IMDb > Show Boat (1936)
Show Boat
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Show Boat (1936) More at IMDbPro »


IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   1,049 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Contact:
View company contact information for Show Boat on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 May 1936 (USA) more
Tagline:
Here Comes the Grand and Glorious "Show Boat" (version of 1936) more
Plot:
Despite her mother's objections, the naive young daughter of a show boat captain is thrust into the limelight as the company's new leading lady. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
Excellent more (41 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Edna Ferber's Show Boat (USA) (complete title)
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Runtime:
113 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The cost of production for the movie was more than Universal Studios could afford. Head of the studio, Carl Laemmle Jr., had to borrow money to finish the picture and to keep the studio afloat. When he reneged on an agreement to repay the loan, Universal Studios was taken over by a New York City lending institution. Laemmle Jr. lost his position at the studio his father had started and never again worked in Hollywood. more
Goofs:
Continuity: As Julie finishes singing her solo section of "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" in the show boat's kitchen, Joe is seen above her walking down the steps. A moment later, there is a close-up of Joe, at the top of the steps, and he walks down them and into the kitchen, saying, "Why, that's my favorite song." more
Quotes:
Jim Green: Queer how a woman goes to pieces over a man. She was the best bet in Chicago until that curly-haired tramp threw her down. more
Movie Connections:
Features Show Boat (1929) more
Soundtrack:
Ol' Man River more

FAQ

This version of "Show Boat" is supposed to be extremely faithful to the show. What changes have been made?
more
10 out of 11 people found the following comment useful.
Excellent, 1 May 2004
10/10
Author: Wayne Malin (wwaayynnee51@hotmail.com) from United States

The BEST version ever of the musical. It follows a show boat and the family that runs it through three generations concentrating on Magnolia (Irene Dunne) and her husband Ravenel (Allen Jones).

Some people have complained that Dunne's high-pitched singing voice is TOO high-pitched...they're not completely wrong. Still she sings in tune and her "Make Believe" duet with Jones is just great. Actually all the songs are great and belted out by the cast--highlights are "Can't Help Lovin' That Man", "Bill" and the great Paul Robeson doing "Old Man River". The movie also is very faithful to the stage play--it has almost all the songs and manages to fit a 3 hour play into a 2 hour film. The last section with Kim seems rushed but that's understandable.

Dunne is just great as Magnolia--very sweet and lovable. The only strange point is her dancing to "Can't Help..."--the dress is way too constricting and she has a strange look on her face. Jones is wooden but but has a wonderful singing voice. Helen Morgan was taken from the stage show to recreate Julie. She stops the movie TWICE with "Can't Help..." and "Bill". She has a beautiful voice and is a superb actress. Her character disappears completely halfway through...but it's the same in the stage play. In the book her character ends up working in a house of prostitution--there was NO way they could have gotten that on the screen back in 1936! Everybody else is great and the movie moves very quickly.

It's much better than the 1950s version. The 50s version IS in color and opens with a great number...but most of the singing is overdubbed, the story is brutally cut down and "Can't Help..." is thrown away!

This has it all over that one. Also director James Whale reportedly liked this one above all his other films--he did a few other little films like "Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein"! Beautiful songs, some truly lovely photography (the moonlight scenes on top of the showboat are dreamlike) and a quick story. Just simply one of the great Hollywood musicals. A must see!

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Irene Dunne in 1936 Show Boat JessQ
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