Show Boat (1936)
Reference View | Change View
- Approved
- 1h 53min
- Comedy, Drama
- 17 May 1936 (USA)
- Movie
Despite her mother's objections, the naive young daughter of a show boat captain is thrust into the limelight as the company's new leading lady.
Director:
Awards:
- 1 win & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Irene Dunne | ... |
Magnolia
|
|
| Allan Jones | ... |
Gaylord Ravenal
|
|
| Charles Winninger | ... |
Cap'n Andy Hawks
|
|
| Paul Robeson | ... |
Joe
|
|
| Helen Morgan | ... |
Julie
|
|
| Helen Westley | ... |
Parthy Ann Hawks
|
|
| Queenie Smith | ... |
Elly May Chipley
|
|
 |
Sammy White | ... |
Frank Schultz
|
| Donald Cook | ... |
Steve Baker
|
|
| Hattie McDaniel | ... |
Queenie
|
|
|
|
Francis X. Mahoney | ... |
Rubber Face
|
| Marilyn Knowlden | ... |
Kim (as a Child)
|
|
| Sunnie O'Dea | ... |
Kim (at Sixteen)
|
|
| Arthur Hohl | ... |
Pete
|
|
| Charles Middleton | ... |
Vallon
|
|
| J. Farrell MacDonald | ... |
Windy
|
|
| Clarence Muse | ... |
Janitor
|
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
|
Maude Allen | ... |
Fat Woman (uncredited)
|
| Ricca Allen | ... |
Old Woman (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
William Alston | ... |
Young Man (uncredited)
|
| Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson | ... |
Young Black Man (uncredited)
|
|
| Harry Barris | ... |
Jake (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Patricia Barry | ... |
Baby Kim (uncredited)
|
| May Beatty | ... |
Mrs. O'Brien (uncredited)
|
|
| Brooks Benedict | ... |
Race Fan (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Barbara Bletcher | ... |
Fat Girl (uncredited)
|
|
|
Mary Bovard | ... |
Daughter (uncredited)
|
| Donald Briggs | ... |
Press Agent (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Betty Brown | ... |
1st Girl (uncredited)
|
| Daisy Bufford | ... |
Maid in Chicago (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Ann Bupp | ... |
(uncredited)
|
| James P. Burtis | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
|
|
| Eddy Chandler | ... |
Gambler (uncredited)
|
|
| E.E. Clive | ... |
London Producer (uncredited)
|
|
| Edmund Cobb | ... |
Gambler (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Maxine Cook | ... |
Thin Girl (uncredited)
|
| D'Arcy Corrigan | ... |
(uncredited)
|
|
| Grace Cunard | ... |
Mother (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
J. Gunnis Davis | ... |
Doctor at Birth (uncredited)
|
|
|
Anna Demetrio | ... |
Mother (uncredited)
|
| Helen Dickson | ... |
Small Role (uncredited)
|
|
| Jeanette Dickson | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
|
|
| Elspeth Dudgeon | ... |
Mother Superior (uncredited)
|
|
| Helen Jerome Eddy | ... |
Reporter Interviewing in Rehearsal (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Kathleen Ellis | ... |
Girl #2 (uncredited)
|
| Al Ferguson | ... |
Gambler (uncredited)
|
|
| Stanley Fields | ... |
Backwoodsman with Gun (uncredited)
|
|
| Flora Finch | ... |
Woman (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Artye Folz | ... |
Fat Girl (uncredited)
|
|
|
Ruth Givens | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
|
| June Glory | ... |
Girl #3 (uncredited)
|
|
| Dorothy Granger | ... |
New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)
|
|
| Marilyn Harris | ... |
Little Girl (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Helen Hayward | ... |
Mrs. Brecenbridge (uncredited)
|
|
|
Ernest Hilliard | ... |
Race Fan (uncredited)
|
| Arthur Housman | ... |
Drunk (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Jimmy Jackson | ... |
Young Man (uncredited)
|
| Selmer Jackson | ... |
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Matthew Jones | ... |
Trocadero Bartender (uncredited)
|
|
|
Jane Keckley | ... |
Mrs. Ewing (uncredited)
|
| Isabel La Mal | ... |
Companion (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Jack Latham | ... |
Juvenile (uncredited)
|
| Frank Mayo | ... |
Gambler (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Martha Merrill | ... |
Long-Legged Girl (uncredited)
|
| Monte Montague | ... |
Old Man (uncredited)
|
|
| Juanita Moore | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
|
|
| Jack Mulhall | ... |
Race Fan (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Harold Nelson | ... |
Postmaster (uncredited)
|
|
|
Georgia O'Dell | ... |
Teacher (uncredited)
|
| Dennis O'Keefe | ... |
Blackface Dancer (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Patti Patterson | ... |
Banjoist (uncredited)
|
| Edward Peil Sr. | ... |
Gambler (uncredited)
|
|
| Barbara Pepper | ... |
New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Lee Phelps | ... |
Gambler (uncredited)
|
|
|
LeRoy Prinz | ... |
Dance Director at Rehearsal (uncredited)
|
| George Reed | ... |
Old Black Man (uncredited)
|
|
| Tom Ricketts | ... |
Minister (uncredited)
|
|
| Donna Mae Roberts | ... |
New Year's Eve Party Guest (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Louise Robinson | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
|
|
|
Betty Roche | ... |
Tall Girl (uncredited)
|
|
|
Alma Ross | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
|
| Tiny Sandford | ... |
Zebe (uncredited)
|
|
| Forrest Stanley | ... |
New York Theatre Manager (uncredited)
|
|
| Mary Stewart | ... |
Singer / Dancer (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Frances Turham | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
|
| Maidel Turner | ... |
Mother (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Lois Verner | ... |
Small Girl (uncredited)
|
| Harold Waldridge | ... |
Office Boy (uncredited)
|
|
| Marguerite Warner | ... |
Young Girl (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Billy Watson | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
|
| Bobs Watson | ... |
Willie Thomas (uncredited)
|
|
| Delmar Watson | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Harry Watson | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
|
| Lloyd Whitlock | ... |
Gambler Talking to Sheriff (uncredited)
|
|
| Renee Whitney | ... |
New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Frank Whitson | ... |
Dealer (uncredited)
|
| Charles C. Wilson | ... |
Jim Green (uncredited)
|
|
Directed by
| James Whale | ||
Written by
| Edna Ferber | ... | () |
| Oscar Hammerstein II | ... | (stage play) |
| Oscar Hammerstein II | ... | (screen play) |
| Zoe Akins | ... | (contributing writer) (material unused) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Carl Laemmle Jr. | ... | producer |
Cinematography by
| John J. Mescall | ||
Editing by
| Bernard W. Burton | ... | (as Bernard Burton) |
| Ted J. Kent | ... | (as Ted Kent) |
Editorial Department
| Maurice Pivar | ... | editing supervisor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Charles D. Hall | ||
Costume Design by
| Doris Zinkeisen | ... | (costumes designed by) |
Makeup Department
| Doris Carico | ... | hair stylist (uncredited) |
| Charles Gorman | ... | makeup (uncredited) |
| Jack P. Pierce | ... | makeup (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Joseph A. McDonough | ... | assistant director |
| Harry Mieneke | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Joe Torillo | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Al Goodman | ... | uncredited |
Sound Department
| Gilbert Kurland | ... | sound supervisor |
| William Hedgcock | ... | production recordist (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| John P. Fulton | ... | special cinematographer |
| Russell Lawson | ... | matte artist (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Alan Jones | ... | second camera (uncredited) |
| James V. King | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Mae Bruce | ... | costume assistant |
| Vera West | ... | costumes executed by |
| Brymer | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
| Earl Leas | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Vera West | ... | costumes: Irene Dunne (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Victor Baravalle | ... | musical director |
| Oscar Hammerstein II | ... | lyrics by |
| Jerome Kern | ... | music by |
| Robert Russell Bennett | ... | composer: incidental music (uncredited) / musical arranger (uncredited) |
| Mike McLaughlin | ... | music recordist (uncredited) |
| Will Vodery | ... | music arranger: vocal and choral (uncredited) |
| P.G. Wodehouse | ... | lyrics for the song "Bill" (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Helen McCaffrey | ... | script clerk (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Leighton Brill | ... | technical director |
| Carl Laemmle | ... | presenter |
| LeRoy Prinz | ... | dance numbers staged by (as Leroy Prinz) |
| Leighton Brill | ... | dialogue director (uncredited) |
| John W. Harkrider | ... | title designer: main title sequence (uncredited) |
| Jack Latham | ... | stand-in: Allan Jones (uncredited) |
| Katherine Stanley | ... | stand-in: Irene Dunne (uncredited) |
| Mary Stewart | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1936) (United States) (theatrical)
- Canadian Universal Film Company (1936) (Canada) (theatrical)
- General Film Distributors (GFD) (1936) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Universal Film Manufacturing Company (1936) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures Corporation of Far East (1936) (Philippines) (theatrical)
- Universal Film (1936) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Universal Films of Norway Akfieselskap (1936) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1983) (United States) (tv) (cable television premiere)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1990) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1995) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- ClassicLine (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Warner Archive Collection (2014) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2014) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2020) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Western Costume Company (costumes)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Adaptation of the Broadway musical. Magnolia Hawks is the lovely but protected, and thus very naive, daughter of Cap'n Andy Hawks, the genial proprietor of a show boat that cruises the Missisippi, and his nagging wife, Parthy. She is best friends with the show boat's star, Julie LaVerne, but Julie and her husband Steve are forced to leave when it is revealed that Julie has "Negro" blood in her, thereby breaking the state law by being married to the white Steve. Magnolia replaces Julie as the show boat's female star, and the show's new male star is the suave gambler Gaylord Ravenal. "Nola" and Gaylord fall in love and marry against Parthy's wishes. They and their young daughter lead the high life when Gaylord is lucky in gambling, but live like dirt when he's unlucky. During one such unlucky streak, a broken Gaylord leaves Nola, and she is forced to start over by returning to the stage. Like Old Man River, as the famous song from this show goes, she just keeps rollin' along. Written by Tommy Peter |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Here Comes the Grand and Glorious "Show Boat" (version of 1936) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Special permission had to be granted from the Hays Office in order to retain the famous miscegenation (interracial marriage) sequence in the movie. Miscegenation was banned as a film subject and the scene had been excluded from the 1929 film version. See more » |
| Goofs | About five minutes in, Cap'n Andy Hawks is introducing Miss Ellie May Chipley, the toast of Cairo, Illinois. He mispronounces Cairo. His pronunciation is for the capital of Egypt. Cairo, IL is pronounced Kay'ro, with perhaps other local variants. But NEVER as the Egyptian capital. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The All Talking, All Singing, All Dancing Show (1973). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Cotton Blossom See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The rights to this film were bought by M-G-M in 1942, so all prints shown on TV until the mid 1990's had the roaring lion logo at the beginning. However, despite having bought the rights, M-G-M retained Universal Pictures' spinning globe for the "The End: A Universal Picture" credit at the film's close. See more » |
| Quotes |
Joe:
I just shell them peas. Queenie: You ain't pickin' them up. Joe: No, but I could've if you didn't. I could do a lotta things if it was necessary. Queenie: Then why don't you? Joe: It ain't necessary. See more » |