Show Boat (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

History of the 1936 version of 'Show Boat’ on silver discs:--- 1989: 12-inch CLV Laser Disc on Criterion + Miles Krueger audio commentary.--- 1995: two 12-inch CAV Laser Discs on Criterion + a third disc with bonus features + Miles Krueger audio commentary.--- 2014: DVD-R on Warner Archive Collection - ugh, just a stopgap burned-to-order disc, not recommended Show Boat (1936) by Allan Jones--- 2020: Blu-ray on Criterion - REVIEWED ON THIS PAGE - much improved picture and sound.expanded bonus features:------ Miles Krueger audio commentary from 1989.------ bonus features from the 1995 Laser Disc.------ twenty minutes of excerpts from the 1929 ‘Show Boat’ with audio commentary by Miles Krueger (originally on 1995 Laser Disc). Early reports that the complete 1929 film would be included were erroneous.------ longest version of the 1929 “Prologue” with the original Broadway cast (longer than the versions on Laser Disc or Turner Classic Movies - see below).------ Paul Robeson documentary from 1979 (new to disc).------ new bonus features, including a biography of director James Whale.------ English subtitles.The new Criterion Blu-ray is self-recommending as the best available version of the 1936 ‘Show Boat’.It also has a lot of fascinating bonus features.What it doesn’t have is the complete 1929 film version, but only 20 minutes of excerpts, which is a great pity.But Criterion does give us the “complete” 1929 Prologue - this alone is worth the price of the Blu-ray (see below).Four members of the original 1927 Broadway cast were in the 1936 film:--- Charles Wininger as Captain Andy--- Helen Morgan as Julie (she was also in the 1929 Prologue)--- Sammy White as Frank Schultz--- Francis X. Mahoney as RubberfaceIn addition,--- Paul Robeson played Joe in the original London cast (1928)--- Irene Dunne played Magnolia in the first touring company of Show Boat (1929)SHOW BOAT IN HOLLYWOOD:The 1936 film of ‘Show Boat’ was Universal’s second attempt to bring this story to the screen.‘Show Boat’ opened on Broadway on December 27, 1927.This was the dawn of sound in Hollywood.Here was the opportunity to film a new Broadway musical with members of the original cast.But Hollywood blew it.Universal already owned the rights to Edna Ferber’s best-selling novel, but neglected to secure the rights to Jerome Kern’s musical score (too expensive).In 1928, they filmed ‘Show Boat’ as a straight drama with an all-star Hollywood cast (Laura La Plante as Magnolia).But preview audiences expected a musical, and were disappointed.At short notice, Universal was forced to pay a record $100,000 for the musical rights (more than they paid Edna Ferber for the novel).Several scenes were re-shot with music, but it was too late to hire a new singing cast, so Laura La Plante’s voice was dubbed by radio singer Eva Olivetti.We have no idea what Olivetti/LaPlante sounded like - the soundtrack for that part of the film is lost.Just one member of the Broadway cast was hired - Jules Bledsoe, the original Joe, but he was only hired to dub Stepin Fetchit (gasp) as Joe.But Bledsoe/Fetchit do NOT sing “Ol’ Man River” - that song was given to Laura La Plante - and the soundtrack for that reel is lost anyway.For the last five minutes of the film, Bledsoe/Fetchit sing “Lonesome Road” - this reel survives with sound.The song was composed in 1927 by Nathaniel Shilkret (no connection to Jerome Kern).A surprise hit, though most listeners assumed it was an authentic “Negro spiritual” (Paul Robeson recorded it).An effective ending, but it's not included on the Blu-ray.MY ONLY COMPLAINT: I wish Criterion had included the complete two-hour 1929 film, but they only give us twenty minutes of excerpts with audio commentary, borrowed from the 1995 Laser Disc.Miles Krueger states “You are viewing the picture portion of the sound version of ‘Show Boat’. The actual soundtrack has been lost, so I have to tell you that the tunes you are NOT hearing the band play are “Here Comes the Showboat”, “Down South” and “There’ll be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight.”But shortly after the Laser Disc was published in 1995, a large cache of sound discs was discovered.In 2000, Turner Classic Movies prepared a restored version of the 1929 ‘Showboat’: 118 minutes (two songs totaling 6 minutes + 69 minutes of symphonic music + 13 minutes of dialogue + 30 minutes still without sound).See Comment One (sort by “Oldest”) for more details.According to the internet, additional sound discs have been found since then, and I was hoping for a more complete restoration, but Criterion passed on the project.Boo.The 2000 restoration still shows up on TCM.It’s an impressive film despite many handicaps.Unlike the studio-bound 1936 film, the 1929 film featured exterior scenes shot on a full-sized showboat (on the Sacramento River).1929 PROLOGUE on CRITERION (see black & white photos)Preview audiences were still not satisfied, so on January 17, 1929 Universal engineers traveled to Broadway.Three members of the original Broadway cast + the chorus and orchestra were paid to perform five songs in a semi-staged performance on their day off, with original costumes and choreography.This is known as the “Prologue” (1929).All four surviving songs (16 minutes total) are on the Criterion Blu-ray.Helen Morgan repeated her role of Julie in the 1936 film, but this is the only evidence we have of Jules Bledsoe as Joe, and Tess Gardella as Queenie.*---- “Ol' Man River” sung by Jules Bledsoe---- “C'mon Folks” sung by Tess Gardella---- “Hey, Feller!” sung by Tess Gardella---- “Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man” sung by Helen Morgan - VIDEO & AUDIO ARE LOST---- “Bill” sung by Helen MorganTwo songs (“C'mon Folks” and "Bill") were on the 2000 TCM restoration, but they were sound only.The Criterion Blu-ray has picture and sound for all four surviving songs.THE “N” WORD:On December 27, 1927, the first words the opening night audience heard were:“N*****s all work on the Mississippi, N*****s all work while the white folks play”.The line is repeated later when Sam sings “Ol Man River”.Lyricist Oscar Hammerstein apparently chose the word for it’s shock value.Paul Robeson, Sam in the original London production, was never happy with the original lyric.Even so, he made the first commercial recording of the unedited song in 1928.On YouTube, look up “Ol man river Robeson 1928” --- listen to the record with the red label.There were a number of competing recordings in 1928, including a second Robeson recording, with Paul Whiteman (the record with the black label), but all of them avoided controversy by omitting the line entirely.In the 1936 film, Robeson sings:“Darkies all work on the Mississippi, Darkies all work while the white folks play”.Robeson is usually credited as the first performer to insist on this change,but if you listen to Jules Bledsoe in the filmed “Prologue”, he also substitutes “Darkies” for the “N” word.‘Show Boat’ closed on May 4, 1929 after 572 performances.The Prologue was recorded on January 17, 1929, while the show was still on Broadway, so Jules Bledsoe apparently deserves credit for the change.Strong implication that this change was also made in live performances (with Hammerstein’s approval?)More recent performances substitute the lyric “Colored folks work on the Mississippi” or even the incredibly bland “Here we all work on the Mississippi”.* Tess Gardella was a white performer who specialized in blackface - she was the first Aunt Jemima. (uh-oh)Every other black person in the cast was authentically African-American.For more details about the TCM restoration of the 1929 'Show Boat', see Comment One (sort by Oldest)- also information about Laser Discs.

This is a classic film highlighting the talents of the black actors in this film, especially of the hugely talented Paul Robeson and the ubiquitous Hattie McDaniel. This film was an early musical made in 1936 and please be aware that this was made in the era of Jim Crow with the film set in the era when racism and segregation were the rule of the day. The film was beautifully restored and sharp although the film grain can be quite apparent but this is clearly out-shined by the talents of those involved. Paul Robeson alone is worth the price of admission.

Not only does Criterion go to great lengths to re-master both the video and audio of its releases of classic films, it also includes great "extras".In this case, they are first rate: the optional commentary track is one of the best, covering a broad range of categories, including filming techniques, the background of the original 1927 Broadway production (Paul Robeson starred in the 1928 London stage production, but had commitments preventing his appearance in the 1927 Broadway original), and changes made in subsequent productions (including Robeson's insistence that the "N word" of the original 1927 stage production be changed to something slightly less offensive in the 1936 film).Also included is a film biography of Paul Robeson, narrated by Harry Belefonte, which won an Academy Award for best short documentary in 1979 (Robeson had died in 1976).Also, four priceless filmed (with sound) musical numbers, meant for inclusion with the 1929 silent film. Keep in mind this 1929 film version was opening just after Al Jolson's The Jazz Singer ushered in sound, and had not originally even been intended as a musical--it was to be a filmed drama based on the Ferber novel.Tess Gardella who originally played Queenie on Broadway and is in one of the filmed numbers, was Caucasian - she appeared in black-face. Jules Bledsoe was the original Joe, and he appears in a filmed clip singing "Old Man River".Also, two radio adaptations featuring Helen Morgan, Allen Jones and Charles Winninger (produced for radio by Orson Welles) … and 20 minutes of excerpts from the silent film, with commentary.One of Criterion's All-Time Greats.ps: For those longing to see staged productions of Showboat, I highly recommend the San Francisco Opera's production (of about 2014), available for purchase in Blu-Ray from Amazon. And also, the New York Philharmonic's 2014 concert version (filmed and shown on PBS, but unfortunately not yet released for sale on dvd).For the most complete cast recording, buy the 3 cd set-it includes many of the numbers later added (or deleted) by Kern and Hammerstein. This cd set is apparently out of print, but can be found occasionally on ebay (and possibly Amazon or Amazon uk)

Finally on blu-ray and the transfer is stunning, and it has English subtitles, which none of the other releases have.Fast delivery and item as described. Seller recommended.

J

disappointing -unable to play on UK DVD machine

Very disappointed that the Blue -ray dvd was unable to be played on our international player. It would not register. Perhaps it was a faulty dvd as all others we get from you play no problems.We were looking forward to seeing it. Very disappointed

There are no words good enough. James Whale does yeoman work, Irene Dunne is beautiful inside and out, as is Hattie McDaniel and Alan Jones and Paul Robeson. Charles Winninger provides humor, humanity, and energy. Get it while you can.

loved this Show Boat good acting great songs great production. Much better than the 1959's M.G.M. version.