The MGM version of SHOW BOAT (1951) is another stunningly beautiful new Blu-ray release from the
Warner Archive.
MGM's colorful presentation of the Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II musical about love and loss on the Cotton Blossom in the late 19th century has been a favorite since I was first enthralled by excerpts in THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! (1974) as a pre-teen.
Not long after THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! came out my parents took me to see the movie at Cerritos College; I suspect it was probably a 16mm Films Incorporated print, but what I know for certain is I was thrilled to see it. Keep in mind there was no home video or cable television in the '70s, so the only chance to see a complete, unedited film without commercials was on a big screen.
While many classic film fans and historians have a preference for the 1936 version, I find MGM's production superior for myriad reasons.
Though I'm a big fan of Dunne, overall I prefer the exceptional casting of the 1951 version; this includes Ava Gardner, who was unfortunately dubbed (by Annette Warren). Existing audio tracks show Gardner was more than capable of singing her numbers. I find Gardner deeply moving as the tragic Julie, who is hounded off the show boat due to a claim of miscegnation. SHOW BOAT is a beautiful film which has dramatic heft in part due to its exposure of the ugliness which existed in times past.
Kathryn Grayson perfectly captures young Magnolia's naive sweetness, with Howard Keel the dashing gambler, Gaylord Ravenal. Joe E. Brown and Agnes Moorehead are Magnolia's parents, Cap'n Andy and Parthy Hawks.
The MGM version also has the delightful dancing of
Marge and Gower Champion, who are not only marvelous to watch but also serve to provide some relief from the heavier drama.
Importantly for me, the MGM version also includes William Warfield as Joe, who sings "Ol' Man River." I grew up listening to Warfield on an
LP album with John Raitt and Barbara Cook, and I find his performance of the song thrilling. It never fails to give me chills.
Another plus for the MGM version is that John Lee Mahin's screenplay excises and/or condenses much of the prolonged sad drama from the latter part of the story. There's enough heavy going as it is, between the two star-crossed love stories, without dragging it out for decades. The film hits all the key story points and emotional notes in its 108 minutes, and I'm good without the film showing Kim (Sheila Clark) growing to adulthood!
What really makes MGM's SHOW BOAT a winner for me is the way the cast is utilized as part of the overall staging, as directed by George Sidney, with costumes by Walter Plunkett, gorgeous orchestrations by Conrad Salinger, and the lush Technicolor photography of Charles Rosher (SCARAMOUCHE).
There are three key sequences which are so perfectly staged and orchestrated that they never fail to bring tears to my eyes: The opening appearance of the Cotton Blossom, with the chorus performing as the boat pulls into the dock; Warfield singing "Ol' Man River" on a foggy morning as Gardner and Robert Sterling leave the show boat; and the finale, with Grayson and Keel reunited on the boat as Warfield reprises "Ol' Man River" and Gardner blows them a kiss.
As that last scene fades out and "The End" comes up, including the words "Made in Hollywood, U.S.A.," I always tear up for the Hollywood that is no more, but which I'm grateful once existed.
A couple interesting side notes on the staging of "Ol' Man River" come from Hugh Fordin's classic 1975 book on MGM's Freed Unit, THE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT: Director Sidney fell ill and associate producer Roger Edens actually directed the memorable scene with Gardner and Sterling leaving the boat, which leads into the song. Additionally, the studio was shooting in November and December and taking advantage of real early morning fog rolling in, but each day's light looked somewhat different; cinematographer Rosher had the "uncanny" ability to light each day for a consistent appearance.
My previous DVD copy only had a trailer as an extra. The Blu-ray has a wonderful array of supplemental material in addition to the trailer, including an archival commentary track by director George Sidney; the SHOW BOAT sequence from TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY (1946) with Grayson, Tony Martin, and Lena Horne; outtakes of Ava Gardner singing; and the 1952 Lux Radio Theater production with Grayson, Keel, Gardner, and Warfield, plus Jay C. Flippen as Cap'n Andy.
The disc also includes a song selection menu and the choice of two soundtracks, the mono release version or a stereo mix.
Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from the WBShop or from any online retailers where Blu-rays are sold.
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