Show Boat (1929) Watch Online Trailer

This film sticks very closely to the Edna Ferber novel, rather than the musical on which the novel is based. There are only two major changes from Ferber's book : *Julie in this version is a white woman, not a racially mixed one; therefore she and her husband are not unlawfully married. * Ravenal returns at the end, instead of dying as in the novel



Show Boat (1929)
Released: 28 Jul 1929
Runtime: 147 min
Rated: TV-G
Director: Harry A. Pollard, Arch Heath
Writer(s): Edna Ferber (by), Charles Kenyon (continuity), Edward J. Montaigne (story), Harry A. Pollard (dialogue arranger), Tom Reed (dialogue arranger), Tom Reed (titles)
Actors: Laura La Plante, Joseph Schildkraut, Emily Fitzroy, Otis Harlan
IMDB Ratings: 6.3



Plot: The film begins with Magnolia, daughter of Captain Andy Hawks and his domineering wife Parthy, enjoying her childhood aboard her father's show boat. Parthy, irritated over the supposed influence of leading lady Julie (Magnolia's idol and best friend) fires her, despite her husband's objections. Many years later, Magnolia is a young woman and becomes a leading lady. Her leading man is Gaylord Ravenal, a riverboat gambler with whom she falls in love and elopes. But the sudden and unexpected death of Captain Andy forces the couple to leave the boat and move to Chicago rather than endure the disapproving Parthy, and Ravenal's gambling luck soon runs out. Then, Parthy announces she's coming to visit.