"Hey Feller!" - Show Boat (1929)

Another very rare clip of the original Broadway production of Show Boat at the Ziegfeld Theatre. In this scene, Queenie (Italian American blackface actress Tess Gardella, aka: Aunt Jemima), now much older and wiser, embraces the passage of time in her new fancy flapper dress and offers advice on how to catch a man. This number was kind of random and it is said that it was added in order to make time for scene changes. The number, although very catchy, serves little purpose and hasn't been included in any production of the show since.

This was recorded late in the show's 2 year run and was to be part of a sound prologue to a film version of Edna Ferber's novel of the same name, on which the musical is based. Producers of the silent film only became aware of the musical adaptation after it had already become a popular success. They wanted to capitalize on the musical's success by turning their silent adaptation of the original novel into an adaptation of both. The result was a very fragmented film mixing audio overlays of musical numbers with moving imagery and incorporating select scenes they had re-shot with sound especially for the last minute reconceptualization.

Having purchased the film rights of the musical, Universal planned to eventually produce a proper film version of the musical. This plan came to fruition several years later when the studio finally went into production and released, what is considered by many critics and film enthusiasts, to be the definitive film version of the classic Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein stage musical.

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[marvel5able]

Thanks for posting and for the background information. You may be interested to know that the number is included in the current Kennedy Center Opera House producton, now playing in Washington, D.C.

[al1936ful]

Don't hold your breath. a 3-DVD set of all three versions of "Show Boat" was announced as far back as 2007. It is now 2013, and it still hasn't been released, and I don't think it's because they don't have the materials. They're just sitting on it.

[roneworleans]

In the 1951 MGM version, as The Cotton Blossom is coming upriver in the opening scene, "Hey Feller" is played on the calliope.

[roneworleans]

"Hey Feller" came in the last scene and was one of the final numbers. The last scene was problematic because it was supposed to be modern (1927) and most attempts to bring jazz into the show didn't seem to be working. It's a shame that this number was cut but one of the concerns was that it was very Gershwin-esque and they were afraid people would think it was a burlesque of him.

[deirdre rushin]

Excellent to see these two numbers missing from the recent restoration of the 1929 SHOW BOAT. Nice clear copies, too. Does this song come before or after "Queenie's Ballyhoo"? Not played film for a couple of years and think sound-only prologue incomplete. Perhaps a further restoration will appear. Enjoyed film much more than one might expect from reputation though think would benefit from music where it goes totally mute for a half-hour due to missing discs. Robert Smith

[EMomp]

I got a chance to see Lyric opera of Chicago's production this year with this song included, I wish there was a full video of this

[TheMoviefan1996]

I'm a little confused about the preservation of this film. Does it survive in the 146 minute copy with prologue? Or does the film exist a little shorter without full prologue?

[cjprentiss1]

What a Historic Treasure this clip is. I never knew there was any sound film footage at all of the original 1927 production of "Showboat". This rare clip is a Priceless Gem. Thank you for sharing it.

[sphinx321]

I'm pretty sure I heard this song in the 1989 Royal Shakespeare Company/Opera North production. I remember Queenie singing and dancing in a 1920s dress.