<P> The plot centers on an American nurse stationed on a South Pacific island during World War II , who falls in love with a middle - aged expatriate French plantation owner but struggles to accept his mixed - race children . A secondary romance , between a U.S. lieutenant and a young Tonkinese woman , explores his fears of the social consequences should he marry his Asian sweetheart . The issue of racial prejudice is candidly explored throughout the musical , most controversially in the lieutenant 's song , `` You 've Got to Be Carefully Taught '' . Supporting characters , including a comic petty officer and the Tonkinese girl 's mother , help to tie the stories together . Because he lacked military knowledge , Hammerstein had difficulty writing that part of the script ; the director of the original production , Logan , assisted him and received credit as co-writer of the book . </P>
<P> The plot centers on an American nurse stationed on a South Pacific island during World War II , who falls in love with a middle - aged expatriate French plantation owner but struggles to accept his mixed - race children . A secondary romance , between a U.S. lieutenant and a young Tonkinese woman , explores his fears of the social consequences should he marry his Asian sweetheart . The issue of racial prejudice is candidly explored throughout the musical , most controversially in the lieutenant 's song , `` You 've Got to Be Carefully Taught '' . Supporting characters , including a comic petty officer and the Tonkinese girl 's mother , help to tie the stories together . Because he lacked military knowledge , Hammerstein had difficulty writing that part of the script ; the director of the original production , Logan , assisted him and received credit as co-writer of the book . </P>
where does the movie south pacific take place
where does the movie south pacific take place
South Pacific island
South Pacific island