Show Boat

This neglected gem is the closest rendering we have to what the authors originally intended to communicate in one of the most important musicals of the twentieth century.

It preserves performances by several of the original cast members, including the great Paul Robeson and Helen Morgan, singing their most famous signature tunes.

The American Musical Theater came of age with this show, which depicts domestic abuse, alcoholism & racial oppression and contains one of the most glorious musical scores ever written for any medium.

It's sad that this landmark production has not been remastered for DVD.

Superb casting, wonderful music, and simple but literate dialogue. Paul Robeson's rendition of Old Man River is captivating, and this film is the only time I've heard the second stanza of the song which I'm sure many people would feel is not politically correct for our day. This really is an elegant production.

Stunning, astounding achievement for 1930s Hollywood cinema. An early talkie musical that boasts excellent sound and breathtaking cinematography that points the way to the modern era of movies, including closeups and all sorts of rolling and perspective shots that were new in their time. This adaptation of the legendary Broadway musical (considered the first modern musical) is shortened somewhat to keep it around two hours, so the plot often seems to race through some pretty dramatic events. Veterans from the stage version appear in key roles, including Charlie Winninger as Captain Andy, Paul Robeson as Joe and Helen Morgan as Julie. While there are several cringe-worthy "Negro" moments, including Irene Dunne performing in black face, at the very least Robeson is handled with respect throughout. I must be honest and admit I am not crazy about Dunne as Magnolia, although Allan Jones makes a fine Gaylord Ravenal. I think Universal might have found someone a bit softer around the edges to play Magnolia, as much as I admire most of Dunne's film work. This is an almost perfect movie, and it is amazing that it was shot on back lots. As with Edna Ferber's stories, on which it is based, SHOW BOAT will transport you to another time and place, at least for two hours.

This movie is a wonderful stage-to-screen musical film. It stuck to the original musical play and had wonderful stars. Irene Dunne as the young innocent Magnolia Hawks, Allan Jones as the charming gambler Gaylord Ravenal, Charles Winninger as Cap'n Andy Hawks, Paul Robenson as Joe, and Helen Morgan, in the role she originated on stage, as Julie LaVerne. This film is a musical drama with comedy and racial references. This film is a great musical about racial differences and the reactions of people, back then, with different races. That is what makes this film a landmark musical and also one of AFI's 100 Years of Musicals and was #24 out of 25 musicals. This version of "Show Boat" is known to be the best movie version of all three movie versions. The 1929 version was not done very well because it was a very early talkie and the numbers weren't heard correctly. The 1951 version was much too sanitized and it took out the value of the whole show. "Show Boat" is a very entertaining and beautiful film.

I was too young to see this version until well after the 1951 one had fixed a certain standard in my brain. It took a TCM rerun to open my eyes. Mind you, I still like the 1951 production very well indeed, but there is a depth of story, song, and character in this one that makes it overall the better of the two (and the "best" of a larger lot).

First, you have Paul Robeson and Helen Morgan. Both are icons who needed no dubbing no matter where or when they sang standards like "Old Man River" and "Just My Bill." Then there is Hattie McDaniel in a role largely skipped in the 1951 movie. And a greater selection of minor songs prevails as well. Indeed, the inclusion of many black people who are missing from the later film give it a unique richness.

Black and white never looked so good.