By now Showboat is probably criticism-proof. A landmark stage musical tackling things like miscegenation as early as 1927, revived regularly and filmed twice, what can I tell you. For me it was Ava Gardner's movie all the way despite being saddled with Annette Warren to dub her vocals. I found it totally preposterous and verging on the operatic that the leading pair of lovers Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson should express their feeling via tender ballads - Make Believe, Why Do I Love You, You Are Love - which they emote at full throttle completely negating the sentiment. Gardner on the other hand handles her two numbers, Can't Help Lovin' That Man Of Mine and Bill with respect for both words and music AND sentiment, in other words expressively rather than as a 'challenge' song (any note YOU can sing I can sing loudr) and it may be no coincidence that as Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun, Howard Keel had already performed a challenge duet with Betty Hutton. If Ava Gardner can't, alas, take credit for her vocals - although her own singing voice was superior to that of Warren - she can claim the acting honours and is by far the best actor in the film and immensely moving. If there is a reason to watch this version it is surely Ms Gardner.
Review of Show Boat
