Customer Reviews

Show Boat: The Story of a Classic American Musical (A Da Capo paperback)

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I have had this remarkable book ever since it was first published back in 1977, to mark the 50th anniversary of "Show Boat"'s opening on Broadway. It is criminal that it has been allowed to slip out of print not once, but twice--in its original edition and in its expanded, updated edition as well.

Perhaps the reason for this is the current trendy emphasis on political correctness. The original stage production, and every American stage production until 1946, used the "n" word several times both in the lyrics and dialogue when referring to black people. (The word was not used in the film versions of the show.) But ever since 1946, both Hammerstein and public taste demanded that this word be expunged from the libretto. Author Miles Kreuger makes a strong case that the use of the "n" word was not an example of insensitivity; to Kreuger it was Hammerstein's way of being brutally honest about the way blacks were treated in the 19th century South. But perhaps some readers refused to recognize the validity of Kreuger's point.

This book was, as far as I know, the very first book to ever devote itself to analyzing and documenting the history of one Broadway musical. It is clear that author Miles Kreuger deeply reveres "Show Boat", and that he considers it perhaps the most important American musical stage work ever written. The research he has done for this book is staggering. Not only does he include a chapter-by-chapter description of Edna Ferber's original novel, he also includes a scene-by-scene description of the musical, as well as an extremely detailed description of the long unseen 1929 part-talkie film version of Ferber's original novel (illustrated profusely with stills from the film), and a detailed description of the classic 1936 film version of the stage musical (also illustrated profusely with stills). There is detailed information on the writing and staging of the first production, an entire chapter devoted to the now forgotten, and much sanitized post-World War II Broadway revival (staged in 1946),as well as appendices containing cast lists for Broadway, London, regional, and film versions of the show, including which songs were omitted and/or retained.In short, this book gives you the works, and is close to the last word on "Show Boat".

And Kreuger is a strongly opinionated author, who is not afraid to show his preferences. Although he was not born long ago enough to have seen them, to him the 1927 and 1932 stage productions are the most memorable versions of the show, because they most closely reflect Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's original concept for it. Up through the date in which this book was published, no subsequent Broadway revival, according to Kreuger, had ever lived up to or surpassed those first two Broadway stagings, and Kreuger considers the 1936 film version of "Show Boat" one of the finest Hollywood treatments of a Broadway musical classic.

Conversely, Kreuger is absolutely merciless in his withering criticism of the much-loved and much revived M-G-M 1951 Technicolor film of "Show Boat" (with Kathryn Grayson, Ava Gardner and Howard Keel), detailing its almost total disregard for Kern and Hammerstein's intentions, its alteration of some of the song arrangements as well as some of the story, its near-total abandonment of Hammerstein's dialogue, and its flagrant watering down of the show's most dramatic moments to fit what he calls "the M-G-M mold" (i.e., a musical that avoids controversy). He scoffs at some of the casting choices, except for the choice of Howard Keel as Ravenal, Joe E. Brown as Cap'n Andy, and William Warfield as Joe. And he leaves us with the feeling that anyone who loves the 1951 film has no idea of what a production of "Show Boat" should be like or has never been exposed to the original musical.

This book may annoy some, but it is essential reading for theatre students and lovers of musicals. It has been highly influential, prompting both EMI's complete , "authentic", excellent 1988 recording of the score and Harold Prince's 1994 stage revival. It should be brought back into print and kept in print.

This coffee-table sized book was published in 1977 to commemorate the 50th anniversay of the opening of the Florenz Ziegfeld production of SHOW BOAT, with music and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern. It is not just an entertaining diversion for fans of the show or musical theatre in general, but a serious study and commentary of Edna Ferber's book (upon which the show is based), the original 1927 Broadway production, the first 1929 Hollywood movie version, the 1936 Universal movie version, and the 1951 MGM version. Kreuger is not afraid to be critical (he believes the 1936 movie is the best Hollywood rendition because it follows the original play the closest, while the 1951 movie is the worst because of "its largely inappropriate cast, its musical mutilation, its humorless script, and its empty Technicolored fripperies"). Complete cast listings, a list of regional productions, and a selected discography are included, along with scores of photographs. A very handsome book about a supreme example of the American Musical, a delight for the eye as well as the mind.

An amazing book. A stupendous record of the creation of SHOWBOAT. There is no other book of a Broadway musical so detailed with cast-info, original set-design photographs and the ever-changing versions. As the level of research is astounding, this is a masterpiece.
Miles starts with the history of the real showboats that meandered the Mississippi and then delves into the Edna Ferber book that inspired the musical that eventually graced the Ziegfeld Theatre. A personal highlight of the book involves a selection of photographs taken of the author as a youth, scouring the just-demolished Ziegfeld Theatre for any collectible remnants.


Show Boat (1962 Studio Cast Recording)

An amazing book. A stupendous record of the creation of SHOWBOAT. There is no other book of a Broadway musical so detailed with cast-info, original set-design photographs and the ever-changing versions. As the level of research is astounding, this is a masterpiece.
Miles starts with the history of the real showboats that meandered the Mississippi and then delves into the Edna Ferber book that inspired the musical that eventually graced the Ziegfeld Theatre. A personal highlight of the book involves a selection of photographs taken of the author as a youth, scouring the just-demolished Ziegfeld Theatre for any collectible remnants.

I am a volunteer community lecturer for Lyric Opera of Chicago. Lyric has included "Showboat" in this season and it is one I have chosen.
During a workshop for lecturers, the speaker recommended this volume. I cannot say enough about what a fine resource this is. Miles
Kreuger's research is exhaustive, so extensive and intensive. Many wonderful stories about the history of the work, with beautiful photographs. I was especially interested in the appendices he has included which detail all the incarnations of this show from Broadway musical to dramatic production to cinema to radio, etc. One will certainly appreciate the pivotal place "Showboat" occupies in the history of the American musical after reading this. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves American theater.

An amazing book. A stupendous record of the creation of SHOWBOAT. There is no other book of a Broadway musical so detailed with cast-info, original set-design photographs and the ever-changing versions. As the level of research is astounding, this is a masterpiece.
Miles starts with the history of the real showboats that meandered the Mississippi and then delves into the Edna Ferber book that inspired the musical that eventually graced the Ziegfeld Theatre. A personal highlight of the book involves a selection of photographs taken of the author as a youth, scouring the just-demolished Ziegfeld Theatre for any collectible remnants.