A dashing Mississippi river gambler wins the affections of the daughter of the owner of the Show Boat.
Cinematography
Technicolor so saturated it practically hums.
Acting
Ava Gardner: silent suffering, dubbed singing, total star.
Director
George Sidney
Kathryn Grayson
Magnolia Hawks
Ava Gardner
Julie LaVerne
Howard Keel
Gaylord Ravenal
Joe E. Brown
Cap'n Andy Hawks
Marge Champion
Ellie May Shipley
Gower Champion
Frank Schultz
Robert Sterling
Steven Baker
Agnes Moorehead
Parthy Hawks
Leif Erickson
Pete
William Warfield
Joe
Linda Christian
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
Racetrack spectator (uncredited)
Adele Jergens
Cameo McQueen (uncredited)
Anna Q. Nilsson
Seamstress (uncredited)
Bert Roach
Drunk (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ava Gardner's singing voice was entirely dubbed by Annette Warren, though Gardner's own recordings exist and are frankly charming.
This adaptation gutted the original 1927 musical's racial commentary; the 'miscegenation' plot became palatable enough for Eisenhower-era audiences by making Julie passive and tragic rather than defiant.
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