Show Boat (1936)

Director:

James Whale

Writers:

Edna Ferber (novel)
Oscar Hammerstein II (play) ...

Release Date:

14 May 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Here Comes the Grand and Glorious "Show Boat" (version of 1936)

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.

Plot Keywords:

Showboat | Riverboat | Racial Overtones | Showbiz | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Irene Dunne	...	Magnolia Hawks
Allan Jones	...	Gaylord Ravenal
Charles Winninger	...	Cap'n Andy Hawks
Paul Robeson	...	Joe
Helen Morgan	...	Julie LaVerne
Helen Westley	...	Parthenia "Parthy" Hawks
Queenie Smith	...	Ellie May Chipley
Sammy White	...	Frank Schultz
Donald Cook	...	Steve Baker
Hattie McDaniel	...	Queenie
Francis X. Mahoney	...	Rubber Face Smith
Marilyn Knowlden	...	Kim as a child
Sunnie O'Dea	...	Kim (at 16)
Arthur Hohl	...	Pete
Charles Middleton	...	Sheriff Ike Vallon

Also Known As:

Edna Ferber's Show Boat (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2043) | Finland:S | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

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.

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."

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.

Movie Connections:

Features Show Boat (1929)

Soundtrack:

Ol' Man River

Excellent

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!