Bloody Mary Trivia Quiz

Answer: Happy Talk

'Happy Talk' is sung to Lieutenant Joe Cable, who has fallen for Liat, Bloody Mary's daughter, but feels he cannot take the relationship further due to their different races. The song has received criticism, due to its use of pidgin English, but forms an important part of the plot in highlighting the prejudices of the time. Bizarrely, the song became a number one hit in the UK in 1982 for Captain Sensible, a member of the punk rock group called The Damned.

Answer: World War II

I hope that you remembered that the USA forces were stationed in the Pacific area during the second World War, which took place between 1939 and 1945. At the beginning of the film, the forces were becoming increasingly bored waiting for the next mission. Among their laments was the lack of female company, as the Army nurses were classed as officers and unavailable to enlisted men.

They sing 'There is Nothing Like a Dame' at this stage of the film to express their frustrations.

Answer: Thanksgiving

The nurses and enlisted men put on a show called 'Thanksgiving Follies' with the final number featuring Nellie, dressed as a sailor, serenading Luther Billis (unoffical leader of the men), dressed in a grass skirt and blonde wig. The song she sings describes him/her as 'a hundred and one pounds of fun' and tells how she is having 'so much fun with honey bun'.

Answer: Mitzi Gaynor

IMDb states that all these actresses were considered for the role, with Doris Day being offered the part but turning it down. Mitzi Gaynor did have a musical pedigree, having appeared in 'Les Girls' (1957), 'There's No Business Like Show Business' (1954) and 'Anything Goes' (1956). Mary Martin had played the role in the stage version, but was passed over for the role due to the death of Ezio Pinza who had played opposite her.

Answer: Pepsodent

Aquafresh didn't appear until 1973 and Crest not until 1955 while the musical was first staged in 1949. Pepsodent's slogan was 'you'll wonder where the yellow went' so I hope the clue helped you. As well as Pepsodent, Joe DiMaggio had a mention too, with Mary's skin being described as being as soft as his glove.

The song is the first to be performed in the film version, which differs from the stage version which has 'Dites Moi', sung by Emile's children, as the first song.

Answer: French

Both Brazzi and Ezio Pinza, who had played the role on the stage, were Italian. Perhaps there were no French actors around at the time. Brazzi appeared in numerous movies, with 'Three Coins in the Fountain' (1954) and 'The Italian Job' (1969) among his credits. Brazzi did not sing in 'South Pacific', though.

His singing voice was provided by Giorgio Tozzi, American born despite the name, who was a leading singer with the Metropolitan Opera.

Answer: Oh What a Beautiful Morning

'Oh What a Beautiful Morning' comes from "Oklahoma!", which was another show also written by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, as was 'South Pacific'. The musical was based on 'Tales of the South Pacific' written by James A. Michener about his own experiences in the region during the second World War.

It was first staged in 1949 on Broadway before being brought to the big screen by director Joshua Logan. 'A Cockeyed Optimist', 'I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair' and 'Honey Bun' are all performed by Nellie during the course of 'South Pacific'.

Answer: Juanita Hall

Juanita Hall had played the role in the Broadway show but still suffered the indignity of having her voice dubbed by Muriel Smith, who had portrayed Bloody Mary in the London production. Most of the characters were dubbed, with only Mitzi Gaynor and Ray Walston, playing Luther Billis, doing their own singing. Muriel Smith did not appear in the film and France Nuyen played Bloody Mary's daughter, Liat. Candace Lee portrayed Ngana, one of Emile's children.

Answer: Emile de Becque

Having overcome the prejudice of the age difference between her and Emile, Nellie discovers that he is the father of two children by a Polynesian mother, which she finds impossible to accept. 'South Pacific' is quite open about the issue of racial prejudice with both Nellie and Joe Cable having difficulty with the topic. Since Emile believes he has lost Nellie, he joins Cable in a dangerous mission from which only one of them returns alive. Liat does not have any musical numbers in the film, which is just as well since the actress who portrayed her, France Nuyen, could not speak English at the time.

Answer: Bali Ha'i

The song appears early in the action, when Bloody Mary is enticing Joe Cable to the island to meet her daughter. Cable does fall in love, but struggles with the differences between them. He decides that he will not return to America at the end of the war, but we will never know if he would have stuck to the decision as he dies before the end of the film.

The other options are allfictional islands. Lilliput is from 'Gulliver's Travels' and 'Utopia' is from the book of the same name by Thomas More. Atlantis is a legendary island from Greek mythology.