"Show Boat" follows the lives and loves aboard the Cotton Blossom, a show boat owned by the Hawk family that brings musical entertainment to the American South. Julie LaVerne and her husband, stars of the show, are forced to leave when it is revealed that Julie, who is half African-American, is married to a white man—an illegal union in the South of that era. Following their departure, Magnolia Hawks, daughter of Captain Andy Hawks, becomes the main attraction, alongside her new leading man, Gaylord Ravenal, a charming gambler. Magnolia and Gaylord fall in love and marry despite her mother's disapproval, embarking on a whirlwind honeymoon. However, reality soon intervenes as Magnolia realizes Gaylord's gambling addiction threatens their happiness. After losing their fortune, Gaylord abandons Magnolia, unaware that she is pregnant and penniless. Cast: - Kathryn Grayson as Magnolia Hawks - Ava Gardner as Julie LaVerne - Howard Keel as Gaylord Ravenal - Joe E. Brown as Cap'n Andy Hawks - Marge Champion as Ellie Mae Shipley - Gower Champion as Frank Shultz - Robert Sterling as Steve Baker - Agnes Moorehead as Parthy Hawks - Leif Erickson as Pete - William Warfield as Joe Runtime: 107 minutes