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Show Boat | Year: 1951 Classification: Musical Directed: - George Sidney (II) Actors/Actresses: - Kathryn Grayson - Ava Gardner Does anyone have a torpedo handy? Oh, oh Kathryn Grayson--you are so far from anything resembling the character of Magnolia, it is almost comical (I can't write her off totally as a movie star, because she was actually good once...ONCE: in "Kiss Me Kate"). Anyway, onto this turkey. Like almost all 1950s musicals from MGM, it is colorful nothingness. There is no edge, no wit, plenty of misguided "style" and heaps of artificiality. There is not once convincing moment in this film, all it has going for it is beautiful color (and this DVD is indeed a wonderful transfer). Lets not forget that the 1936 version--with its to-die-for cast--was withdrawn from circulation for decades because MGM wanted this to be the ONLY version available. Perish the thought! Even the small Show Boat sequence in the film "Till The Clouds Roll By" is more memorable than this. My favorite MGM musical There is only one thing that is disappointing about this DVD transfer. I don't understand why it is not in 5.1 Stereo. This movie was filmed in Magnetic 4 tract Stereo. When is use to run revivals at my theatre we had a magnetic print of this and the sound was awsome.The movie as a whole is BREATHTAKING in scope, color, sets, music and acting. You can not beat the old MGM musicals They did it right. I'm a background music freak as you all know by now. There are little suttle things like when Julie is on the riverboat bar after her boyfriend smacks her. The piano player is playing "Can't help loving that man" in the background. She then asks the bartender to give her a drink as she says "give me a neat ride." As she walks out on the deck the piano music turns to violins & orchestra changing keys (pitch) and playing the same song. It gives me goose pimples every time. That's some of the suttle stuff that made the MGM Musicals the best.This movie is beauty to the eyes, heart breaking at its best and a happy ending where you could just lay down and die,,,,,,after a good cry that is.Even thought the DVD isn't in Stereo it's still worth buying. I can watch this over and over again. A Classical Masterpiece. OL' MAN RIVER KEEPS ON ROLLIN' ON DVD "Show Boat" was Jerome Kern's immortal gift to the Broadway stage. An instant hit upon its initial release, the movies just couldn't wait to capitalize on its success. The plot concerns a river boat performer who just happens to be mulato(Ava Gardner in this version) (a big "No, No" in the old south and it gets her broomed). On board is also Magnolia (Kathryn Grayson), a naive child who discovers her own heart break when she marries gambling scallywag, Gaylord Ravenal (Howard Keel). This version of the stage play tempers the racial undertones with more baritone and schmaltz than was previously showcased or, for that matter, necessary. Nevertheless, the results a la MGM's sterling production values, is astoundingly beautiful. Marge & Gower Champion, Joe E. Brown and Agnes Moorehead also headline. <BR>TRANSFER: VERY NICE! A clean, bright, bold and beautiful print that is long on quality and short on digital anomalies. Blacks are solid and deep. Colors are rich and vibrant. Very few scenes illustrate that the original film elements are sixty years old. Though there is some minor pixelization and edge enhancement neither distract from your viewing enjoyment. The audio is mono but remarkably well balanced. <BR>EXTRAS: Sorry. Not a one!<BR>Bottom Line: Must have! Buy Show Boat at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Show Boat Search with the Priority Search Engine on Show Boat This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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