Show Boat (1936)

I had been wanting to watch this version of the musical when I was working through Paul Robeson’s filmography. I was further spurned on after reading a biography on Hattie McDaniel and from having an impending trip on the Mississippi River planned. Irene Dunne is the protagonist of the story, a teenager on her parents’ show boat who is promoted to actress after the star of the show was forced to leave because of her mixed race heritage. The film follows Dunne’s career as she, and later her daughter, becomes a famous stage actress. There’s some very weird acting on her part. I’m still not sure if some of her dancing was supposed to be sincere or farcical. I had come in to see Robeson and McDaniel and their unfortunately small supporting roles are worth it. While they’re sadly steeped in racial stereotypes, their singing and chemistry together is quite enthralling. 

Side Note: Included on the Criterion DVD for this film was some preserved remnants of the partially talkie 1929 version of the story. It is interesting how the some of the sound bits were tacked on to take advantage of the new technology. It’s weird to me that the character played by McDaniel in 1936 was played by a white woman in a black face Mammy caricature. I’m glad that the character at least evolved from that in the newer version.