Radio review - Lux - "Showboat" (1952) ***1/2

Because radio is such an intimate medium, adaptations of musicals don't always work, especially when they're loud, like Showboat. Still, it's interesting to listen to, particularly as many of the cast from the MGM film version repeat their performances: Howard Keel (he's very loud for radio), Kathryn Grayson, William Warfield, Ava Gardner (do they actually use her voice here as she sings? She sounds fine), Marge and Gower Champion (I don't know why they bothered having these two, actually, as we can't see them dance - they do sing a song but it's not the same). Famous tunes, 'Ole Man River' and 'Can't Help Lovin' that Man' make an appearance, among others, meaning the story is cut right to the bone, but it works well enough. Producer Arthur Freed appears at the end to talk a bit about the movie.