Show Boat (1936) - Part 2/16: "Make Believe"

One of three film versions of the classic Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein stage musical, this Universal production is

considered the best of the three by film critics and enthusiasts alike.

Premiering at Washington's National Theatre in the winter of 1927, the original stage show went on to continue its out-of-

town tryout in a series of East Coast cities before finally making its Broadway debut at the Ziegfeld Theatre on 27

December, 1927. The original Broadway production was a huge success, playing over 500 performances. The show then embarked

on a nation-wide tour after it completed its Broadway run in 1929.

Norma Terris, Broadway's original Magnolia Hawks, went off to Hollywood to make films and actress Irene Dunne took over the

role for the remainder of the national tour, which disbanded in 1930.

A revival of the original Zeigfeld production opened at the Casino Theatre on Broadway in 1932. This first Broadway revival

reunited much of the original cast and included the great bass Paul Robeson as Joe, for whom the role was actually written

for. Unable to join the original production at the Ziegfeld due to other commitments, the role went to Jules Bledsoe. Prior

to his appearance in the 1932 Broadway revival, Robeson had played the role in London for which he received critical

acclaim and achieved overnight stardom.

After an unsuccessful attempt at converting a silent filmed version of Edna Ferber's novel of the same name--on which the

show is based--into the much acclaimed musical version by overlaying musical numbers on the previously shot action, re-

shooting key sequences, and incorporating sound, the film rights bought by Universal were put into good use, resulting in

this critically acclaimed 1936 film version of the groundbreaking stage musical.

An unusual choice for director considering the genre was James Whale, but his attention to atmospheric detail made him an

ideal choice. The head of Universal at the time insisted as much of the original Broadway cast as possible be brought in to

do the film. Of those original cast members that eventually joined the film production were Charles Winninger as Captain

Andy Hawks; Francis X. Mahoney as Rubberface Smith; Sammy White as Frank Schultz; and Helen Morgan as Julie LaVerne.

Also joining the production were Show Boat alumni Hattie McDaniel, who had appeared in the 1933 West Coast production, as

Queenie; Paul Robeson as Joe; Allan Jones, who had appeared in a regional U.S. production, as Gaylord Ravenal; and Irene

Dunne as Magnolia Hawks.

By far the most faithful to the original stage version, this 1936 film is almost word for word accurate with the exception

of the much altered ending. A considerable amount of songs were cut due to time constraints (although bits remain in the

underscoring) but the show's most memorable numbers remain.

CAST

Magnolia - Irene Dunne

Gaylord Ravenal - Allan Jones

Captain Andy Hawks - Charles Winninger

Joe - Paul Robeson

Julie - Helen Morgan

Parthy Ann Hawks - Helen Westley

Ellie - Queenie Smith

Frank - Sammy White

Steve - Donald Cook

Queenie - Hattie McDaniel

Rubber Face - Francis X. Mahoney

Kim (as child) - Marilyn Knowlden

Kim (at sixteen) - Sunnie O'Dea

Pete - Arthur Hohl

Vallon - Charles Middleton

Windy - J. Farrell MacDonald

Sam - Clarence Muse

Jim - Charles Wilson

Backwoodsman - Stanley Fields

Jake - Harry Barris

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director - James Whale

Producer - Carl Laemmle Jr.

Stage play, screenplay, and lyrics - Oscar Hammerstein II

Music - Jerome Kern

Cinematographer - John J. Mescall, A.S.C.

Special Cinematographer - John P. Fulton

Art Director - Charles D. Hall

Musical Director - Victor Baravalle

Costumes - Doris Zinkeisen

Choreography - LeRoy Prinz

Editors - Ted Kent, Bernard Burton

Orchestration - Robert Russell Bennett

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Show
• Boat
• 1936
• Oscar
• Hammerstein
• Jerome
• Kern
• Showboat
• Musicals
• Broadway
• Classic
• Irene
• Dunne
• Paul
• Robeson
• Allan
• Jones
• Hattie
• McDaniel
• Charles
• Winninger
• Helen
• Morgan
• Edna
• Ferber
• James
• Whale
• Theatre
• Ziegfeld
• Make
• Believe

[iamlovedbysomeone]

You're a saint for putting this movie up! Thank you thank you!!!!

[EponineJondrette]

Now that's what I call singing! I love this!

[orpheumshn]

I just seen the classic showboat movie and checked on the tune, and here it is.... Thanks for keeping my Love at fist sight alive...Thanks for posting this Make believe, I do..

[RebelFanzel]

@Galygal77 no he didnt (he does sound like him though) Allan Jones was in quite a few Marx Brothers films

[princeandrey]

@chomsky88 Yes, but only to make fun of. Here's he's glorious! It's fascinating, the myth of Southern Gentleman. Here was a "liberal" show, and it in it survives unawares. It's a reworking of the 19th Century Romantic idea of the troubadour mixed up with the planter (i.e. slave-owner) as aristocrat; but he has no more land because he lost his slaves. And, yes, they do sing sooo beautiful!

[tracer740]

How many here recognize 'Vallon' (Charles Middleton) who portrayed 'Ming the Merciless', in the old Flash Gordon serials?

[ddeman]

@chomsky88 Yes, Alan Jones. He got this role after A Night At the Opera

[Galygal77]

Did he voice the prince in snow white?

[musicaltheatergeek79]

Ha! It's 75 years now. This movie came out in 1936 and it's now 2011. :-P

[BetsyBooth22]

Irene Dunne is so beautiful. She is 38 here! She always looks so much younger than she really is.

[queenmedesa]

Love this song!

[chomsky88]

The crack in the shoe is a nice touch; and, is this the guy from A Night At the Opera?