REVIEW: "SHOWBOAT" (1951) STARRING KATHRYN GRAYSON, AVA GARDNER, HOWARD KEEL AND WILLIAM WARFIELD; WARNER ARCHIVE BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION - Cinema Retro
The
Warner Archive has done itself proud with their new release of MGM’s splendid
1951 production of Showboat.This
Technicolor spectacular is actually the third film version of the Jerome
Kern/Oscar Hammerstein classic, which is based on a novel by Edna Ferber.The Freed unit at MGM pulled out all the
stops for this effort and cast Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ava Gardner, Joe
E. Brown, Agnes Moorehead, Marge and Gower Champion and William Warfield in
this turn- of -the last century story set in the deep South.
Cap’n
Andy and his wife Parthy use their paddle Wheeler, the Cotton Blossom, to put
on shows up and down the Mississippi River.Their daughter, Magnolia, dreams of playing a part but is discouraged by
her strict mother.One day a charming,
but down and out gambler named Gaylord comes looking for work as an actor.He and Magnolia immediately fall in love.
At
first there is no work, but a spurned lover turns in leading lady Julie, who
has been passing as white, on a miscegenation charge.She and leading man Steve, her husband, are
forced to leave the show.And now, in
the type of plot twist that can only happen in musicals, Gaylord and Magnolia
become lovers both on and off stage.As
Joe maintains the Cotton Blossom, we are treated to a plot of money won and
lost, the birth of a child, the effects of alcoholism and the heartbreak of
loss and redemption.
Under
the guidance of veteran director George Sidney, working from a script by John
Lee Mahin, this version of Showboat concentrates on the love story and glosses
over many of the racial undertones of the previous films.
In
1936 Universal produced a black and white version of Showboat that adhered more
closely to the stage play.Directed by
James Whale and produced by Carl Laemmle, Jr. and starring Irene Dunne, Helen
Morgan, Paul Robeson, Allan Jones and Hattie McDaniel, this earlier film presented
more of the harsh reality of the racial divides of that era.At one point Ms. Dunne, as Magnolia, performed
Gallavantin’ Around in blackface as part of the onboard show.
George
Sidney’s Showboat, true to the MGM musical formula, celebrates the Kern/Hammerstein
songs and the extravagant production numbers choreographed by Robert Alton.Several of these dances featured future
choreographer and director Gower Champion and his very talented wife
Marge.Life Upon the Wicked Stage is an
especially impressive effort by these two.
With
the exception of a few riverfront scenes staged near Nacthez, MS, all filming
took place at the studios and backlots of MGM.A working paddle wheeler was constructed and launched into the lake that
was once used for the Johnny Weismuller Tarzan movies.Built on top of a barge, the boat was towed
by underwater cables allowing it to stop on a mark for the dance numbers.
The
costumes, production numbers and sets burst forth with all of the brightness
that Technicolor consultant Henri Jaffa would allow.The sharpness of the Blu-ray edition brings
out amazing detail in the texture of the clothing and backgrounds.The eyes of the actors sparkle in a fashion
we have not seen prior to this release.The happiness and optimism of Kathryn Grayson as Magnolia, the world-weary
look of Ava Garner’s Julie and the seen-it-all soulfulness of William Warfield
as Joe are apparent in their faces and their eyes.
The
sound is clear and full ranged during the musical numbers with all dialogue and
singing mixed loud enough to hear even at lower volumes. Although not indicated on the Blu-ray sleeve,
this edition of Showboat has two sound options.The original mono track as heard in the original theatrical release, and
there is a second 2.0 stereo mix, as
well.As noted on the Rhino/TCM release
of the CD soundtrack, several microphones were employed for the orchestra
during the recording sessions and discrete channels were produced from
each.These separate tracks were mixed
to create a wrap around stereo effect for the orchestral score and
accompaniments for the songs.
William
Warfield noted in his autobiography, My Music & My Life, that for the
recordings the orchestra was not set up in traditional concert formation.Instruments were placed in small groups
around mics to best achieve a proper balance for the soundtrack.He also commented on the process of filming
with pre-recorded music on set.“To
lip-synch convincingly onscreen, you have to show the same physical strain –
the same veins, the same tendons, the same air pressure in the cheeks, the same
flair of the nostrils – as you’d see with a singer really singing the
song.â€This was very apparent in his
rendition of the classic song Ol’ Man River as the last verse is presented with
a very slow tracking shot closing in on his face.
I
found it interesting that playback for all musical numbers during filming was
accomplished by the use of 78 rpm records.
Another
aspect of lip-synching was filming a music selection sung by someone other than
the actor.Ava Gardner pre-recorded her
song Can’t Help Loving That Man of Mine, but at the last minute the producers
switched her voice for Annette Warren’s.While the reason wasn’t clear, it made filming a challenge for Ms.
Gardner as she had speaking lines within the song and had to adjust
accordingly.Curiously, the MGM soundtrack
album for Showboat utilized Ms. Gardner’s version of this song and her other
number, Bill.
William Warfield
Ava
Gardner, according to Warfield’s autobiography, was quite friendly and was part
of a close knit cast during breaks from filming.“Joe E. Brown was a constant cut-up.Kathryn Grayson warm beautiful and very
serious about her music.She was a prima
donna, in the best, original sense.Ava
Gardner could be counted on for the liveliest conversation.The film was made during the time she had her
big thing with Frank Sinatra and her contribution consisted of Sinatra stories
– what he’d done or said or where they went the night before.Of course, we were all ears.â€
I
was a vocal music student at the University of Illinois during the 70s and I
had the privilege of studying with William Warfield, who was an instructor at
that time.A large and boisterous
presence, “Uncle Bill†was keen on the expression and motivation with a song
and used these qualities to improve the sound of all of his students.I remember on his studio wall there was a poster
for Showboat as well as That’s Entertainment (1974), which also included his
performance of Ol’ Man River.
As
a pupil I fondly remember that all lessons began and ended with one of Uncle
Bill’s slightly off-color jokes.He
often regaled students with his stories of his collaborations with Leonard
Bernstein and Aaron Copland.During the
50s, Warfield was best known for his stage performances of Gershwin’s Porgy and
Bess, appearing opposite his then wife, soprano Leontyne Price.There was a funny anecdote he related about
having to sneak into her home after their divorce to retrieve a musical score
he needed for an upcoming performance.
Sheet music signed by William Warfield to reviewer Tim McGlynn.
William
Warfield was part of an exceptional cast and crew that presented Showboat in
the grand MGM tradition.Having seen the
film in several video and film formats I can assure you this is the best it has
ever looked and sounded.First time
viewers will be struck by the sheer beauty of the restoration in its full
Technicolor glory.Fans of the film will
enjoy the improved quality of the sound and picture plus the choice in audio
tracks that are available.Included as
extras are the Showboat sequence from MGM’s 1946 Jerome Kern biopic, Till the
Clouds Roll By.Kathryn Grayson is
featured in that portion of movie also playing the role of Magnolia.There are two audio-only performances of the
Ava Gardner version of Bill and Can’t Help Loving That Man of Mine.Also on the disc is a feature length
commentary by George Sidney recorded in 1993 and the original trailer.
This
Warner Archive edition of Showboat is an amazing improvement over the previous
DVD version and will be enjoyed by anyone interested in the history of the
American musical.