MGM was a titan in the industry when it came to a lavish movie musical. Audiences could not get enough of seeing a bit of soft-shoe or elegantly crafted dance numbers up on the silver screen. Not only that, but the incredible songs that were belted out in these productions often became some of the most essential hits of the era. When you take a look back at American theater, there are just some tales that are undeniable. The 1927 stage musical Show Boat, which featured music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and P. G. Wodehouse, is one such essential project. Based on the 1926 best-selling novel of the same name from Edna Ferber, this play brought some gravity to the drama of the play with some real-life issues that were not commonly a part of normal entertainment. This story was so appealing that it ended up being adapted twice within a decade; first in a mostly-silent 1929 version and subsequently in a proper adaptation from James Whale in 1936. Then in 1951 MGM realized there was an opportunity to capture this magic once again in glorious Technicolor. Their hunch paid off, as Show Boat became the second highest-grossing movie of 1951 and stands as a beloved favorite.
While some would say the immense box office success was reason enough to make this third adaptation of the story, it should be noted that this version makes some notable changes to the classic play. Producer Arthur Freed and screenwriter John Lee Mahin had very strong opinions on how the movie should flow and how the dialogue should be altered, resulting in the excision or reduction of some key characters from the original material, as well as the molding of storylines into something very different than audiences had known. The two even had the foresight to omit some scenes that would be considered a bit too politically incorrect. Yet, the basic bones of the story are the same. In the late 1800s, a show boat called the Cotton Blossom arrives in a quaint Mississippi town to bring some entertainment to the locals. The stars of the show are Steve Baker (Robert Sterling) and Julie LaVerne (Ava Gardner), a husband and wife duo who are about to find themselves on the wrong side of a racist south. Charges are leveled against them of miscegenation, as Julie has been hiding her mixed heritage. Forced to leave the company, there is a new duo that must take over their duties despite the heartbreaking loss to the close-knit family.
Magnolia Hawks (Kathryn Grayson) is the 18-year-old daughter of the captain and Julie’s best friend until her unfortunate departure. For better or for worse, she happens to become enamored with a riverboat gambler named Gaylord Ravenal (Howard Keel) while docked in Mississippi. Of course, he is posing as a fellow actor offering his services, but he really just needs a lift. When he finds a steady gig on the boat opposite of Magnolia, along with some burgeoning feelings, he does his best to leave behind his miscreant ways. As audiences have come to realize, a man leaving behind his misdeeds is often easier said than done. This adaptation of Show Boat abandons much of the more involved issues of race, but the depiction of a morally corrupt man trying not to obliterate his marriage hits quite effectively. Kathryn Grayson is incredibly moving in the lead role, both from her lovely singing voice as well as the heart wrenching moments where she is struggling the most with her situation. Howard Keel is a real scoundrel, but you still root for him to get his act together for Magnolia’s sake.
This dramatic tale of racism and toxic relationships works well as a narrative story, but the real reason to come to this film is for the musical numbers – an area where this film really delivers. From the opening “Cotton Blossom” number to big showstoppers like “Make Believe” and “I Might Fall Back On You,” this film really soars. This was a production made by people that know how to properly execute a musical, and the kinetic sequences filled with a plethora of dancers wash over you in waves. Not every moment needs to be “the most” to get to the heart of the matter. Perhaps the pinnacle of the film comes fairly early on when William Warfield’s Joe makes the most of his diminished role with his stirring rendition of “Old Man River” that will have you floating. This moment is so minimal, but so very effective. This production makes good use of its talented ensemble cast including Joe E. Brown and Agnes Moorehead as Magnolia’s parents. The story may be a bit sanitized and sculpted to fit with the morality of the 1950s, but the narrative is just as stirring and engrossing as ever. Show Boat is one heck of a musical.
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents Show Boat with a glorious new 1080p master transfer sourced from a 4K scan of the original Technicolor negatives. For my money, Warner Archive is the most consistently great company when it comes to their transfers, and this one ranks among the strongest I have ever seen for a classic film. The film features some miraculous colors within the costumes and settings that pop off the screen with a vibrant intensity. The black levels are incredibly deep with a pleasing stability throughout. The level of detail and clarity is stunning with the appropriate amount of natural film grain intact. The film appears to be almost entirely free of dirt and damage, which makes the feature feel like it could have been made yesterday. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. This presentation is an award-worthy effort from Warner Archive on all fronts.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive has made the great decision to provide both the Original Theatrical Mono audio track along with a Stereo version for this new Blu-Ray. Each track is delivered via DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio presentation that is simply wonderful. With music being the driving force of the film, it is necessary to report that the track nails these elements beautifully. The track balances vocals with the at-times rowdy audience and the accompanying music with magnificent clarity. There are moments where the track is pushed to its limits with all of the competing elements, but the track maintains its fidelity to perfection. Normal dialogue comes through clearly from beginning to end. Warner Archive has provided a top-notch audio presentation that does not exhibit any glaring signs of age-related wear-and-tear. The disc also comes with optional English (SDH) subtitles.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director George Sidney provides a very entertaining and informative commentary track that was originally included on the laserdisc release of the movie. There are some interesting anecdotes regarding working with locals and his career as a whole. Sidney does run out of stories at points, resulting in lengthy stretches of silence.
- Till The Clouds Roll By – Show Boat (1946) Excerpt: A nearly 16-minute HD clip from the fictionalized biopic about composer Jerome Kern released by MGM. Six songs from the show are sung by the likes of Tony Martin, Kathryn Grayson, Virginia O’Brien, Lena Horne, and Caleb Peterson. This is a lovely addition to the overall package.
- “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” with Ava Gardner Vocal: A five-minute audio clip which includes the original vocals from Gardner, which sound quietly lovely to these ears.
- “Bill” with Ava Gardner Vocal: A nearly four-minute audio clip that functions in the same way as the previous song.
- Lux Radio Theater Broadcast (2/11/52): A 51-minute audio presentation which finds nearly all of the stars from the film reprising their roles in this condensed telling of the story. This zips through the story while giving you much of what you would want to hear from the show. The audio quality is not always the strongest here due to source limitations.
- Theatrical Trailer: A four-minute trailer that plays up the grand scope of the film and the fact that it’s a big Technicolor spectacle filled with classic songs. You get snippets from some of the key moments of the film, but there are still plenty of moments to cherish in the actual feature.
Final Thoughts
Show Boat is equal parts flashy and emotional with really impressive musical numbers that dazzle in that special way that the best of old Hollywood can. There have been numerous versions of this production, but this one stands apart not only because of the vibrant Technicolor, but due to the shaping of the story to its bare essentials. Warner Archive has provided a Blu-Ray with a magnificent A/V presentation and a really great assortment of special features. This disc is a must-own for anyone who is even a passing fan of this film. Recommended
Show Boat can be purchased directly through Warner Archive or various other online retailers. The movie will be officially released on February 23, 2021.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
