Poster for Show Boat

Show Boat

1936, Musical, 1h 53m

13 Reviews 1,000+ Ratings

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Show Boat Photos

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Movie Info

Based on Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Broadway hit, this musical spans four decades in the lives of performers on a Mississippi river boat. Sheltered beauty Magnolia Hawks (Irene Dunne) takes over as the show's leading lady when mulatto Julie (Helen Morgan) and her white husband are forced out of town by a narrow-minded sheriff. Charismatic opportunist Gaylord Ravenal (Allan Jones) wins Magnolia's heart, but his gambling losses threaten to ruin their chances for a happy marriage.

Genre:

Musical
Original Language:

English
Director:

James Whale
Producer:

Carl Laemmle Jr.
Writer:

Oscar Hammerstein II
Release Date (Theaters):

May 17, 1936 original
Release Date (Streaming):

Apr 29, 2014
Runtime:

1h 53m
Distributor:

Universal Pictures

Cast & Crew

Irene Dunne
Magnolia Hawks

Allan Jones
Gaylord Ravenal

Charles Winninger

Charles Winninger
Cap'n Andy Hawks

Helen Westley
Parthy Hawks

Paul Robeson
Joe

Helen Morgan
Julie

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Show Boat

All Critics (13) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (13)

Full Review… Keith Phipps The Dissolve

Full Review… Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand

Full Review… Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia

Full Review… Matt Brunson Film Frenzy

Full Review… Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine

Full Review… Phil Hall IdentityTheory

Full Review… Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com

Full Review… Steve Crum Kansas City Kansan

Full Review… Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal

Full Review… Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Full Review… Tony Toscano Talking Pictures (U.S.)

View All Critic Reviews (13)

Audience Reviews for Show Boat

Jul 19, 2013

this is the show boat to watch, and in spite of irene dunn's blackface number, one of the most racially sensitive films i've seen from the 1930's. just watch the scene where helen morgan sings 'can't help lovin that man of mine' or paul robeson's 'old man river'. if this doesn't move u then you're made of stone

Stella D Super Reviewer
Sep 06, 2010

So much better than the 1951 version.

Super Reviewer
Apr 17, 2010

Somewhat more faithful to the book and it does record Helen Morgan's legendary stage performance but the later Ava Gardner version is still the superior film and the one to watch.

jay n Super Reviewer

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