Show Boat

Release Date:	May 1936
Genres	Comedy / Drama / Musical / Romance
Duration:	113 min
Cast:	Irene Dunne(Magnolia Hawks), Allan Jones(Gaylord Ravenal), Charles Winninger(Cap'n Andy Hawks), Paul Robeson(Joe), Helen Morgan(Julie LaVerne), Helen Westley(Parthenia ), Queenie Smith(Ellie May Chipley), Sammy White(Frank Schultz), Donald Cook(Steve Baker), Hattie McDaniel(Queenie), Francis X. Mahoney(Rubber Face Smith), Marilyn Knowlden(Kim as a child), Sunnie O'Dea(Kim (at 16)), Arthur Hohl(Pete), Charles Middleton(Sheriff Ike Vallon), J. Farrell MacDonald(Windy McClain), Charles C. Wilson(Jim Green (Trocadero Nightclub...), Clarence Muse(Sam, Doorman at Trocadero), Maude Allen(Fat Woman (uncredited)), Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson(Young Black Man [who first spots the...), Harry Barris(Jake (piano player at Trocadero)...), Patricia Barry(Kim as a baby (uncredited)), May Beatty(Mrs. O' Brien (uncredited)), Brooks Benedict(Race Fan (uncredited)), Barbara Bletcher(Fat Girl (uncredited)), Mary Bovard(Bit Role (uncredited)), Donald Briggs(Press Agent (uncredited)), Betty Brown(First Girl (uncredited)), Daisy Bufford(Maid in Chicago (uncredited)), Eddy Chandler(Gambler (uncredited)), E.E. Clive(London Producer (uncredited)), Edmund Cobb(Gambler (uncredited)), Maxine Cook(Thin Girl (uncredited)), Grace Cunard(Mother (uncredited)), J. Gunnis Davis(Doctor at Kim's Birth (uncredited)), Elspeth Dudgeon(Mother Superior (uncredited)), Helen Jerome Eddy(Reporter Interviewing in Rehearsal...), Kathleen Ellis(Girl #2 (uncredited)), Al Ferguson(Gambler (uncredited)), Stanley Fields(Backwoodsman with Gun (uncredited)), Flora Finch(Woman (omitted from release print)...), Artye Folz(Fat Girl (uncredited)), June Glory(Girl #3 (uncredited)), Dorothy Granger(New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)), George Hackathorne(YMCA Worker (omitted from release...), 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(Bartender at Trocadero (uncredited)), Jane Keckley(Mrs. Ewing (uncredited)), Jack Latham(Juvenile (uncredited)), Theodore Lorch(Simon Legree (omitted from release...), Frank Mayo(Gambler (uncredited)), Monte Montague(Old Man (uncredited)), Jack Mulhall(Race Fan (uncredited)), Georgia O'Dell(School Teacher (uncredited)), Patti Patterson(Banjo Player (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 extra (uncredited)), Tiny Sandford(Zebe (Backwoodsman) (uncredited)), Forrest Stanley(New York Theatre Manager (uncredited)), Mary Stewart(Singer / Dancer (uncredited)), Lois Verner(Small Girl (uncredited)), Max Wagner(Soldier (omitted from release print)...), Harold Waldridge(Office Boy (uncredited)), Bobs Watson(Lost Child (uncredited)), Lloyd Whitlock(Gambler speaking to Sheriff (uncredited)), Renee Whitney(New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)), Frank Whitson(Dealer (uncredited)),

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.