The Film Showboat

Show Boat is an iconic show on Broadway that was produced in 1927 and then made into a film in 1951. As in all musical plays, the film differs from the original, with new songs and some left out. Show Boat was no exception, but it did follow the original closely.

This film could not fail since it was adapted from Edna Ferber’s award-winning novel Show Boat, published in 1926. The two greats of American theatre, Oscar Hammerstein, who wrote the lyrics, and Jerome Kern, wrote the music. I mentioned these men because they have written fantastic scores and lyrics. This fact makes a musical memorable to the public. I hear these songs in my mind, which makes me feel pleasure. This movie was iconic because it dealt with serious messages about race. Inter-racial characters were not seen in film before Showboat.

I have seen the film Showboat many times. I could give you a synopsis, but most people know it’s about love, mistrust, and hope for a better life.