MGM bought the rights to this 1936 film of the Kern and Hammerstein musical when they launched their ponderous Technicolor remake in 1951. Reputedly, it's much better than the remake, and how could it be otherwise with Paul Robeson's rendition of "Ol' Man River"? Irene Dunne, Allan Jones, and Helen Morgan are also in the cast; it was directed by James Whale.
By
Dave Kehr