauren Mlady

This always made me laugh. I love this song but it looks like he's swinging a dead body around and I cannot help but burst

Derek Lyons

8y↑3

So, so, so wonderful always xxxx!!!!

Derek ODonnell

WHAT A VOICE JOHN KEIR FROM AMERICA

Manos Petridis

+Derek ODonnell Sorry not John's voice, Voice is of Bill Lee.

gossamerwings

no it's not his voice, it was dubbed by Bill Lee a professional singer who dubbed other actors in movies.

Laurie Shiff

gg great song my grandma and me loved it

Allen Blaine

10y↑5

Came.. across this delightfull video with John Kerr...... even get the lyrics!!!!

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