Unfortunately, I think the most disappointing thing about this musical is the music. I'm a fan of a lot of the mid-century musicals ("My Fair Lady", "The Music Man", etc.), but in this one it seems like the songs don't advance the plot very much, which seems like rather a waste of time. These songs could be dropped into any of a number of other musical productions because there's nothing plot-driven or plot-specific about them, as there was with a number like "The Rain In Spain". Further, the musical numbers weren't, as a whole, very catchy... not much to whistle while exiting the theater back in the day. I finished it, but I was unimpressed.

First saw this movie in the 50s and loved it as a boy. Everyone in the cast is perfectly cast. The singing is really wonderful, and all the songs are great. I like the storyline as well. The unconditional love between Julie and Nole is what really stands out. Need some of that today! I have probably seen this movie 50 times, and I still tear up at the last 15 minutes of the film. BTW if you can find the soundtrack album it includes Ava Garners signing of the songs that were dubbed for the movie. Both versions are great! I think Frank Sinatra was correct. And speaking of Ava Gardner, she certainly deserved an Oscar for this performance. And she is so beautiful in her closeups, wow!I have now seen other versions of this film, and though they are also very well done, the music and emotional impact of this version really are a triumph. If they could make musicals like this one and Sound of Music again, they might make a comeback!!! See it if you have not!!

It is the 1880s, and Captain Andy's paddle wheel boat, the Cotton Blossom, travels the Mississippi putting on shows. When the headliners, Julie (Ava Gardner) and Steve are forced to leave, the Captain's young daughter (Kathryn Grayson) and a handsome gambler (Howard Keel) take over the spotlight. When they, too, leave the show, they live on his winnings, but then his luck runs out.This wonderful Jerome Kern show has a dream cast and classic, unforgettable songs. The plot is more serious than most musicals, consisting of two tragedies; the first deals with racial discrimination and the second with love gone wrong. Grayson has a lovely operatic voice and is exquisite as the innocent girl who becomes sadder and wiser. Keel is dashing as her husband and Ava Gardner steals the show with her heartbreaking performance as the unfortunate Julie.The songs include "Make-Believe, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," and the wonderful "Ol' Man River." The movie is filmed in dazzling Technicolor with lively dance numbers. Even though it's a tear-jerker, it's one of the best musicals MGM ever made.

Wow, there is so much in this to get upset about.You know, that it has one memorable song, presented so profoundly well that by itself it could have been the first successful music video. But it stands apart from everything else in this lurid mistake.Even if it had been a good film, viewers would tinge from the handling of race. Its so alien now that its even puzzling as to what the story actually is — so far from that world we've come.Here's the setup: we have four worlds. One is the world of the performer. Its a rich, rewarding happy world, one that you can always retreat to. Its a work of "make-believe" which is truer than true. Because all of the performer's songs are tepid, this is anchored by the dancing Champions. They are terrific, sexy, full.A second is the world of gambling. All people are gamblers to some extent in this movie, but there is a specific, closed gambling space and populace. These people are performers of sorts.The third world is the world of the viewers. They are arrayed up and down Huck Finn's river, and are eager, passive and barely human. We are folded into this class: tepid, lifeless humans.The fourth world is truly unsettling. Its the world of the blacks. They span the other worlds: they are smiling, happy audience, pleased to be in the fields picking cotton and to be distracted by the fun of the boat. They are natural performers, just look at one for a moment and they amuse. In fact, there is a story element strangely shoehorned in that depends on the top, sexy, unstable actress being "secretly" black -- supposedly explaining her passions and talents. This actress falls into sexual slavery in the gambling world.The core of the story follows a young girl as she drifts among these worlds. Its famously bad, except for the "Old Man River" segment. Its truly fine in so many ways. But seeing it in such a context ruins it.I've seen this several times. I believe that the original Technicolor print revealed painfully bad colors in the production design: costumes, hair, environment, everything. Now there does not seem to be a good print in existence, so the colors are even worse. Its horrible.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.