Show Boat (1936) - Part 16/16: "You Are Love (Reprise)"

*Full details on the stage musical and this film adaptation available in the description panel of parts 1-15*

SYNOPSIS OF ORIGINAL ENDING

The original stage version ends with Captain Andy and Ravenal, having bumped into each other at Fort Adams 30 years later, sitting on the top deck of the Cotton Blossom listening to Magnolia sing on the radio. Andy tells Ravenal that he shouldn't have run off and instead should've pursued an acting career for he surely would've become famous like Magnolia and Kim. Andy has sent Magnolia a telegram asking her to return to Natchez but Ravenal fears a reunion would be unwise.

By coincidence, Frank and Ellie, who have since married and adopted a child who has risen to become a Hollywood star, are visiting the Hawks at the same time. They are joined by Kim, now a Broadway star, and Magnolia who is a retired actress. Kim is in her 30's, Magnolia and Ravenal, in their 60's, and Parthy and Andy in their 80's. Parthy calls out for Andy and he leaves leaving Ravenal alone, who sings a reprise of "You are Love."

Kim has dressed Parthy in a modern flapper outfit, which Parthy complains about, no surprise, LOL. And Kim, surrounded by fans, performs for everyone her latest Broadway hit entitled "It's Getting Hotter In the North"--a raucous, jazzy dance number almost 10 minutes in length. In this number Ellie and Frank, Captain Andy, and a few of the other main characters do dances of their own--a sort of "farewell."

The number finishes and Ravenal and Magnolia unexpectedly cross paths. They eye each other in awkward silence and fumble over what to say next when, just then, a local elderly woman comes between them and tells them how she remembers the day they were married and that she is glad everything turned out well--that they're still happy together so many years later. This provides a very bittersweet and somewhat melancholy moment for the audience, who are well aware that things did not turn out well and that Ravenal abandoned her and Kim.

But Magnolia isn't cross, despite what he had done, and invites Ravenal to the top deck of the Cotton Blossom so they can chat and catch up after so many years. Andy tells them both "there's a certain water barrel up there that's not much different from the old one," clearly referring to the times Magnolia and Ravenal would secretly meet on the pretense of getting a drink of water.

Just then, Joe is heard singing a reprise of "Ol' Man River" as Magnolia turns to Ravenal and points out a young woman approaching them, saying, "Look Gay...there's Kim." The music swells and Joe is joined by the entire cast who all sing full blast the final line of the song as the curtain comes down on all three--Father, Mother, and daughter, who haven't seen each other in decades-- embracing.

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
• You
• Are
• Love
• Reprise
• Finale

[mrcdad]

Shit, that one always brings a tear to my eye

[queenmedesa]

Thanks for posting this beautiful film,I love it!

[LiveStoryteller]

Thank you so so much for posting this. I've been looking for it everywhere. It's just brilliant.

[JVOregon]

What a beautiful film! Thanks for making it accessible to us. First time I've seen it and I love it!

[hatepbj94]

@LaMisereHQ

Great film!!! Thanks for posting it!!

Can you post up some more films from 1936? Like "Ramona" with Loretta Young?

Let me know!

[3investigators]

Such a wonderful film. No wonder MGM bought the rights to it and tried to suppress its showing it when they produced their gaudy remake.

[Kailoa36]

Bravo! 

[Cammy4442]

So Julie just leaves the club and never returns??? Sad face. I would have liked to see the old friends reunite....

[dairy444]

I always get teary eyed when i watch this!