 Show Boat 1951  N/R, 107 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: George Sidney
Cast: Kathryn Grayson, Ava Gardner, Howard Keel, Joe E. Brown, Marge Champion, Gower Champion, Agnes Moorehead, Robert Sterling, William Warfield, Adele Jergens, Lief Erickson, Norman Leavitt, Fuzzy Knight, Emory Parnell, Regis Toomey
This remake of the Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein Broadway musical features Kathryn Grayson in the role of Magnolia, the daughter of the Mississippi riverboat's Captain Andy Hawk (Joe E. Brown). Magnolia takes over the riverboat show's starring role when Julie (Ava Gardner) is forced to leave after local police learn that she is not White but is married to White man Steve (Robert Sterling), and interracial marriages are forbidden. Gambler Gaylord Ravenal (Howard Keel) takes the role of Magnolia's leading man, and they fall in love and marry. But, Gaylord's gambling will prove to be a big problem–until he cleans up his act and returns to Magnolia and their baby daughter. Song standards, such as "Old Man River" (sung beautifully by William Warfield), "Bill," and "Make Believe" make this an enjoyable film.
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 Show Boat 1936  N/R, 113 min.
Genre: Comedy / Musical / Drama / Romance
Director: James Whale
Cast: Irene Dunne, Helen Morgan, Allan Jones, Paul Robeson, Charles Winninger, Hattie McDaniel, Helen Westley, Donald Cook, Sammy White, J. Farrell MacDonald, Queenie Smith, Francis X. Mahoney, Marilyn Knowlden, Arthur Holh, Charles Middleton
This is the film that first brought Jerome Kern's Broadway musical to the screen. Cap'n Andy Hawk's (Charles Winninger) show boat troupe features married actors Julie and Steve (Helen Morgan and Donald Cook), but when it is revealed that Julie is a mulatto, she is fired, and Steve leaves with her. Cap'n Andy's daughter Magnolia (Irene Dunn) takes over the leading role and is joined by gambler Gaylord Ravenal (Allan Jones) as her leading man. Later, Magnolia and Gaylord leave the show boat dreaming of a perfect life together, but problems lie ahead. Paul Robeson's poignant rendition of "Old Man River" is the highlight of this very good version.
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|  | | Show Boat (1951) |
| | Show Boat (1936) |
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| Oscar: Best Supporting Actress for Gone With The Wind (1939) |
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