IMDb > Show Boat (1936)
Show Boat
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Show Boat (1936) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   1,045 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Down 61% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

James Whale

Writers:

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

View company contact information for Show Boat on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

14 May 1936 (USA) more

Tagline:

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

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. full summary | add synopsis

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination more

User Comments:

A cinematic masterpiece and true to the Ferber epic more (41 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:

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

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

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


Fun Stuff

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. more

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." more

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. more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Naughty Nineties (1945) more

Soundtrack:

Ol' Man River more


FAQ

This version of "Show Boat" is supposed to be extremely faithful to the show. What changes have been made?
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30 out of 31 people found the following comment useful.
A cinematic masterpiece and true to the Ferber epic, 16 May 2002
Author: Ray Faiola from New York, NY

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.

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