Show Boat (1951)

Synopsis: This vivacious remake of the Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein musical (based on an Edna Ferber novel) about life on a Mississippi riverboat tracks the hardships of Julie Laverne (Ava Gardner), a... This vivacious remake of the Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein musical (based on an Edna Ferber novel) about life on a Mississippi riverboat tracks the hardships of Julie Laverne (Ava Gardner), a mulatto trying to pass for white while also following the course of a tumultuous love between a captain's daughter, Magnolia Hawks (Kathryn Grayson), and an itinerant gambler, Gaylord Ravenal (Howard Keel). Gardner (with help from Annette Warren, whose voice was overdubbed for Gardner's songs) gives a heartbreaking performance, and Grayson's clear, pure voice soars, set off magnificently by Keel's rich baritone. The film stands as a classic for both its surprising emotional impact and its well-known score, featuring timeless gems such as "Old Man River" and "Can't Help Lovin' that Man of Mine." [More]

Starring: Kathryn Grayson, Ava Gardner, Howard Keel, Joe E. Brown

Starring: Kathryn Grayson, Ava Gardner, Howard Keel, Joe E. Brown, Gower Champion, Robert Sterling, Agnes Moorehead, Adele Jergens, Leif Erickson

Director: George Sidney

Director: George Sidney
Screenwriter: John Lee Mahin, George Wells, Jack McGowan
Producer: Arthur Freed
Composer: Jerome Kern, Adolph Deutsch

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