Show Boat (1929)

When you say that Universal's version of Edna Ferber's episodic and sentimental novel is a lavish production, you say nearly everj'thing possible about it. The weakness of the film "Show Boat" lies in the obvious direction of Harry Pollard.

Miss Ferber wrote a colorful novel that swept from a Mississippi river show boat to Chicago in the days of the world's Fair and on to New York. It had verve, spirit and fine atmospheric detail. Some of this comes through to the screen.

Laura La Plante is the best of the cast as Magnolia but Joseph Schildkraut overacts the role of Gaylord Ravcnal. So does Emily Fitzroy in the role of Parthenia Ann Hawks, who rules her show boat with an iron hand.

Photoplay June 1929

Vintage magazines

Photoplay , May 1928

Photoplay , June 1929

Photoplay , September 1929

Photoplay , October 1929

Books with substantial mentioning of Show Boat

		Robert K. Klepper Silent Films, 1877-1996, A Critical Guide to 646 Movies Jefferson, North Carolina and London, 1999

		Edwin M. Bradley The first Hollywood musicals, A critical filmography of 171 features, 1927 through 1932 Jefferson, N.C., 1996 pp. 166-169