Review of Show Boat

In the end of the Nineteenth Century, the show boat "Cotton Blossom" owned by Captain Andy Hawks (Joe E. Brown) flies along the rivers in the South of North America with the lead stars Julie LaVerne (Ava Gardner) and her husband Stephen Baker (Robert Sterling) and musical entertainment. When Julie and Stephen are accused of miscegenation, they have to leave the boat, and Captain Hawk's daughter Magnolia (Kathryn Grayson) and the gambler Gaylord Ravenal (Howard Keel) take their places. They fall in love for each other, get married and move to Chicago, living in a fancy and expensive hotel. However, the jinx of Gaylord consumes all their money, and later Gaylord completely broken leaves Magnolia without knowing that she is pregnant. She struggles to survive, returns to her father's business in the boat and raises her daughter with her parents. Years later, Julie accidentally meets Gaylord and tells him about his daughter.

"Show Boat" is a disappointing musical with a corny conclusion. The predictable story is supported by dated musical numbers, but the worst is resolution of the drama of Magnolia, with the return of Gaylord and her immediately acceptance. The despicable racism that is the lead of the story, the relationship of a woman with mixed blood with a white man, was probably usual in the end of the Nineteenth Century, therefore it is acceptable in the story, but Ava Gardner never convinces as a half-blood woman. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Barco das Ilusões" ("The Boat of the Illusions")

Note: On 15 February 2014, I saw this movie again.