IMDb > Show Boat (1951)
Show Boat
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Show Boat (1951) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   1,640 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 9% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
John Lee Mahin (screenplay)
Jerome Kern (immortal musical play "Show Boat") ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Show Boat on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 September 1951 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
It's NEW! more
Plot:
The daughter of a riverboat captain falls in love with a charming gambler, but their fairytale romance is threatened when his luck turns sour. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations more
User Comments:
It Just Keeps Rolling Along! more (33 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
Kathryn Grayson ... Magnolia Hawks

Ava Gardner ... Julie LaVerne

Howard Keel ... Gaylord Ravenal
Joe E. Brown ... Cap'n Andy Hawks
Marge Champion ... Ellie May Shipley
Gower Champion ... Frank Schultz
Robert Sterling ... Steve Baker

Agnes Moorehead ... Parthy Hawks
Leif Erickson ... Pete (as Lief Erickson)
William Warfield ... Joe
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Boyd Ackerman ... Chorus boy (uncredited)
Bette Arlen ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Mary Bezemes ... Minor Role (uncredited)
Carol Brewster ... Minor Role (uncredited)
Peter Camlin ... Croupier (uncredited)
Sue Casey ... New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)
Chick Chandler ... Trocadero stage assistant (Joe) (uncredited)
Linda Christian ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Sheila Clark ... Kim Ravenal, age 4 (uncredited)
John Crawford ... Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Frank Dae ... Doctor (uncredited)
Nova Dale ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Roy Damron ... Chorus boy (uncredited)
Anne Dore ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Michael Dugan ... Chorus boy (uncredited)
Marietta Elliott ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Lisa Ferraday ... Renee (uncredited)
Bess Flowers ... Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
George Ford ... Chorus boy (uncredited)
Robert Fortier ... Chorus boy (uncredited)
Dan Foster ... Deckhand (uncredited)
Mary Jane French ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
William Hall ... Bouncer (uncredited)
Len Hendry ... Minor Role (uncredited)
Earle Hodgins ... Riverboat bartender (uncredited)
Shep Houghton ... Specialty dancer (uncredited)
Tom Irish ... Bellboy (uncredited)
Claude Jaeger ... Chorus boy (uncredited)
Joyce Jameson ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Adele Jergens ... Cameo McQueen (uncredited)
Edward Keane ... Hotel manager (uncredited)
Helen Kimbell ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Marilyn Kinsley ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Fuzzy Knight ... The Trocadero piano player (uncredited)
Judy Landon ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
John Phillip Law ... Extra (uncredited)

Norman Leavitt ... George (the calliope player) (uncredited)
Meredith Leeds ... New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)
George Lynn ... Blackjack dealer (uncredited)
Ian MacDonald ... Drunken sport (uncredited)
Alice Markham ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell ... Headwaiter (uncredited)
Owen McGiveney ... Windy McClain (uncredited)
Louis Mercier ... Poker player (uncredited)
Ida Moore ... Little Old Lady (uncredited)
Anna Q. Nilsson ... Seamstress (uncredited)
Emory Parnell ... Jake Green (uncredited)
Gil Perkins ... Player (uncredited)
James Pierce ... Doorman (uncredited)
Tao Porchon ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Allan Ray ... Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Charles Regan ... Minor Role (uncredited)
Al Rhein ... Minor Role (uncredited)
Suzanne Ridgeway ... Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
Bert Roach ... Drunk (uncredited)
Joseph Roach ... Chorus boy (uncredited)
Jean Romaine ... New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)
Harry Seymour ... Riverboat piano player (uncredited)
George Sherwood ... Trainer (uncredited)
Carl Sklover ... Minor Role (uncredited)
Bob Stebbins ... Bellhop (uncredited)
William Tannen ... Man with Julie (uncredited)
Regis Toomey ... Sheriff Ike Vallon (uncredited)
Dee Turnell ... Minor Role (uncredited)
Mitzie Uehlien ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Annette Warren ... Julie LaVerne (uncredited) (singing voice)
Frank Wilcox ... Gambler Mark Hallson (uncredited)
Lyn Wilde ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Frances E. Williams ... Queenie (uncredited)
Marjorie Wood ... Landlady (uncredited)
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Directed by
George Sidney 
 
Writing credits
John Lee Mahin (screenplay)

Jerome Kern (immortal musical play "Show Boat") and
Oscar Hammerstein II (immortal musical play "Show Boat")

Edna Ferber (novel "Show Boat")

Jack McGowan  screenplay unused (uncredited)
George Wells  screenplay unused (uncredited)

Produced by
Ben Feiner Jr. .... associate producer
Arthur Freed .... producer
Roger Edens .... associate producer (uncredited)
 
Cinematography by
Charles Rosher (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
John D. Dunning  (as John Dunning)
 
Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons 
Jack Martin Smith 
 
Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis 
 
Costume Design by
Walter Plunkett 
 
Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff .... hair styles designer
William Tuttle .... makeup designer
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roger Edens .... director, "Ol' Man River" sequence (uncredited)
Carl 'Major' Roup .... second assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Richard Pefferle .... associate set decorator (as Richard A. Pefferle)
 
Sound Department
Douglas Shearer .... recording supervisor
 
Special Effects by
Warren Newcombe .... special effects
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Man Ray .... still photographer (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Alexander Courage .... additional orchestrator
Adolph Deutsch .... musical director
Conrad Salinger .... orchestrator
Robert Tucker .... music arranger: vocal arrangements
Robert Franklyn .... additional orchestrator (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt .... additional orchestrator (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Robert Alton .... dances by
Peter Ballbusch .... montage sequences
James Gooch .... technicolor color consultant
Henri Jaffa .... technicolor color consultant
Alex Romero .... assistant choreographer (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Runtime:
107 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director George Sidney was forced to leave for a few days because of illness, so uncredited associate producer Roger Edens directed the beautifully shot, fog-enshrouded "departure" sequence, including the performance by William Warfield of "Ol' Man River." It is the one scene in the film that has been praised even by critics who detest this version of "Show Boat." more
Goofs:
Factual errors: In some prints, Leif Erickson's name is misspelled (as Lief Erickson) in the opening credits. more
Quotes:
Julie: Pride is smaller than kindness. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Changing Stages" (2000) more
Soundtrack:
Why Do I Love You? more

FAQ

How different, overall, is this 1951 film from the original show as well as the 1936 film?
What is the biggest difference between the original show and this film version of "Show Boat"?
What was so controversial about the opening number in the original stage version?
more
3 out of 5 people found the following comment useful.
It Just Keeps Rolling Along!, 25 February 2006
8/10
Author: Spuzzlightyear from Vancouver

I wasn't looking forward to seeing this movie again. I've seen it twice. For some odd reason, and I don't know why I felt it was a chore to see it again (maybe it's because The Musical isn't exactly the most world-changing genre out there). Anyways, once I got IN to watching Show Boat again, I was totally transfixed again! There's just something about it that makes it timeless.. The songs are all top-notch, the singing and dancing are all great, but I think it's the actors that make this version the one to remember. I just love Ava Gardner in this. I TRULY believe she should have got at LEAST a supporting actress nom at the Academy Awards. And what about Howard Keel? Great as always. Yes, everyone, from Joe E. Brown to Gower and Marge Champion look to be having w whoop of a time here. And it's contagious!

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Show Boat (1951)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Howard Keel Forever Doctor_Mabuse
Not the perfect 'Show' at all... churei
Marge and Gower Champion shalmayan-1
Didn't Ava Gardner Win an Oscar? marhefka2000
Notes on SHOW BOAT JSlack3
Kim ken479
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