Show Boat (1936)

Irene Dunne: Magnolia

Photos 

Quotes 

• Magnolia : I never complained. I've lived like this half the time - washing clothes, cooking food over a gas jet, but I loved him. And if all that came with him, I was willing to take care of it. I thought he knew that.

• Julie : [to Magnolia]  Once a girl like you starts to love a man, she don't stop so easy.

  Magnolia : Well, couldn't you stop loving Steve if he treated you mean?

  Julie : No, honey, no matter what he did.

• Parthy : He's a murderer!

  Magnolia : Mama!

  Parthy : You're letting my daughter marry a murderer!

  Cap'n Andy Hawks : Who's the murderer?

  Parthy : That Ravenal! He killed a man.

  Magnolia : Gay!

  Cap'n Andy Hawks : Then why ain't he in jail, or hanged?

  The Sheriff : The jury figured the gentleman he killed oughta went anyhow.

  Parthy : Andy Hawks, are you going to stand there and let your only child marry a murderer?

  Cap'n Andy Hawks : Oh don't be so narrow minded, Mrs. Hawks, I killed a man myself once.

  Parthy : You killed?

  Cap'n Andy Hawks : Yes, me. Now, are you comin' with us, or ain't you? They're going to be married.

  Parthy : Married to a murderer! Oh!

  [she faints] 

  Ellie May Chipley : She's fainted.

  Cap'n Andy Hawks : Are you sure?

  The Sheriff : She's out.

  Cap'n Andy Hawks : Good! Now we'll go on with the wedding.

• Ellie May Chipley : Nolie, what's the matter? Is Gay hurt?

  Magnolia : No. Ellie, you read it. I may believe it if I hear somebody else say it.

• Gaylord Ravenal : Are you an actress?

  Magnolia : Oh! Oh, no. But, I'd give anything if I could be.

  Gaylord Ravenal : Why?

  Magnolia : Because - you can make believe so many wonderful things that never happen in real life.

• Queenie : How come you all know dat song?

  Magnolia : Why? Do you know it, Queenie?

  Queenie : For shore, I does. But I never hear anybody but colored folks sing dat song. Sounds funny for Miss Julie to know it.

  Magnolia : Julie sings it all the time!

• Ellie May Chipley : [performing on stage]  This is a man's world, as I know, to my sorrow, heaven help us. Young girls like us are like - flowers. We bloom in the sunshine, till plucked by a passing mule.

  Magnolia : [under her breathe]  Male.

  Ellie May Chipley : What?

  Magnolia : Male.

  Ellie May Chipley : Male.

• Magnolia : I never thought of living without Gay - no matter what happens. I can't imagine it now.

• Magnolia : Gay, you're wonderful!

• Magnolia : Gay just can't lose!

• [last lines] 

  Magnolia : There's another Ravenal here tonight. Gaylord Ravenal, my first leading man.

  Magnolia , Gaylord Ravenal : [singing]  Where you go with me, Heaven will always be!

• The Sheriff : Captain, I have an unpleasant duty. I understand that you have a miscegenation case on board.

  Magnolia : [to Parthy]  What's it mean, Mom?

  Cap'n Andy Hawks : How's that?

  The Sheriff : A case of a negro woman married to a white man. A criminal offense in this state.

  Cap'n Andy Hawks : No. No, such thing onboard this boat.

  The Sheriff : The name of the white man is Steve Baker. The name of the negress - the name of the negress is Julie Dozier. Which ones them?

• Magnolia : I'd like to sing for you, Mr. Green.

  Jim Green : Oh, yeah? What kind of singin'?

  Magnolia : I do negro songs.

  Jim Green : Oh, a coon shouter, huh?

• Rubber Face : [the actors are performing the play "The Parson's Bride" on the show boat. Rubber Face, the prop and sound effects man, mistakenly moos like a cow instead of doing a doorbell sound effect]  Moo!

  Magnolia : [in character as Miss Lucy]  Ah, there's the bell. It must be Parson Brown at last!

  Gaylord Ravenal : [enters in character as Parson Brown]  Good evening, Miss Lucy! I was absorbed in meditation and did not realize night had fallen.

  Magnolia : The days are growing shorter, Hamilton, but they're long when one is waiting!

  Gaylord Ravenal : As I came across the field I saw the cattle driven home by your faithful dog.

  Rubber Face : [growing ever louder]  Mooo! MOOOO!

  [Ravenal rolls his eyes in exasperation] 

  Cap'n Andy Hawks : [to Rubber face]  Shut up!