Show Boat

( 4 )

Overview

The third and to date last film version of the Edna Ferber/Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II musical Show Boat falls just short of greatness but is still a whale of a show. Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson are in fine fettle as irresponsible gambler Gaylord Ravenal and showboat ingenue Magnolia Hawks. The plot adheres closely to the Broadway original making several welcome improvements in the final act which was always a bit shaky. Magnolia, daughter of showboat impresario Captain Andy Joe E. Brown and Parthy ...
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Overview

The third and to date last film version of the Edna Ferber/Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II musical Show Boat falls just short of greatness but is still a whale of a show. Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson are in fine fettle as irresponsible gambler Gaylord Ravenal and showboat ingenue Magnolia Hawks. The plot adheres closely to the Broadway original making several welcome improvements in the final act which was always a bit shaky. Magnolia, daughter of showboat impresario Captain Andy Joe E. Brown and Parthy Hawkes Agnes Moorehead, falls head over heels in love with the raffish Ravenal. When the show's leading lady, Julie Ava Gardner, and leading man, Steve Robert Sterling, are forced to leave when Julie's mulatto heritage is revealed by disgruntled suitor Pete Leif Erickson, Magnolia and Gaylord step into the vacant stage roles and score a hit. Eventually, the two are married and for several months are quite happy. After incurring serious gambling losses, however, Gaylord walks out of Magnolia's life never realizing that his wife is expecting a baby. With the help of her former showboat colleagues Ellie and Frank Schultz Marge and Gower Champion and a behind-the-scenes assist from the tragic Julie, Magnolia secures work as a Cabaret singer in Chicago. Her new year's eve debut threatens to be a bust until her father Captain Andy quells the rowdy crowd and guides his daughter through a lovely rendition of "After the Ball" a Charles K. Harris tune that pops up in every stage version of Show Boat. Magnolia returns to her family, with her daughter Kim in tow. Upon learning from Julie that he has a daughter, Gaylord returns to Magnolia and Kim, setting the stage for a joyous ending. Virtually all of the Kern-Hammerstein songs are retained for this version of Show Boat though none of the songs specially written for the 1936 film version are heard. These cannot be faulted, nor can MGM's sumptuous production values. Still, the 1951 Show Boat leaves one a bit cold. Perhaps it was the removal of the racial themes that gave the original so much substance as black stevedore Joe, William Warfield exists only to sing a toned-down version "Ol' Man River" while Joe's wife Queenie is virtually written out of the proceedings. Also, MGM reneged on its original decision to cast Lena Horne as Julie; the role was recast with Ava Gardner and rewritten with an excess of gooey sentiment. Or perhaps it was the production's factory-like slickness; typical of the film's smoothing out of the original property's rough edges was the casting of Marge and Gower Champion, who are just too darn good to be convincing as the doggedly mediocre entertainers Frank and Ellie. Even so, Show Boat does have Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson at their peak, not to mention the peerless Joe E. Brown as Captain Andy. And the film was a financial success, enabling MGM to bankroll such future musical triumphs as Singin' in the Rain and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Richard Gilliam
Show Boat is one of MGM's best musical productions of the 1950s, an entertaining star vehicle that suffers primarily by comparison to the 1936 version. Director George Sidney is mostly interested in getting production values onto the screen, and he does so admirably, with a rousing opening sequence that establishes the tone and pacing to follow. The film both benefits and suffers from the star-laden casting choices. While Joe E. Brown is fun to watch doing his usual Joe E. Brown act, he fails to credibly become the character he is playing. Similar problems exist in other casting choices. If Ava Gardner is never quite believable as Julie LaVerne, she instead gives a very fine Ava Gardner performance. What the 1936 version lacks in spectacle, this remake more than compensates for. The film is visually rich and lush, and the performers never lack for energy or charisma.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 5/2/2000
  • UPC: 012569509436
  • Original Release: 1951
  • Rating:

  • Source: WARNER HOME VIDEO
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Kathryn Grayson Magnolia Hawks
Howard Keel Gaylord Revenal
Ava Gardner Julie Laverne
Joe E. Brown Capt. Andy Hawks
Marge Champion Ellie May Shipley
Gower Champion Frank Schultz
Robert Sterling Stephen Baker
Agnes Moorehead Parthy Hawks
William Warfield Joe
Bette Arlen
Chick Chandler Herman
Roy Damron
Anne Dore
Michael Dugan
Marietta Elliott
Leif Erickson Pete
Lisa Ferraday Renee
George Ford
Robert Fortier
Mary Jane French
Earl Hodgins Bartender
Tom Irish Bellboy
Joyce Jameson Chorus Girl
Edward Keane Hotel Manager
Marilyn Kinsley
Fuzzy Knight Troc Piano Player
Judy Landon
Norman Leavitt George the Calliope Player
George Lynn Dealer
Ian MacDonald Drunken Sport
Alphonse Martell Headwaiter
Owen McGiveney Windy McClain
Louis Mercier Dabney
Ida Moore Little Old Lady
Anna Q. Nilsson Seamstress
Emory Parnell Jake Green
James Pierce Doorman
Bert Roach Drunk
William Tannen Man with Julie
Regis Toomey Sheriff Ike Vallon
Mitzie Uehlein
Frank Wilcox Mark Hallson
Lynn Wilde
Frances Williams Queenie
Technical Credits
George Sidney Director
Robert Alton Choreography
Peter Ballbusch Special Effects
Alexander Courage Musical Arrangement
Adolph Deutsch Score Composer, Musical Direction/Supervision
John D. Dunning Editor
Arthur Freed Producer
Cedric Gibbons Art Director
Oscar Hammerstein II Score Composer, Songwriter
John Lee Mahin Screenwriter
Jack McGowan Screenwriter
Warren Newcombe Special Effects
Richard A. Pefferle Set Decoration/Design
Walter Plunkett Costumes/Costume Designer
Charles Rosher Sr. Cinematographer
Conrad Salinger Score Composer, Musical Direction/Supervision
Douglas Shearer Sound/Sound Designer
Jack Martin Smith Art Director
Alfred E. Spencer Set Decoration/Design
William J. Tuttle Makeup
George Wells Screenwriter
Edwin B. Willis Set Decoration/Design
P.G. Wodehouse Songwriter
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3.5
( 4 )
Rating Distribution

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Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews
  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A VERY disappointing film...

    Even though this is the only version of Show Boat done in color, this version of Show Boat was disappointing. Ava Gardner had to have her voice dubbed. Kathryn Grayson is talented but I don't think she was well suited for the part of Magnolia. During the scene where she's singing "After The Ball" people were continuously shouting "I can't hear you!" And I could see (or hear, rather) why. The acting was not very good, the singing only a little better. The music in this film was not done very well. There were also gaps in the movie. Overall, this movie was a sleeper. If you want to hear Jerome Kern's music as it is meant to be heard, you should watch the 1936 version with Irene Dunne, Allan Jones, and Charles Winniger.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Just Keeps Rollin'

    SHOW BOAT was a huge hit when released, and is certainly beautiful to look at and listen to. The criticisms of it for a modern audience usually fall on Kathryn Grayson, whose voice sounds a little like the chirpy voice of Snow White. The script is very different from the stage show, as are the tempos of some of the songs. Still, it is packed with a lot to enjoy.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Still a Whale of a Musical

    First saw this movie on the late show when I was a kid, and fell in love with it from the first. Sure, it has some flaws, but the music is glorious, the cinematography is strong, and overall the performances are first rate. I've hummed tunes from this ever since that first viewing. You don't get better than Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel and William Warfield vocally! Who cares that Ava Gardner's vocals were dubbed? She still makes a beautiful and tragic Julie. Get over the quibbles about this version of Show Boat and enjoy it for what it is...great entertainment!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Not that Bad!

    I have heard nothing but negative comments about this film from critics. Many people claim that this version pales in comparison to the 1936 version which is yet to be released on DVD. However, I am here to tell you that the movie is beautiful to look at, thanks to George Sidney and the music is legendary, thanks to Jerome Kern and Hammerstein. The foggy early morning scene where Joe sings Ol' Man River is the best scene in the movie, and strikes an emotional punch that will stay with you forever!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews