Show Boat (1951)
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- Approved
- 1h 48min
- Drama, Family
- 24 Sep 1951 (USA)
- Movie
The daughter of a riverboat captain falls in love with a charming gambler, but their fairy tale romance is threatened after his luck turns sour.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Kathryn Grayson | ... |
Magnolia Hawks
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| Ava Gardner | ... |
Julie LaVerne
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| Howard Keel | ... |
Gaylord Ravenal
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| Joe E. Brown | ... |
Cap'n Andy Hawks
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| Marge Champion | ... |
Ellie May Shipley
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| Gower Champion | ... |
Frank Schultz
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| Robert Sterling | ... |
Steven Baker
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| Agnes Moorehead | ... |
Parthy Hawks
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| Leif Erickson | ... |
Pete
(as Lief Erickson)
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| William Warfield | ... |
Joe
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Boyd Ackerman | ... |
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
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Bette Arlen | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Mary Bezemes | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Chet Brandenburg | ... |
Man at New Years Celebration (uncredited)
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Carol Brewster | ... |
Girl (uncredited)
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Peter Camlin | ... |
Croupier (uncredited)
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Sue Casey | ... |
New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)
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| Chick Chandler | ... |
Trocadero Stage Assistant (uncredited)
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| Helen Chapman | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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| Linda Christian | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Sheila Clark | ... |
Kim Ravenal - Age 4 (uncredited)
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| John Crawford | ... |
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
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| Frank Dae | ... |
Doctor (uncredited)
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Nova Dale | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Roy Damron | ... |
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
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Anne Dore | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Michael Dugan | ... |
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
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| Marietta Elliott | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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| Lisa Ferraday | ... |
Renee (uncredited)
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| Bess Flowers | ... |
Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
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| George Ford | ... |
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
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Robert Fortier | ... |
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
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Dan Foster | ... |
Deckhand (uncredited)
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Mary Jane French | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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| William Hall | ... |
Bouncer (uncredited)
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Len Hendry | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Earle Hodgins | ... |
Riverboat Bartender (uncredited)
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Shep Houghton | ... |
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
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| Tom Irish | ... |
Bellboy (uncredited)
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Casse Jaeger | ... |
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
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| Joyce Jameson | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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| Michael Jeffers | ... |
Poker Player (uncredited)
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| Adele Jergens | ... |
Cameo McQueen (uncredited)
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Edward Keane | ... |
Hotel Manager (uncredited)
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Helen Kimbell | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Marilyn Kinsley | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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| Fuzzy Knight | ... |
Trocadero Piano Player (uncredited)
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Judy Landon | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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| John Phillip Law | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
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| Norman Leavitt | ... |
George the Calliope Player (uncredited)
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Meredith Leeds | ... |
New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)
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| George Lynn | ... |
Blackjack Dealer (uncredited)
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| Ian MacDonald | ... |
Drunken Sport (uncredited)
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James Macigewske | ... |
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
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Alice Markham | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Maurice Marks | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Alphonse Martell | ... |
Headwaiter (uncredited)
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| Owen McGiveney | ... |
Windy McClain (uncredited)
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| Louis Mercier | ... |
Dabney - Poker Player (uncredited)
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| Ida Moore | ... |
Little Old Lady (uncredited)
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| Anna Q. Nilsson | ... |
Seamstress (uncredited)
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| Emory Parnell | ... |
Jake Green (uncredited)
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| Gil Perkins | ... |
Player (uncredited)
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| James Pierce | ... |
Doorman (uncredited)
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| Tao Porchon | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Allan Ray | ... |
Elevator Operator (uncredited)
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Charles Regan | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Al Rhein | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Mitchell Rhein | ... |
Show Spectator (uncredited)
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| Suzanne Ridgway | ... |
Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
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| Bert Roach | ... |
Drunk (uncredited)
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Joe Roach | ... |
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
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Robert Robinson | ... |
Man at New Years Celebration (uncredited)
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Jean Romaine | ... |
New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)
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Harry Seymour | ... |
Riverboat Piano Player (uncredited)
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George Sherwood | ... |
Trainer (uncredited)
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| Carl Sklover | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Bob Stebbins | ... |
Bellhop (uncredited)
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| William Tannen | ... |
Man with Julie (uncredited)
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| Regis Toomey | ... |
Sheriff Ike Vallon (uncredited)
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| Dee Turnell | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Dorothy Tuttle | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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Annette Warren | ... |
Julie LaVerne (uncredited) (singingVoice)
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| Frank Wilcox | ... |
Gambler Mark Hallson (uncredited)
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| Lyn Wilde | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Frances E. Williams | ... |
Queenie (uncredited)
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Marjorie Wood | ... |
Landlady (uncredited)
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Directed by
| George Sidney | ||
Written by
| John Lee Mahin | ... | (screen play) |
| Jerome Kern | ... | (based on the immortal musical play "Show Boat" by) and |
| Oscar Hammerstein II | ... | (based on the immortal musical play "Show Boat" by) |
| Edna Ferber | ... | (from novel) |
Produced by
| Roger Edens | ... | associate producer (uncredited) |
| Ben Feiner Jr. | ... | associate producer |
| Arthur Freed | ... | producer |
Music by
| Adolph Deutsch | ... | (uncredited) |
| Conrad Salinger | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Charles Rosher | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| John D. Dunning | ... | (as John Dunning) |
Editorial Department
| Henri Jaffa | ... | color consultant: Technicolor |
Art Direction by
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
| Jack Martin Smith | ||
Set Decoration by
| Edwin B. Willis | ... | (set decorations) |
Costume Design by
| Walter Plunkett | ... | (costumes) |
Makeup Department
| Sydney Guilaroff | ... | hair styles designer |
| John Truwe | ... | makeup artist |
| William Tuttle | ... | makeup creator |
Production Management
| Norman A. Cook | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Roger Edens | ... | director (uncredited) (sequence "Ol' Man River") |
| George Rhein | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Carl 'Major' Roup | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Richard Pefferle | ... | associate set decorator (as Richard A. Pefferle) |
| Matty Azzarone | ... | construction (uncredited) |
| Donald P. Desmond | ... | set construction (uncredited) |
| Mentor Huebner | ... | production illustrator (uncredited) |
| Frank Wesselhoff | ... | painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | recording supervisor |
Special Effects by
| Warren Newcombe | ... | special effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Earl Metz | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Man Ray | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Alexander Courage | ... | additional orchestrator |
| Adolph Deutsch | ... | musical director |
| Conrad Salinger | ... | orchestrator |
| Robert Tucker | ... | vocal arrangements |
| Alexander Courage | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
| Robert Franklyn | ... | additional orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Paul Marquardt | ... | additional orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Robert Alton | ... | dances |
| Peter Ballbusch | ... | montage sequences |
| James Gooch | ... | technicolor color consultant |
| Miriam Goldina | ... | ballet dancer (uncredited) |
| Alex Romero | ... | assistant choreographer (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1951) (United States) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1951) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1951) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1951) (France) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1953) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Metro (1953) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1962) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (United States) (tv)
- TF1 (1977) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Italia 1 (1987) (Italy) (tv)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1988) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1995) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print Technicolor)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (United States) (DVD)
- Ciné Cinéfil (1998) (France) (tv) (French subtitles)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2005) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2006) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Archive Collection (2021) (United States) (Blu-ray) (4k restoration)
- Epoca (Argentina) (VHS)
- TCM Cinema (2022) (France) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (acknowledgement)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The "Cotton Blossom," owned by the Hawks family, is the show boat everyone goes to for great musical entertainment down south. Julie LaVerne and her husband are the stars of the show. After someone tells the local police that Julie (who's half-African-American) is married to a white man, they are forced to leave the show boat because interracial marriages are forbidden. Magnolia Hawks, Captain Andy Hawks' daughter, becomes the new show boat attraction, and her leading man is Gaylord Ravenal, a gambler. The two instantly fall in love, and marry without Parthy Hawks' approval. Magnolia and Gaylord leave the "Cotton Blossom" for a whirl-wind honeymoon. Soon after, Magnolia realizes that gambling means more to Gaylord than anything else. Magnolia confronts Gaylord, and after he gambles away their fortune he leaves her, not knowing she is pregnant. Magnolia, penniless and pregnant, and is left to fend for herself, and make a new start. Written by Kelly |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | ALL STAR! TECHNICOLOR! HUNDREDS IN CAST! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $2,295,429 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Director George Sidney had to leave for a few days because of illness, so uncredited associate producer Roger Edens directed the fog-enshrouded "departure" sequence, including William Warfield's performance of "Ol' Man River." That scene has been praised even by critics who hate this version of "Show Boat." See more » |
| Goofs | In the opening scenes with the calliope player, the keyboard is a contemporary 1950's black console, whereas a period console would have been made of wood, and perhaps elaborately carved and detailed. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Cotton Blossom See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Because some of the lyrics to the song "Cotton Blossom" have been altered by uncredited staff writers in this version of "Show Boat", Oscar Hammerstein II is never actually mentioned as having written the lyrics to the songs, although P.G. Wodehouse IS listed as having written the lyrics to "Bill". (This is only partially correct; only about half of Wodehouse's 1917 lyric to "Bill" was used. The rest of the lyric is by Hammerstein.) See more » |
| Quotes |
Cap'n Andy Hawks:
It's Saturday night again! [He slaps Parthy affectionately on her rear end] Parthy: Oh! It's Wednesday night and don't you strike me! Cap'n Andy Hawks: It's Saturday night forever! Parthy: Yes, and Fourth of July... and Christmas... and [imitating Cap'n Andy when he celebrates New Year's Eve] Parthy: Hap - - -py New Year! See more » |