tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post1590341579310470400..comments2024-03-08T18:49:51.289-05:00Comments on Classic Film and TV Café: Show Boat Has a Good Flowing StoryRick29http://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-12602429590395463342010-10-21T13:13:44.444-04:002010-10-21T13:13:44.444-04:00I found it very interesting too!I found it very interesting too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-18428822376598847952010-06-01T14:05:04.225-04:002010-06-01T14:05:04.225-04:00One of the few really positive reviews of this fil...One of the few really positive reviews of this film, and I am glad I stumbled across it online. I can say that I *have* seen the 1936 version, and while it is quite strong and marvelous, there is more than enough room for other versions, including this first and so far only attempt to film in color. People have attacked this one for so many strange reasons- accusing it of being overly pretty, not gritty enough, and the oddest claim that it's "politically correct." (I guess that's because in this version the words "ni--er" and "darkies" are not uttered, and Joe is not henpecked by his own wife, who calls him 'shiftless,' 'lazy,' and other insults from the earlier film. Go figure.) There's also complaints about it being too short. Everyone forgets that the original stage version clocks in at over 3.5 hours, and that much length would be almost impossible to transfer in a feature-length film- especially when modern audiences do not respond very well to musicals as it is. As it is, Keel, Grayson, Gardner, and William Warfield all deliver stunning musical performances. <br /><br />(To the poster who referenced seeing the late great Lena Horne in another verion of this story (sort of)- you're correct. The film is the 1946 MGM Jerome Kern biopic "Till the Clouds Roll By," and it opens with Kern at the Broadway premiere of his own "Showboat," with various members of the MGM star roster (inclusing Tony Martin, Virginia O'Brien, Kathryn Grayson, and Ms. Horne) doing snippets of the show. It only lasts about 15 minutes, though. Interesting to see Lena's version of "Can't Help Lovin' that Man" in full costume as Julie. What might've been...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-37434061627270283082010-05-24T11:31:55.101-04:002010-05-24T11:31:55.101-04:00Aki, Awesome review!! Ava Gardner's, more colo...Aki, Awesome review!! Ava Gardner's, more colorful character was my favorite character in the film Show Boat. Agnes Moorehead, what can I say about her. I do not think she can give a bad performance.. I also haven't seen the original version...Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476174860119487509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-12333703706785175492010-05-23T21:30:28.454-04:002010-05-23T21:30:28.454-04:00Nice write up...while you say you haven't seen...Nice write up...while you say you haven't seen the original 1936 version...I haven't seen the remake. Now I'll definitely have to check it out! I have to agree that Ol' Man River is the best song of the musical, but I do love Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man as well. Great post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-19962890435118236032010-05-22T21:16:31.729-04:002010-05-22T21:16:31.729-04:00Absolutely superb write-up, Aki! I've never se...Absolutely superb write-up, Aki! I've never seen this musical. I guess I need to see Howard Keel in more films because the only movie I can remember him in is THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS. Your lovely description of this film makes it sound very good. I'll check it out from Netflix. Thank you for sharing this musical with us!sarkoffagushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00922698736476674377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-10003972056770662922010-05-22T14:00:40.757-04:002010-05-22T14:00:40.757-04:00Aki, the 1936 film was "pulled in the 40'...Aki, the 1936 film was "pulled in the 40's when MGM bought the rights. Turner Ent now has the rights and is "sitting on it" it has been shown on TNT in the past and Warner home video has the distribution rights. Maybe it's will show up on DVD as part of "the Valt collectionPaul 2https://www.blogger.com/profile/11500682719536011343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-46034242175249247412010-05-22T10:28:23.613-04:002010-05-22T10:28:23.613-04:00Toto, I agree that the best song in the movie is d...Toto, I agree that the best song in the movie is definitely "Ol Man River." You are right. It is truly an outstanding song!Akihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037507780056714337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-16584525494498794112010-05-21T23:50:10.950-04:002010-05-21T23:50:10.950-04:00Rick, I think you are correct about the broadway m...Rick, I think you are correct about the broadway musicals being more serious. Without a deeper plot than the lighthearted musicals, not many would go see them. There is a really nice website for the Ava Gardner museum in N.C. for those of you who are Ava fans. Jessica, thanks for your comment about the museum. Becky, I would love to have seen the 1936 version and to compare the two. Yes, the 1951 movie was toned down. Paul, I am envious that you have seen the first one. I couldn't find it anywhere and now know why. Anon, you are so right about Agnes and Joe. They are always a pleasure to watch on screen. Kim this is a good mature musical and one I think you would really like. As for "Ol Man River" now that's a classic. I thank all of you for your kind comments.Akihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037507780056714337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-38894415097402372282010-05-21T21:26:06.303-04:002010-05-21T21:26:06.303-04:00Aki, very good post. I've seen the 1951 MGM&qu...Aki, very good post. I've seen the 1951 MGM"Remake" I like the 1936 Universal Black & White film with Irene Dunne and Paul Robeson directed by James Whale(Yes That James Whale) so much better, it's not yet on DVD, and is very seldom run .Paul 2https://www.blogger.com/profile/11500682719536011343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-47498773686980669222010-05-21T19:35:32.696-04:002010-05-21T19:35:32.696-04:00Aki, as usual your review of Showboat is so well r...Aki, as usual your review of Showboat is so well researched and thorough! Nice job. This is one of my favorite musicals on film. I don't think the acting or the singing is so much better than any other, it's the minor characters. I mean, seriously, can you beat Joe E. Brown and Agnes Moorehead? They are a riot. And "Ol Man River"...can you say show stopper and clearer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-86052252522814890482010-05-21T18:07:28.898-04:002010-05-21T18:07:28.898-04:00Very interesting write-up, Aki. It has always fas...Very interesting write-up, Aki. It has always fascinated me to see the evolution of Showboat from the time it was written to the 1951 version. The original stage play used what we understand now are very offensive racist terms and stereotypes. Then the 1936 version changed the terms to what is still offensive, but a little less so, although Paul Robeson's character still retained the stereotype. By 1951, the racist terms were gone, so far as I can remember. The original story was quite a bit darker as well, and by 1951 had become a little Hollywoodized (my made-up term) to remove a lot of that. Still, it's a powerful story, sad and yet uplifting. I remember hearing that Lena Horne was devastated at not getting the part of Julie, but I did see her in a sort of short subject version of a Showboat number playing Julie. I can't remember where or for whom that was made. Thanks for a thought-provoking and fun article.ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-23658069577781826782010-05-21T15:29:23.881-04:002010-05-21T15:29:23.881-04:00Even though I have never seen this film I have hea...Even though I have never seen this film I have heard about it and certainly know about the classic "Ol Man River" song. Living near North Carolina I am aware of the Ava Gardner museum near Smithfield, though I have never seen it and have visited Winston-Salem many times. After reading this review it makes me want to see it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-61508294494184990332010-05-21T15:00:04.644-04:002010-05-21T15:00:04.644-04:00Aki, I think that William Warfield's rendition...Aki, I think that William Warfield's rendition of "Ol Man River" is one of the most outstanding songs ever sung in a musical. I really enjoyed your informative review.toto2https://www.blogger.com/profile/09652682900471649463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-2037704072411564762010-05-21T11:30:06.431-04:002010-05-21T11:30:06.431-04:00This is one of the more popular musicals I've ...This is one of the more popular musicals I've never seen. My grandmother adored this film, so since I detested her I decided I would never watch it. It sounds very engaging, especially with the mature themes, so I might reconsider watching.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-69956272654349746562010-05-21T10:00:14.063-04:002010-05-21T10:00:14.063-04:00Thanks for the shout out to the Ava Gardner Museum...Thanks for the shout out to the Ava Gardner Museum. Currently, we have a tribute up to Lena Horne, a good friend of Ava's who originally was offered the role of Julie until MGM stepped in.Jessicahttp://www.avagardner.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-6214584133674309202010-05-21T08:37:56.348-04:002010-05-21T08:37:56.348-04:00Aki, very interesting review...especially the fun ...Aki, very interesting review...especially the fun trivia like the fact that both Ava and Kathryn were Tarheels by birth! I also really like your point about SHOW BOAT being a "serious musical." The majority of musicals during the 1930s and 1940s were indeed lighthearted (with a few notable exceptions like the original SHOW BOAT). Do you think it was the influx of Broadway-originated movie musicals in the 1950s and 1960s that changed that? There are serious underlying themes in the film adaptations of Broadway classics such as THE KING AND I, WEST SIDE STORY, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Very thought-provoking post!Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.com