Digital Review

The Complete Show Boat

Reviewed by Roy Hemming | Jul 21, 1995

For all the racial stereotypes and no-longer-daring dramatic elements of the movie versions of this landmark American musical, that glorious Kern-Hammerstein score keeps more than Ol' Man River rolling beautifully along. The '51 color spectacle is the most sumptuous in design and sound (especially as remastered here). But the more intimate '36 B & W version still holds up best. Even the long-unseen, part-talkie '29 version, fascinating despite its technical unevenness, has been reconstructed on The Complete Show Boat laserdisc. Musical lovers, your Boat has come in. A

Originally posted Jul 21, 1995 Published in issue #284 Jul 21, 1995 Order article reprints

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