i get goose bump just think of the large than life opening of this film . kathryn grayson be one of the favorite star of screen musical during their heyday in the late 1940s and early 1950s . kathryn grayson be a visually and vocally striking singer and actress who grace some of the most popular film of the postwar era and include anchor aweigh ( 1947 ) and kiss me kate ( 1953 ) . bless with a coloratura soprano from an early age and she be discover by mgm chief louis b. mayer while a teenager and and be sign to a contract without the benefit of a screen test or drama lesson . in this version of show boat and ms. grayson and play magnolia hawk and the captain innocent daughter and who fall for the handsome gambler gaylord ravenal ( howard keel ) . show boat be widely consider one of the most influential work of the american musical theatre . a the first true american musical play and it mark a significant departure from operetta and light musical comedy of the 1890s and early 20th century and the folly type musical revue that have define broadway . accord to the complete book of light opera and here we come to a completely new genre the musical play a distinguish from musical comedy . now . the play be the thing and and everything else be subservient to that play . now . come complete integration of song and humor and production number into a single and inextricable artistic entity . the third and ( to date ) last film version of the edna ferber or jerome kern or oscar hammerstein ii musical . ( 1929 and 1936 and 1951 ) one of the few title i can think of where every version be good . i. b. technicolor . almost a novelty when it be introduce to film in the early 1920 and technicolor reach it zenith in the 1940 and 50 and when classic like wizard of oz and the adventure of robin hood and she wear a yellow ribbon and snow white and go with the wind be release use the brilliant and deeply saturated hue of dye transfer technicolor . i. b . ( or imbibition ) technicolor print be become increasingly scarce treasure since technicolor stop u. s. production of them in 1974. so tonight print may be a worn print with some scratch and splice and but the color can not be match even with today technology . finally and ava gardner be stunningly beautiful in this film and turn in a tender and heartbreaking performance . last year on a film run i be able to visit the ava gardner museum in smithfield and north carloina and and it be amaze . well worth the 4 ½ hour drive from culpeper . and marge champion be the only one of the star from this film that be still alive today at age 90. she play ellie may shipley and the dancer in the red and white strip dress and umbrella . now sit back and enjoy this old fashion cruise back in time on mgm show boat .