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Buy from Amazon $25.45$6.56 $27.50 $21.88 $16.25 $10.63 $5.00 Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun 2015 2016 $19.79, Jul 21 - Jul 23$19.08, Jul 16 - Jul 23$15.40, Jul 19 - Jul 21$25.44, Jul 24 - Jul 25$17.59, Jul 24 12:41 am$15.35, Jul 23 - Jul 24$25.44, Jul 24 - Jul 25$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$15.28, Jul 25 8:21 pm$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$15.22, Jul 26 - Jul 28$13.95, Jul 26 - Jul 27$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$15.16, Jul 29 10:37 am$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$15.05, Jul 31 - Aug 1$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.99, Aug 2 1:24 am$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$15.34, Aug 3 9:50 pm$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$15.22, Aug 5 6:11 pm$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.75, Aug 7 8:54 pm$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.53, Aug 8 10:44 pm$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.36, Aug 10 11:18 pm$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.23, Aug 12 8:14 pm$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.11, Aug 14 6:40 pm$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.05, Aug 15 5:38 pm$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.99, Aug 17 12:10 am$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.87, Aug 20 1:15 am$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.81, Aug 21 3:49 am$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.69, Aug 23 2:18 am$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.57, Aug 25 6:08 am$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.39, Aug 27 8:14 am$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.33, Aug 28 10:04 am$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.21, Aug 30 4:52 pm$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.15, Aug 31 11:17 pm$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.09, Sep 2 - Sep 15$25.44, Jul 28 - Sep 16$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.12, Sep 16 2:34 am$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.73, Sep 19 6:48 am$14.62, Sep 19 6:48 am$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.59, Sep 20 8:33 am$14.54, Sep 20 8:33 am$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.46, Sep 21 8:42 pm$14.46, Sep 21 8:42 pm$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.36, Sep 24 - Sep 25$14.36, Sep 23 - Sep 24$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.26, Sep 26 8:48 am$14.19, Sep 26 - Sep 27$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.19, Sep 27 - Sep 28$14.19, Sep 26 - Sep 27$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.14, Sep 29 2:28 pm$14.09, Sep 29 2:28 pm$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$14.08, Sep 30 3:58 pm$14.03, Sep 30 3:58 pm$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.97, Oct 1 - Oct 2$13.90, Oct 2 9:40 pm$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.82, Oct 5 1:26 am$13.81, Oct 5 1:26 am$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.80, Oct 6 3:09 am$11.00, Oct 6 3:09 am$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.09, Oct 8 9:17 am$13.08, Oct 8 9:17 am$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.06, Oct 9 4:16 pm$13.06, Oct 9 4:16 pm$25.44, Oct 10 - Oct 23$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$12.99, Oct 11 8:09 pm$25.44, Oct 10 - Oct 23$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$12.97, Oct 12 - Oct 15$25.44, Oct 10 - Oct 23$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$12.99, Oct 17 - Oct 19$25.44, Oct 10 - Oct 23$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.12, Oct 20 7:46 pm$25.44, Oct 10 - Oct 23$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$12.99, Oct 22 - Oct 29$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$15.55, Oct 24 10:56 am$12.99, Oct 22 - Oct 29$25.44, Oct 26 - Nov 13$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$12.99, Oct 22 - Oct 29$25.44, Oct 26 - Nov 13$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$13.11, Nov 1 - Nov 4$25.44, Oct 26 - Nov 13$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$10.94, Nov 7 - Nov 17$19.78, Jul 24 - Nov 15$10.94, Nov 7 - Nov 17$6.56, Nov 15 7:39 am$16.48, Nov 17 - Nov 19$12.99, Nov 17 - Nov 23$12.98, Nov 18 4:51 am$25.44, Nov 19 - Nov 21$12.99, Nov 17 - Nov 23$12.97, Nov 19 - Dec 31$25.45, Nov 22 - Nov 23$12.99, Nov 17 - Nov 23$12.97, Nov 19 - Dec 31$25.44, Nov 24 - Dec 6$13.49, Nov 23 - Dec 1$12.97, Nov 19 - Dec 31$25.44, Nov 24 - Dec 6$14.49, Dec 2 - Dec 31$12.97, Nov 19 - Dec 31$14.49, Dec 2 - Dec 31$12.97, Nov 19 - Dec 31$10.76, Dec 7 - Dec 8$25.44, Dec 9 - Jan 2$14.49, Dec 2 - Dec 31$12.97, Nov 19 - Dec 31$25.44, Dec 9 - Jan 2$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$12.99, Jan 1 - Jan 2$25.44, Jan 13 - Jan 16$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$13.10, Jan 12 - Mar 18$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$13.10, Jan 12 - Mar 18$11.99, Jan 17 - Jan 23$25.44, Jan 23 - Feb 10$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$13.10, Jan 12 - Mar 18$25.45, Feb 11 - Feb 12$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$13.10, Jan 12 - Mar 18$25.44, Feb 13 - Feb 18$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$13.10, Jan 12 - Mar 18$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$15.18, Feb 19 - Feb 20$13.10, Jan 12 - Mar 18$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$15.15, Feb 21 3:00 pm$13.10, Jan 12 - Mar 18$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$15.17, Feb 22 2:49 pm$13.10, Jan 12 - Mar 18$25.44, Feb 23 - Mar 10$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$13.10, Jan 12 - Mar 18$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$18.49, Mar 11 8:12 am$13.10, Jan 12 - Mar 18$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$18.48, Mar 13 - Mar 19$13.10, Jan 12 - Mar 18$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$18.48, Mar 13 - Mar 19$14.15, Mar 19 - Mar 20$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$14.80, Mar 20 - Mar 25$13.10, Mar 21 - Apr 3$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$13.10, Mar 21 - Apr 3$11.12, Mar 26 - Mar 28$19.78, Jan 1 - Mar 31$14.80, Mar 30 - Mar 31$13.10, Mar 21 - Apr 3$19.99, Apr 2 - Apr 25$15.00, Apr 2 - Apr 7$13.10, Mar 21 - Apr 3$19.99, Apr 2 - Apr 25$15.00, Apr 2 - Apr 7$14.15, Apr 4 7:22 pm$19.99, Apr 2 - Apr 25$15.00, Apr 2 - Apr 7$14.14, Apr 6 3:48 am$19.99, Apr 2 - Apr 25$14.09, Apr 7 - Apr 25$11.22, Apr 8 5:12 am$19.99, Apr 2 - Apr 25$15.00, Apr 8 - Apr 20$14.09, Apr 7 - Apr 25$19.99, Apr 2 - Apr 25$14.09, Apr 7 - Apr 25$10.95, Apr 22 7:18 pm$19.99, Apr 2 - Apr 25$14.95, Apr 24 - Apr 25$14.09, Apr 7 - Apr 25$19.99, Apr 27 - May 7$18.49, Apr 27 - Apr 30$14.09, Apr 27 - Apr 30$19.99, Apr 27 - May 7$14.07, May 1 5:26 pm$14.06, May 1 5:26 pm$19.99, Apr 27 - May 7$14.00, May 3 2:47 am$13.99, May 3 2:47 am$19.99, Apr 27 - May 7$13.86, May 4 10:50 am$13.86, May 4 10:50 am$19.99, Apr 27 - May 7$13.72, May 6 - May 7$13.71, May 6 - May 7$19.71, May 10 1:27 pm$13.58, May 10 1:27 pm$13.58, May 10 1:27 pm$19.99, May 12 - May 13$13.51, May 12 5:48 am$13.50, May 12 5:48 am$19.99, May 12 - May 13$13.37, May 13 - May 14$13.36, May 13 - May 14$19.45, May 14 10:08 pmOOS $13.30, May 15 8:50 pm$13.29, May 15 8:50 pm$19.99, May 16 8:18 pm$13.23, May 16 - May 17$13.22, May 16 - May 17$19.71, May 17 8:59 pm$13.16, May 18 11:56 pm$13.15, May 18 11:56 pm$19.71, May 17 8:59 pm$13.09, May 21 - May 27$13.08, May 21 - May 27$18.65, May 23 - May 30$13.09, May 21 - May 27$13.08, May 21 - May 27$18.65, May 23 - May 30$13.07, May 29 12:56 am$13.06, May 29 12:56 am$18.65, May 23 - May 30$12.12, May 31 1:03 pmOOS $12.09, May 31 1:03 pm$18.64, Jun 1 7:46 pm$11.46, Jun 1 7:46 pm$11.44, Jun 1 7:46 pm$15.49, Jun 3 - Jun 10$13.11, Jun 3 2:27 am$11.50, Jun 3 - Jun 4$15.49, Jun 3 - Jun 10$13.20, Jun 4 7:56 am$11.50, Jun 3 - Jun 4$15.49, Jun 3 - Jun 10$13.10, Jun 6 4:54 pm$10.65, Jun 6 4:54 pm$15.49, Jun 3 - Jun 10$13.01, Jun 12 3:39 pm$11.50, Jun 8 - Jun 12$15.49, Jun 3 - Jun 10OOS $13.01, Jun 13 - Jun 14$13.00, Jun 13 - Jun 29$15.70, Jun 16 - Jul 10$13.01, Jun 16 - Jun 29$13.00, Jun 13 - Jun 29$25.44, Jun 30 3:36 am$15.70, Jun 16 - Jul 10$13.10, Jun 30 3:36 am$18.71, Jul 2 - Jul 7$15.70, Jun 16 - Jul 10$13.12, Jul 1 - Jul 2$18.71, Jul 2 - Jul 7$15.70, Jun 16 - Jul 10$13.36, Jul 4 - Jul 6$15.70, Jun 16 - Jul 10$13.44, Jul 7 - Jul 9$12.99, Jul 9 - Jul 10$15.70, Jun 16 - Jul 10$13.52, Jul 10 - Jul 13$12.99, Jul 9 - Jul 10$14.99, Jul 13 - Jul 18$13.52, Jul 10 - Jul 13$13.51, Jul 13 10:27 am$14.99, Jul 13 - Jul 18$13.38, Jul 15 - Jul 16$13.37, Jul 16 - Jul 17$14.99, Jul 13 - Jul 18$13.30, Jul 18 7:50 am$13.25, Jul 18 7:50 am$15.70, Jul 20 - Jul 23$13.18, Jul 20 5:45 am$13.17, Jul 20 5:45 am$15.70, Jul 20 - Jul 23$11.67, Jul 23 - Aug 19$11.66, Jul 23 - Sep 4$15.69, Jul 24 - Aug 2$11.67, Jul 23 - Aug 19$11.66, Jul 23 - Sep 4$15.68, Aug 3 - Aug 9$11.67, Jul 23 - Aug 19$11.66, Jul 23 - Sep 4$15.67, Aug 11 - Aug 23$11.67, Jul 23 - Aug 19$11.66, Jul 23 - Sep 4$15.67, Aug 11 - Aug 23$11.66, Jul 23 - Sep 4$11.58, Aug 21 9:49 am$15.67, Aug 11 - Aug 23$11.66, Jul 23 - Sep 4$11.52, Aug 23 7:34 am$15.66, Aug 25 - Aug 27$11.66, Jul 23 - Sep 4$11.40, Aug 25 - Aug 26$15.66, Aug 25 - Aug 27$11.66, Jul 23 - Sep 4$11.38, Aug 27 5:06 am$15.65, Aug 28 - Sep 4$11.66, Jul 23 - Sep 4$11.28, Aug 29 4:42 am$15.65, Aug 28 - Sep 4$11.66, Jul 23 - Sep 4$11.26, Aug 31 2:09 am$15.65, Aug 28 - Sep 4$11.69, Sep 1 - Sep 5$11.66, Jul 23 - Sep 4$16.57, Sep 5 - Sep 9$14.38, Sep 5 - Sep 11$11.69, Sep 7 - Sep 15$18.71, Sep 12 - Sep 13$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$11.69, Sep 7 - Sep 15$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$11.69, Sep 7 - Sep 15$11.65, Sep 15 7:54 pm$18.71, Sep 17 - Oct 5$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$13.20, Sep 17 7:09 pm$18.71, Sep 17 - Oct 5$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$11.69, Sep 19 - Oct 17$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$14.11, Oct 8 - Oct 10$11.69, Sep 19 - Oct 17$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$14.91, Oct 12 5:10 am$11.69, Sep 19 - Oct 17$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$14.11, Oct 14 5:50 am$11.69, Sep 19 - Oct 17$18.48, Oct 15 6:50 am$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$11.69, Sep 19 - Oct 17$18.60, Oct 17 6:27 am$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$11.69, Sep 19 - Oct 17$18.66, Oct 19 5:22 am$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$13.12, Oct 19 5:22 am$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$11.69, Oct 21 - Oct 29$9.98, Oct 21 - Oct 23$18.71, Oct 24 - Oct 31$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$11.69, Oct 21 - Oct 29$18.71, Oct 24 - Oct 31$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$13.20, Oct 31 7:35 am$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$13.08, Nov 2 7:40 am$13.07, Nov 2 7:40 am$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$11.67, Nov 4 8:53 am$10.09, Nov 4 8:53 am$17.55, Sep 11 - Nov 19$10.03, Nov 6 - Nov 17$10.02, Nov 6 - Nov 17$16.99, Nov 20 10:44 am$11.67, Nov 19 - Nov 28$11.66, Nov 19 - Nov 28$17.55, Nov 22 4:23 pm$11.67, Nov 19 - Nov 28$11.66, Nov 19 - Nov 28$14.99, Nov 24 - Dec 1$11.67, Nov 19 - Nov 28$11.66, Nov 19 - Nov 28$25.44, Dec 1 2:05 am$14.99, Nov 24 - Dec 1$11.69, Dec 1 - Dec 6$25.44, Dec 1 2:05 am$15.82, Dec 3 1:30 pm$11.69, Dec 1 - Dec 6$25.44, Dec 1 2:05 am$15.99, Dec 6 - Dec 30$11.69, Dec 1 - Dec 6$15.99, Dec 6 - Dec 30$11.67, Dec 8 12:43 pm$11.66, Dec 8 12:43 pm$15.99, Dec 6 - Dec 30$11.49, Dec 11 - Jan 14$11.48, Dec 11 - Dec 27$15.99, Dec 6 - Dec 30$11.49, Dec 11 - Jan 14$9.93, Dec 30 10:35 am$17.55, Jan 1 - Feb 20$11.49, Dec 11 - Jan 14$11.48, Jan 1 - Jan 14$18.80, Jan 16 - Jan 30$17.55, Jan 1 - Feb 20$11.69, Jan 16 5:13 pm$18.80, Jan 16 - Jan 30$17.55, Jan 1 - Feb 20OOS $11.69, Jan 19 6:33 am$18.80, Jan 16 - Jan 30$17.55, Jan 1 - Feb 20$11.69, Jan 20 - Feb 16$17.55, Jan 1 - Feb 20$11.69, Feb 2 - Feb 4$11.69, Jan 20 - Feb 16$18.78, Feb 7 - Feb 16$17.55, Jan 1 - Feb 20$11.69, Jan 20 - Feb 16$18.73, Feb 19 - Feb 20$17.55, Jan 1 - Feb 20$13.12, Feb 19 1:48 pm$18.73, Feb 19 - Feb 20$17.55, Jan 1 - Feb 20$13.11, Feb 20 - Feb 29$17.55, Jan 1 - Feb 20$14.99, Feb 23 - Feb 29$13.11, Feb 20 - Feb 29$21.99, Feb 26 - Feb 29$14.99, Feb 23 - Feb 29$13.11, Feb 20 - Feb 29$17.99, Mar 5 - Apr 25$13.09, Mar 5 - Apr 1$13.08, Mar 5 5:49 am$17.99, Mar 5 - Apr 25$13.09, Mar 5 - Apr 1$12.99, Mar 11 3:15 pm$17.99, Mar 5 - Apr 25$13.09, Mar 5 - Apr 1$12.98, Mar 14 9:47 pm$17.99, Mar 5 - Apr 25$13.09, Mar 5 - Apr 1$12.99, Mar 20 6:23 pm$17.99, Mar 5 - Apr 25$13.09, Mar 5 - Apr 1$13.08, Mar 26 - Apr 1$19.34, Apr 7 - Apr 13$17.99, Mar 5 - Apr 25$13.11, Apr 7 9:06 am$19.34, Apr 7 - Apr 13$17.99, Mar 5 - Apr 25OOS $13.11, Apr 13 5:19 am$17.99, Mar 5 - Apr 25$13.11, Apr 19 - Apr 25$11.99, Apr 19 4:52 am$18.76, Apr 25 5:38 am$17.99, Mar 5 - Apr 25$13.11, Apr 19 - Apr 25$25.38, Jun 23 - Jun 27$14.80, Jun 24 4:26 pm$25.38, Jun 23 - Jun 27$14.78, Jun 26 5:50 am$25.38, Jun 23 - Jun 27$13.12, Jun 27 9:43 pm$25.38, Jun 29 - Jun 30$15.59, Jun 29 - Jul 2$25.39, Jul 1 - Jul 2$15.59, Jun 29 - Jul 2$18.14, Jul 3 - Jul 5$15.38, Jul 3 12:03 pm$18.14, Jul 3 - Jul 5$15.31, Jul 4 3:56 pm$19.31, Jul 6 - Jul 14$15.59, Jul 6 - Jul 8$19.31, Jul 6 - Jul 14$13.12, Jul 9 12:37 pm$19.31, Jul 6 - Jul 14$16.30, Jul 11 11:20 pm$19.31, Jul 6 - Jul 14$16.31, Jul 13 4:47 am$19.31, Jul 6 - Jul 14$16.51, Jul 14 2:25 pm$19.58, Jul 17 10:58 am$19.08, Jul 16 - Jul 23$19.08, Jul 16 - Jul 23$13.12, Jul 18 5:43 pm$19.08, Jul 16 - Jul 23$15.40, Jul 19 - Jul 21 1,96532,693 27,500 20,625 13,750 6,875 Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun 2015 2016

Price Details

New

Latest $17.99 10 hrs ago
Highest $21.99 Feb 26, '16
Lowest $12.99 Nov 17, '14
Average $17.99 (30d avg)
$18.18 (90d avg)
$17.48 (180d avg)
$17.19 (365d avg)
$17.92 (Lifetime average)
Added Jun 23, 2014

3rd Party New

Latest $13.11 10 hrs ago
Highest $19.58 Jul 17, '14
Lowest $10.03 Nov 6, '15
Average $13.10 (30d avg)
$12.72 (90d avg)
$12.08 (180d avg)
$12.26 (365d avg)
$12.86 (Lifetime average)
Added Jun 23, 2014

3rd Party Used

Latest $18.76 10 hrs ago
Highest $25.45 Feb 11, '15
Lowest $6.56 Nov 15, '14
Average $15.36 (30d avg)
$15.44 (90d avg)
$14.52 (180d avg)
$14.37 (365d avg)
$17.71 (Lifetime average)
Added Jun 23, 2014

Sales Rank

30 day average: 17,800
90 day average: 17,481

Product Description

Edna Ferber's classic tale of life and love among a theatrical troupe on a Mississippi riverboat has received many dramatic treatments since its birth over eighty years ago.

But none is more satisfying than this 1936 production, widely accepted as the best and most faithful of three screen versions of the Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II musical. A splendid, indeed definitive cast features Irene Dunne as the lovely Magnolia, fated to fall for Allan Jones' dashing riverboat gambler, Gaylord Ravenal. It is their turbulent romance and Magnolia's growth from a shy guileless girl to a mature star of the stage that form the core of the story.

In her last film appearance, Helen Morgan will break your heart as the tragic Julie, with her songs "Bill" and "Can't Help Lovin' That Man." And there is perhaps no more memorable performance in musical history than Paul Roberson's moving rendition of "Ol' Man River."

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Buy from Best Buy $19.99$17.99 $19.38 $18.75 $17.50 Sep Nov Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov Jan Mar May 2015 2016 $19.99, Jul 3 - Nov 8$17.99, Nov 9 - Apr 25

Price Details

New

Latest $17.99 90 mins ago
Highest $19.99 Jul 3, '14
Lowest $17.99 Nov 9, '15
Average $17.99 (30d avg)
$17.99 (90d avg)
$18.12 (180d avg)
$19.07 (365d avg)
$19.48 (Lifetime average)
Added Jul 3, 2014

Product Description

This second film version of the Edna Ferber/Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II musical Show Boat is considered by many film buffs to be the best of the three. Covering nearly four decades (was there ever an Edna Ferber novel that didn't?), the film stars Irene Dunne as Magnolia Hawks, a role she'd previously played on stage, though not in the Broadway version. The daughter of showboat impresario Captain Andy (Charles Winninger, who was in the Broadway original), Magnolia is swept off her feet by dashing gambler Gaylord Ravenal (Allan Jones). Yearning to appear on the showboat stage, Magnolia gets her chance when Captain Andy's leading lady, the tragic Julie (Helen Morgan, likewise a holdover from Broadway), is ordered not to perform by a small-town sheriff because she is Mulatto. Julie's husband Steve (Donald Cook) loyally walks out with his wife, thereby leaving the leading-man position open-but not for long, since Gaylord Ravenal agrees to take over for Steve, the better to stay close to Magnolia. Despite the disapproval of Magnolia's mother Parthy Hawks (Helen Westley), Magnolia and Ravenal are married. Later on, the couple has a baby girl named Kim. At first, the young family is blissfully happy, but as Ravenal's gambling debts begin to mount, things turn sour. Unable to support Magnolia and Kim, Ravenal walks out on them both. Desperately, Magnolia tries to get a job as a singer in Chicago. She auditions at a night spot where, fortuitously, Julie is the featured attraction. Hoping to give Magnolia a break, Julie gets drunk, forcing the manager to hire Magnolia as a replacement. During her New Years' Eve debut, Magnolia "chokes up" in front of the raucous audience-and then, who should emerge from the crowd but lovable Captain Andy, who gives Magnolia the encouragement she needs. Magnolia goes on to become a famous musical comedy star, as does her grown-up daughter Kim (played as an adult by Sunnie O'Dea). On the eve of Magnolia's retirement from the theater, she is reunited with her now-contrite husband Gaylord Ravenal. While the second half of Show Boat departs radically from both the novel (in which Ravenal never returns ) and the Broadway show, the film manages to capture the spirit of its literary and theatrical ancestors. Of the original score, "Cotton Blossom," "Ol' Man River," "Where's the Mate for Me?" "Make Believe," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," You are Love" and "Bill" are retained, while most of the other songs are heard as background accompaniment. Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II penned three new tunes for the film version: "Ah Still Suits Me," "Gallavantin' Around" and "I Have the Room Above." As in all stage and screen versions of Show Boat, the Charles K. Harris standard "After the Ball" is heard in the New Year sequence. In addition to the aforementioned Dunne, Jones, Winninger, Westley, Morgan, and O'Dea, the Show Boat cast includes the magnificent Paul Robeson as Joe (his rendition of "Ol' Man River" can still induce goosebumps), Hattie McDaniel as Queenie and Sammy White and Queenie Smith as the engagingly second-rate vaudeville team of Frank and Ellie Schultz. Though James Whale of Frankenstein fame seems an odd choice for director, he brings a vibrant theatricality to the proceedings that is lacking in other versions. Show Boat literally saved the financially strapped Universal Pictures from receivership-but not soon enough to prevent the ousters of Carl Laemmle Sr. and Jr. in favor of a new administration. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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