Review of Show Boat (1951) by Meara L — 31 Jan 2009

It's the late 19th Century, a wide variety of entertainers are on a riverboat, and these people are going to put on some kind of show.

I was surprised to find that the bulk of the story involved the relationship between gambler Howard Keel and songstress Kathryn Grayson. The bi-racial storyline of Ava Gardner is merely a second act footnote.

I have the same problem with Show Boat as I have with many stage to screen musical adaptations. Mostly entertaining? Sure. But I always get the feeling that I'm watching a rote rehash of a beloved stage production that rarely manages to be uniquely cinematic.

I did find the ending poignant though.