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Show Boat (1951)
Released By: MGM Home Entertainment   Rating: Not Rated   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: MGM Home Entertainment
Genre: Musical
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Director: George Sidney
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Agnes Moorehead, Ava Gardner, Howard Keel, Joe E. Brown, Kathryn Grayson
Published ID: 210
UPC: 027616661425, 012569509429,
Plot: The third and (to date) last film version of the Edna Ferber/Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II musical {+Show Boat} falls just short of greatness but is still a whale of a show. Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson are in fine fettle as irresponsible gambler Gaylord Ravenal and showboat ingenue Magnolia Hawks. The plot adheres closely to the Broadway original making several welcome improvements in the final act (which was always a bit shaky). Magnolia, daughter of showboat impresario Captain Andy (Joe E. Brown) and Parthy Hawkes (Agnes Moorehead), falls head over heels in love with the raffish Ravenal. When the show's leading lady, Julie (Ava Gardner), and leading man, Steve (Robert Sterling), are forced to leave when Julie's mulatto heritage is revealed by disgruntled suitor Pete (Leif Erickson), Magnolia and Gaylord step into the vacant stage roles and score a hit. Eventually, the two are married and for several months are quite happy. After incurring serious gambling losses, however, Gaylord walks out of Magnolia's life never realizing that his wife is expecting a baby. With the help of her former showboat colleagues Ellie and Frank Schultz (Marge and Gower Champion) and a behind-the-scenes assist from the tragic Julie, Magnolia secures work as a Cabaret singer in Chicago. Her new year's eve debut threatens to be a bust until her father Captain Andy quells the rowdy crowd and guides his daughter through a lovely rendition of After the Ball (a Charles K. Harris tune that pops up in every stage version of Show Boat). Magnolia returns to her family, with her daughter Kim in tow. Upon learning from Julie that he has a daughter, Gaylord returns to Magnolia and Kim, setting the stage for a joyous ending. Virtually all of the Kern-Hammerstein songs are retained for this version of Show Boat (though none of the songs specially written for the 1936 film version are heard). These cannot be faulted, nor can MGM's sumptuous production values. Still, the 1951 Show Boat leaves one a bit cold. Perhaps it was the removal of the racial themes that gave the original so much substance (as black stevedore Joe, William Warfield exists only to sing a toned-down version Ol' Man River while Joe's wife Queenie is virtually written out of the proceedings). Also, MGM reneged on its original decision to cast Lena Horne as Julie; the role was recast with Ava Gardner and rewritten with an excess of gooey sentiment). Or perhaps it was the production's factory-like slickness; typical of the film's smoothing out of the original property's rough edges was the casting of Marge and Gower Champion, who are just too darn good to be convincing as the doggedly mediocre entertainers Frank and Ellie. Even so, Show Boat does have Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson at their peak, not to mention the peerless Joe E. Brown as Captain Andy. And the film was a financial success, enabling MGM to bankroll such future musical triumphs as Singin' in the Rain and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Show boat
Added 9/20/2009

Good story. The singing by William Warfield was the best version of Olde Man River I ever heard and that includes Paul Robeson. The acting was excellent. I do prefer the story of the 1937 version with Irene Dunne & Allen Jones (Jack's} father.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
It's not just good - it's GREAT
Added 6/13/2009

This is a movie musical I never tire of watching and listening to ... great cast and great songs and production numbers. Had the VHS video tape version for years until it got damaged and I replaced it with this DVD version. I'm an old fart at 80 so my main musical tastes are the big band era, easy listening from the 30s and 40s and Broadway musicals. In this musical, which I rate right up there with "The Jolson Story", William Warfield gives the best rendition of "Old Man River" you'll ever hear. Then there's "Only Make Believe", "Why Do I Love You", "My Bill", "Can't Help Loving That Man of Mine", "Old Man River", "Life Upon The Wicked Stage" etc. Gotta go now. Just talked myself into watching it again.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Favorite Musical
Added 5/19/2009

Showboat has always been my favorite musical movie with its drama and beautiful music. The video quality is very good considering the age of the movie. It is full screen on a flat panel TV but you can tell that it has been stretched. Kathryn Garyson's beautiful voice hits high notes that are incredible as are the dance routines of Marge and Gower Champion. Ava Gardner gives a remarkable performance as Julie but I have read that she did not actually do the singing. No credit was given to the actual singer but I have also read that it was someone whose name is unrecognizeable. When William Warfield sings Ol Man River, it sends chills up my back, just astounding. I first saw this movie as an early teenager when my favorite genre was westerns and was so impressed with the story and beautiful music that I bought the soundtrack on 78 rpm records. I now have the soundtrack on at least three different CD's including the older version from the 1930's but this version is far superior for its vocal performances.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Showboat DVD
Added 4/6/2009

Showboat was ordered and paid for by credit card, but HAS NEVER BEEN RECEIVED.

PLEASE check into this for me and respond or cancel the order and the charge.

Thank you,
Eliza Thorne











As of this date I have NOT received either the Showboat DVD or any correspondence regarding the purchase.

Please check into this and get back to me...or CANCERL HE ORDER AND THE CREDIT CARD CHARGE.

THANK YOU
Eliza Thorne









0 out of 3 people found this helpful.
carolynwhite999@yahoo.com
Added 3/23/2009

This is a very good quality video of the ShowBoat production. We enjoy it very much. Story is entertaining and the music is superb.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Show boat
Added 9/20/2009

Good story. The singing by William Warfield was the best version of Olde Man River I ever heard and that includes Paul Robeson. The acting was excellent. I do prefer the story of the 1937 version with Irene Dunne & Allen Jones (Jack's} father.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
It's not just good - it's GREAT
Added 6/13/2009

This is a movie musical I never tire of watching and listening to ... great cast and great songs and production numbers. Had the VHS video tape version for years until it got damaged and I replaced it with this DVD version. I'm an old fart at 80 so my main musical tastes are the big band era, easy listening from the 30s and 40s and Broadway musicals. In this musical, which I rate right up there with "The Jolson Story", William Warfield gives the best rendition of "Old Man River" you'll ever hear. Then there's "Only Make Believe", "Why Do I Love You", "My Bill", "Can't Help Loving That Man of Mine", "Old Man River", "Life Upon The Wicked Stage" etc. Gotta go now. Just talked myself into watching it again.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Favorite Musical
Added 5/19/2009

Showboat has always been my favorite musical movie with its drama and beautiful music. The video quality is very good considering the age of the movie. It is full screen on a flat panel TV but you can tell that it has been stretched. Kathryn Garyson's beautiful voice hits high notes that are incredible as are the dance routines of Marge and Gower Champion. Ava Gardner gives a remarkable performance as Julie but I have read that she did not actually do the singing. No credit was given to the actual singer but I have also read that it was someone whose name is unrecognizeable. When William Warfield sings Ol Man River, it sends chills up my back, just astounding. I first saw this movie as an early teenager when my favorite genre was westerns and was so impressed with the story and beautiful music that I bought the soundtrack on 78 rpm records. I now have the soundtrack on at least three different CD's including the older version from the 1930's but this version is far superior for its vocal performances.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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