1936 Show Boat movie on DVD

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 1:54pm

Warner Archive has just released it. First time on DVD. It's by far the best filmed version of the show, featuring several performers from the first Broadway production. Helen Morgan is amazing. Hope it's okay to link to their site (I'm not connected to them in any way).
1936 Show Boat

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 1:58pm

It is definitely ok to link to their site and thanks for the heads up. I've always wondered why it was never released on DVD.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 4:08pm

StageStruck is so right: even cut down to 90 minutes, the 1936 version is the best film of the show. Allan Jones, Irene Dunne, Helen Morgan and Hattie McDaniel, PLUS Paul Robeson singing "Ol' Man River"!

The 1936 film also has the best examples I've found of African-American dances such as the shuffle, which revolutionized American dance, modern and Broadway.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 4:52pm

Thank you for posting! I think I'm going to order a copy right now :)

[Jon]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 7:06pm

Irene Dunne is simply ravishing, plus the original Cap'n Andy, Charles Winniger.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 7:42pm

By far the best adaptation, and probably the best (and most faithful) stage to screen film adaptation of a musical for its time.

I hate that Warner Bros archive won't sell from their site to Canada, but it should end up on Amazon in a week or two--that's how long it took for the great Peter Hall/Vanessa Redgrave production of Tennessee Williams' Orpheus Descending to show up a month or so back when it was released.

However, I am kinda disappointed. Back on this film's anniversary (3 years back? 8?) the gossip was a complete set fully remastered was in the works that would also include the silent film and the sound "prologue" with some of the original cast performing songs in a deluxe edition. This was put on hold for whatever reason... I wish we were getting this on Blu-Ray--and WB Archive usually don't remaster their prints, do they? Still, I'll take what I can get.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 8:47pm

WB does remaster some of their prints. The ones that are remastered have a red banner on the top of the case with the words: REMASTERED EDITION in white letters.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 9:23pm

I have the laserdisc boxed set. I'm still amazed by it.

[justoldbill]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 9:31pm

Assuming they're using the same source material as the Critrtion and MGM laser disc editions, it should look pretty good. But I, too, worry that this spells the end of the projected three-film set, as much for the LD extras as for the films themselves. I'll especially miss the stereo soundtrack created for the 1951 version and the segment from TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY all wrapped up in one pretty package. We COULD live with the existing LD material on DVD. Oh, well....

Updated On: 2/25/14 at 09:31 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 5:29am

Exactly! It's always confounding when laserdisc sets are way more impressive than DVD (and even BluRay) releases...

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 9:42am

I read somewhere that the 1951 MGM version needs a major Technicolor reconstruction, which would be pricey. Much as I love Show Boat, I'm not sure I ever need to see (or hear) Kathryn Grayson playing a simpering teenage or stoic adult Magnolia again. That chirping singing voice of hers drives me crazy.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 9:44am

The Warner Archive DVD of the 1936 movie is newly remastered.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:30pm

However, I am kinda disappointed. Back on this film's anniversary (3 years back? 8?) the gossip was a complete set fully remastered was in the works that would also include the silent film and the sound "prologue" with some of the original cast performing songs in a deluxe edition. This was put on hold for whatever reason...

Thanks Eric. I remember hearing those rumours as well. TCM ran the 1929 film last fall. The surviving print is incomplete. Sound discs were missing for some of the reels and TCM added subtitles. Strangely the famous prologue with Ziegfeld introducing Broadway cast members doing songs on the stage of the Ziegfeld theatre was severely truncated and mostly audio only. TCM showed an excellent print of this 1936 film in December.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:00am

Good to know, Besty! Maybe this is the remaster that apparently was done a few years back. Funny their site didn't mention it (unless it does now?)

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 9:36am

The weird part is that the website did mention it. Then I went to look again, and it was gone.

But now it's back again!

"Newly remastered."


Warner Archive - Show Boat

Updated On: 2/27/14 at 09:36 AM

[Emma White]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 9:41am

Ugh, why no Canada?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 1:38pm

Warner Archives are assholes about Canada. As I mentioned in this or that other thread I know from past titles, they always show up within about two weeks on Amazon (the American Amazon though, not Canadian) and I've just ordered them from there. So be patient (it took less than a week for Orpheus Descending to show up there last month.)

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 2:49pm

Amazon sells Warner Archive and so does DeepDiscount.com. It does take a few weeks for new titles to show up on their websites, but the ones on DeepDiscount are often at a better price than the Warner Archive price (except during sales).

So keep your eye out. i'm sure Show Boat will be on both sites very soon.

Personally, I'm waiting for another good sale on the Warner Archive site (5 for $50, etc.).

Updated On: 2/27/14 at 02:49 PM