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:

In the scene in which Paul Robeson sings "Ah Still Suits Me", Queenie (Hattie McDaniel) has a box of Aunt Jemima pancake mix on her work table. It's a subtle nod to Tess Gardella (stage name "Aunt Jemima"), who created the role of Queenie in the 1927 Broadway production.

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:

Julie: (singing) Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, I gotta love one man till I die, Can't help lovin' dat man of mine.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Naughty Nineties (1945)

Soundtrack:

Ol' Man River

A cinematic masterpiece and true to the Ferber epic

This is not a musical. This is a film. James Whale's visual expressionism and the truly remarkable performances he coached from his actors is what makes SHOW BOAT a great movie. As an historical record, this SHOW BOAT is nearest to the Ferber novel as well as the Ziegfeld stage production, using several members of the original and / or London cast. The evocative tone of the film, bringing alive the seedy rural Mississippi River towns, coupled with the natural and subtle acting jobs, make this film real to the touch. Yes, MGM's production is more opulent, with more modern orchestrations and stronger vocals on the part of Gay and Magnolia. Even William Warfield is more polished than Paul Robeson. And that's the trouble. That performance belongs in an opera house. Universal's 1936 SHOW BOAT is musical realism. As for the cultural aspects, blackface happened. Get over it. So did rampant racism; and the misegenation aspects of the script are dealt with frankly and brutally. I know of precious few films of the thirties that were so bold in their statements regarding racial intolerance. And don't think Whale was oblivious to the fact that he was placing one infraction side-by-side with another. It is the perfect unmasking of the hypocrisy of racism - you can make yourself up to look like a nigger; but don't dare marry one or carry a drop of one's blood in your veins or let a real one on the same stage with a white actor.

Why is "Bill" so powerful? Listen to the second chorus. Victor Baravelle brings in high sustained strings. Whale cuts to the old charwomen halting in their work, stopping to listen, wiping away an unwanted tear with an apron.

SHOW BOAT 1936 pulls no punches. It's a masterpiece.