Film Review
The third screen adaptation of Edna Ferber's celebrated stage play is
the most visually impressive, shot in glorious Technicolor with some
stunning location sequences featuring a specially constructed full-size
paddleboat. Although the film is less highly regarded than the
second (also a musical, made by Universal Pictures in 1936) it is an
enchanting work, with glorious renditions of the songs written by
Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the Broadway musical, first
performed in 1927. The highpoint is the
Ol' Man River sequence, which has a
visual and aural poetry of its own, vividly setting the film in its
geographic and historical context.
The Afro-American singer-actress Lena Horne was considered for the part
of Julie, but studio bosses were reluctant to offer such a major role
to a non-white performer and so Ava Gardner was cast instead. For
similar reasons, the themes of racial intolerance and
inter-racial marriage which were central to the original play,
are significantly toned down, so as not to cause offence to a
contemporary American audience.
Although Gardner was to have sung all of her songs, her vocal work was
judged to be unsatisfactory and so her songs were dubbed by Annette
Warren, although Gardner's rendition made it onto a soundtrack
album. Despite being one of MGM's most highly regarded musicals,
the film won no Academy Awards, although it was nominated in two
categories (Best Cinematography and Best Musical Score).
© James Travers 2009
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Film Synopsis
In 1890, the Show Boat is a paddleboat which transports a troupe of
talented performers from town to town along the Mississippi
River. When he learns that his singer, Julie, is of mixed
race, Andy Hawks, the boat's owner, has no choice but to dismiss her
and replace her with his daughter, Nollie. The latter attracts
the attention of Gaylord Ravenal, a playboy gambler who decides to join
the Show Boat so that he can be near to Nollie. The couple marry
but within no time Gaylord loses his entire fortune through his
gambling. He abandons Nollie, not knowing that she is pregnant
with his child...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.