Show Boat (1936) :
Brief Review -
This most faithful remake of a socially important novel floats safely on good musicals but sinks towards the climax. James Whale was by far a well known director by 1936 and he was almost done with his monster classics that are still called Iconic films (including my personal opinion). He had tried his hands in different genres and I am not sure how successful he was. In the romance genre, the best work of his I remember is 'Waterloo Bridge' (1931) and after that, I guess, Show Boat is his most known/loved film in this romance genre. I hate to say this but it drags. Almost sinks while trying to reach the shore by moving round and round again at the same place. It has so many long-time events passing like in-a-minute and it all ends up being just like a forced happy ending. Yes I agree it holds the social importance of racial prejudice but the tragic romance it tries to show is too weak. Those two people leave their wives just like that, I mean, no hard stuff man. And then reunion at the end as if nothing really happened for years. Was it a child's game to abandon the wife and daughter? Or was he not smart enough to understand the need for money before when he was making good dough? It all went illogical for me. Anyways, I loved the musical numbers and the beautiful romance they offer in the first half of the film. The performances are good too. Irene Dunne, Allan Jones, Helen Morgan, Charles Winninger and Helen Westley are among the noteworthy names here. Whale had such fab films one after another till 1935, it's just so annoying to know that he decided to remake this story which had been controversial almost a decade ago. It was too late, I mean to go for a racism topic by then because many silent era films had done it way back in the 1910s decade only. Anyways, he tried and made a somewhat watchable flick and that's fairly enough. Overall, a decent film for all but has a bit more for the musical lovers.
RATING - 6/10*
By - #samthebestest.
This most faithful remake of a socially important novel floats safely on good musicals but sinks towards the climax. James Whale was by far a well known director by 1936 and he was almost done with his monster classics that are still called Iconic films (including my personal opinion). He had tried his hands in different genres and I am not sure how successful he was. In the romance genre, the best work of his I remember is 'Waterloo Bridge' (1931) and after that, I guess, Show Boat is his most known/loved film in this romance genre. I hate to say this but it drags. Almost sinks while trying to reach the shore by moving round and round again at the same place. It has so many long-time events passing like in-a-minute and it all ends up being just like a forced happy ending. Yes I agree it holds the social importance of racial prejudice but the tragic romance it tries to show is too weak. Those two people leave their wives just like that, I mean, no hard stuff man. And then reunion at the end as if nothing really happened for years. Was it a child's game to abandon the wife and daughter? Or was he not smart enough to understand the need for money before when he was making good dough? It all went illogical for me. Anyways, I loved the musical numbers and the beautiful romance they offer in the first half of the film. The performances are good too. Irene Dunne, Allan Jones, Helen Morgan, Charles Winninger and Helen Westley are among the noteworthy names here. Whale had such fab films one after another till 1935, it's just so annoying to know that he decided to remake this story which had been controversial almost a decade ago. It was too late, I mean to go for a racism topic by then because many silent era films had done it way back in the 1910s decade only. Anyways, he tried and made a somewhat watchable flick and that's fairly enough. Overall, a decent film for all but has a bit more for the musical lovers.
RATING - 6/10*
By - #samthebestest.