movies filmed in Hawaii

It is widely known that Hollywood movies with great nature and mysterious jungle were shot in Hawaii such as "Planet of the Apes" (2001), "Jurassic Park"(2000 & 1992), "Godzilla" (1997), "Dinosaurs" (1997), "The Lost World" (1996), "Raiders of Lost Ark" (1980), and so on.

But I would like to point out that two musical films in late 1950's and early 60's made Hawaii famous worldwide because of their beautiful music.

SOUTH PACIFIC is a 1958 film adaptation of the Rogers and Hammerstein musical "South Pacific," and the film starred Rossano Brazi and Mitzi Gaynor in the leading roles.

The tunes "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Bali Hai" in the romantic story became very popular in the world.

BLUE HAWAII is a 1961 Paramount picture and starring Elvis Presley.

Elvis is in paradise, playing an ex-G.I. who comes home to Blue Hawaii. His mother expects him to climb the corporate ladder, but he would rather wear an aloha shirt than a white collar, so he goes to work as a tour guide.

Elvis sings a dozen of his original songs in the film, and some of music such as "Blue Hawaii," "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Moonlight Swim" and "Hawaiian Wedding Song" have caught peoples' hearts.

After half a century, the state of Hawaii still maintains the same picturesque scenery.#

Italian Actresses in Hollywood

I have several favorite movie actresses, and three of them happened to be Italian who made the world debut in American films.

They are:
1) Rossana Podesta (1934 ~ )
She is best known for her role as Helen in the 1955 movie "Helen of Troy." She appeared in several Hollywood films, but she never gained the popularity in the U.S. However, she was regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world in those days. She was also in the 1955 "Ulusses" with Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn, the 1956 "Santiago" with Alan Ladd, the 1963 "The Virgin of Nuremberg" with Christopher Lee, the 1980 "Sunday Lovers" with Roger Moore, and so forth.

2) Sylva Koscina (1933 ~ 1994)
She appeared in a lot of American films, including the 1957 movie "Hercules" with Steve Reeves, the 1959 "Uncle was a Vampire" with Christopher Lee, the 1962 "Jessica" with Angie Dickinson, the 1962 "Swordsman of Siena" with Stewart Granger, the 1968 "The Secret War of Harry Frigg" with Paul Newman, the 1968 "A Lovely Way to Die" with Kirk Douglas, the 1968 & 69 "Kampf um Rom I & II" with Laurence Harvey and Orson Welles, the 1969 "Bitka na Neretvi" with Yul Bryner, the 1970 "Hornet's Nest" with Rock Hudson, the 1980 "Sunday Lovers" with Roger Moore and Rossana Podesta, and others.

3) Francesca Rettondini (1971 ~ )
Her first American screen role was as the Italian singer in the 2002 movie "Ghost Ship," directed by Steve Beck. However, her opening song of the movie called "Senza Fine" is actually sung by Monica Mancini, a daughter of famed film composer Henrry Mancini. The song is an old Italian pop and also sung by Peggy Lee, Dean Martin and Connie Francis in 1960's.

Rossana, Sylva and Francesca have a lot in common - "glamorous and mysterious." Francesca's Website would prove it.

By the way, Rossana and Sylva kindly sent me their pictures with autograph in 1962 when I was a junior high school student, and those are still my precious things.#