{"id":80912,"date":"2022-02-04T13:11:35","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T20:11:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80912"},"modified":"2022-02-05T11:23:28","modified_gmt":"2022-02-05T18:23:28","slug":"show-boat-1951","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80912","title":{"rendered":"Show Boat (1951)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I can&#8217;t fight this Lady Luck of yours, this fancy queen in her green felt dress.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Poster-196x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-80913\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Poster-196x300.png 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Poster-670x1024.png 670w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Poster-84x128.png 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Poster-177x270.png 177w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Poster.png 723w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a black singer (Ava Gardner) is kicked off her show boat for passing as white, her role is taken over by the daughter (Kathryn Grayson) of the boat&#8217;s captain (Joe E. Green), whose disapproving wife (Agnes Moorehead) is none too happy. Meanwhile, Grayson falls for a big-time gambler (Howard Keel) who marries her and whisks her away &#8212; but will Keel&#8217;s luck last forever?\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Actors and Actresses<\/li>\n<li>Agnes Moorehead Films<\/li>\n<li>Ava Gardner Films<\/li>\n<li>Gambling<\/li>\n<li>George Sidney Films<\/li>\n<li>Howard Keel Films<\/li>\n<li>Kathryn Grayson Films<\/li>\n<li>Marital Problems<\/li>\n<li>Musicals<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nMGM&#8217;s Technicolor remake of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Show_Boat\">Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern&#8217;s 1927 stage musical<\/a> &#8212; itself based on <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Show_Boat_(novel)\">Edna Ferber&#8217;s best-selling novel<\/a> &#8212; is colorful escapist fare (it was the second highest grossing film of the year), dodging the storyline&#8217;s most challenging aspects (i.e., miscegenation) in favor of a melodramatic soaper. It&#8217;s certainly beautiful to look at: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Still-1024x742.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"464\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80915\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Still-1024x742.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Still-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Still-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Still-768x556.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Still-373x270.png 373w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Still.png 1277w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and we get to hear beautiful renditions of some of the show&#8217;s most famous songs, including &#8220;Ol&#8217; Man River&#8221; (sung by William Warfield): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Ol-Man-River.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Ol-Man-River-1024x745.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"466\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80916\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Ol-Man-River-1024x745.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Ol-Man-River-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Ol-Man-River-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Ol-Man-River-768x559.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Ol-Man-River-371x270.png 371w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Ol-Man-River.png 1279w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; &#8220;Can&#8217;t Help Loving&#8217; Dat Man&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Gardner.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Gardner-1024x747.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"467\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Gardner-1024x747.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Gardner-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Gardner-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Gardner-768x560.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Gardner-370x270.png 370w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Gardner.png 1279w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; &#8220;Make Believe&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Keel.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Keel-1024x749.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"468\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80917\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Keel-1024x749.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Keel-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Keel-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Keel-768x562.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Keel-369x270.png 369w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Keel.png 1274w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and &#8220;My Bill&#8221;:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-My-Bill.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-My-Bill-1024x740.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"463\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-My-Bill-1024x740.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-My-Bill-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-My-Bill-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-My-Bill-768x555.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-My-Bill-373x270.png 373w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-My-Bill.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>&#8230; but the storyline has been completely whitewashed (see the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Show_Boat_(1951_film)\">Adaptation section of Wikipedia&#8217;s entry<\/a> for a detailed comparison with <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26032\">James Whale&#8217;s 1936 version<\/a>). The remaining narrative is not all that compelling; when Grayson falls for a career-gambler (Keel): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Grayson-Keel.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Grayson-Keel-1024x747.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"467\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80921\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Grayson-Keel-1024x747.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Grayson-Keel-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Grayson-Keel-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Grayson-Keel-768x561.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Grayson-Keel-370x270.png 370w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Grayson-Keel.png 1281w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>&#8230; what kind of life does she expect to lead other than one that inevitably becomes volatile? Meanwhile, Gardner&#8217;s Julie (as show fans know) simply turns increasingly alcoholic and despondent, which is no fun at all. Fans of the musical will of course want to check this version out, but it&#8217;s not must-see viewing for all film fanatics. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine Technicolor cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Singers.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Singers-1024x739.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"462\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Singers-1024x739.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Singers-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Singers-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Singers-768x554.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Singers-374x270.png 374w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Show-Boat-Singers.png 1285w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Several memorable musical sequences<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Old-Man-River.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Old-Man-River-1024x745.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"466\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80923\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Old-Man-River-1024x745.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Old-Man-River-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Old-Man-River-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Old-Man-River-768x559.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Old-Man-River-371x270.png 371w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Showboat-Old-Man-River.png 1272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, unless you&#8217;re curious to check it out. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0044030\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/14440\/show-boat#articles-reviews?articleId=33811\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/trailersfromhell.com\/show-boat-1951\/\">Trailers From Hell Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1951\/07\/20\/archives\/the-screen-a-musical-favorite-at-radio-city-show-boat-metro-remake.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t fight this Lady Luck of yours, this fancy queen in her green felt dress.&#8221; Synopsis: When a black singer (Ava Gardner) is kicked off her show boat for passing as white, her role is taken over by the daughter (Kathryn Grayson) of the boat&#8217;s captain (Joe E. Green), whose disapproving wife (Agnes Moorehead) is none too happy. Meanwhile, Grayson falls for a big-time gambler (Howard Keel) who marries her and whisks her away &#8212; but will Keel&#8217;s luck&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80912\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=80912"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80952,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80912\/revisions\/80952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=80912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=80912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=80912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}