Show Boat (1936 film)

Show Boat
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	James Whale
Written by	Oscar Hammerstein II (also wrote lyrics)
Based on	Show Boat 1926 novel by Edna Ferber Show Boat 1927 musical by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II
Produced by	Carl Laemmle Jr.
Starring	Irene Dunne Allan Jones Charles Winninger Paul Robeson Helen Morgan Helen Westley
Cinematography	John J. Mescall
Edited by	Bernard W. Burton Ted Kent
Music by	Jerome Kern
Color process	Black and white
Production company	Universal Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release dates	May 14, 1936 (1936-05-14) (New York City) May 17, 1936 (1936-05-17) (United States)
Running time	113 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,194,943[1]

Show Boat is a 1936 American romantic musical film directed by James Whale, based on the 1927 musical of the same name by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II, which in turn was adapted from the 1926 novel of the same name by Edna Ferber.^[2]

Universal Pictures had filmed the part-talkie Show Boat which was released in 1929. Carl Laemmle, head of Universal, had been deeply dissatisfied with that film, and wanted to make an all-sound version of the musical. It was originally scheduled to be made in 1934, but plans to make this version with Russ Columbo as the gambler Gaylord Ravenal fell through when Columbo was killed that year in a shotgun accident, and production of the film was rescheduled. The film, with several members of the original Broadway cast, began principal photography in late 1935 and was released in 1936.

In addition to the songs retained from the stage production, Kern and Hammerstein wrote three additional songs for the film. Two of them were performed in spots previously reserved for songs from the stage production.