Show Boat (1951)

Show Boat
Directed by George Sidney
Written bu John Lee Mahin from the musical play by Oscar Hammerstein II and the novel by Edna Ferber
1951/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Fish got to swim and birds got to fly/ I got to love one man ’til I die/ Can’t help lovin’ dat man of mine — Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II[/box]

I love the 1936 version of the musical but this is almost as good.

It is the deep South at about the turn of the last century.  Cap’n Andy Hawks (Joe E. Brown) and his wife Parthy (Agnes Moorehead) use their paddle wheeler to put on shows up and down the Mississippi River.  Their daughter Magnolia (Kathryn Greyson) dreams of playing a part but is discouraged by the strict Parthy.  One day Gaylord Ravenal (Howard Keel), a down-on-his-luck riverboat gambler, comes by the boat looking for work as an actor.  He and Magnolia fall in love at first sight.

Initially, there is no work for him.  But soon a spurned lover turns in leading lady Julie (Ava Gardner), who has been passing as white, on a miscegenation charge.  She and leading man Steve, her husband, are forced to leave the show.  Now Magnolia and Gay become lovers on stage and in real life.  They soon marry and Magnolia leaves for the high life of a successful gambler’s wife.

Soon enough Gaylord’s luck turns and everything goes to hell.  He leaves her and she tries to make a go of it as a singer.  Though she does not know it, she receives help from her friend Julie, now a washed up alcoholic having been deserted by her husband.  There is a tearful reunion with Cap’n Andy and Magnolia returns to the Cotton Blossom where she raises Gaylord’s daughter.  With William Warfield as Joe and Marge and Gower Champion as the dance act.

This is a less stagey rendition of the story than the 1936 version which is not to say that the direction is better.  In fact, James Whale’s staging of the earlier version is just about perfect in my book.  I prefer Howard Keel to Alan Jones and it’s hard to choose between Warfield and Paul Robeson.  Irene Dunne’s Magnolia and Helen Morgan’s Julie are definitive.

Comparisons aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this for the beautiful music, color, and acting. For some reason, “Ol’ Man River” gives me the chills every single time.

Show Boat received Oscar nominations in the categories of Best Cinematography, Color and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture.

Trailer

Clip – William Warfield sings “Ol’ Man River”