STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 734, 6 August 1929, Page 15

STRAND

“SHOW BOAT” The most convincing- and unusual portrayal of the colourful life on board the floating theatres of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers is contained in Universal's super-production, “Show Boat,” which continues to delight the big audiences at the Strand. The theatre was filled with Southern melo'dies and negro spirituals, the latter having an important part in the story of “Show Boat,” and proving a moving musical theme for the great production. Included were many songs specially written for Ziegfeld’s stage production, “Show Boat,” by Jerome Kern, and which are enjoying wide popularity at the present time on records, over radio, and in dancing places. “Show Boat” is a talking picture adaptation of Edna Berber’s best selling novel of the same name, and concerns the romance of Magnolia Hawks, the Show Boat star, and Gaylord Ravenal, the Mississippi River gambler, who turns actor. These roles are played by Laura La Plante and Joseph Schildkraut. Both give tremendously realistic portrayals. Otis Harlan as Captain Andy Hawks, and Emily Fitzroy as Parthenia Ann Hawks, give outstanding characterisations. Little Jane Le Verne, who plays Magnolia as a child, is an altogether charming litle trouper. Alma Rubens, as Julie, the actress who becomes the notorious Hetty Chilson, of Chicago underworld ~ fame, is splendid. Helen Morgan, Jules Bledsoe, and Aunt Jemima, from Zeigfeld’s New York musical comedy production, “Show Boat,” are good in song hits from that production, which have ben interpolated in the talking picture.