| One of three film versions of the classic Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein stage musical, this Universal production is considered the best of the three by film critics and enthusiasts alike. Premiering at Washington's National Theatre in the winter of 1927, the original stage show went on to continue its out-of- town tryout in a series of East Coast cities before finally making its Broadway debut at the Ziegfeld Theatre on 27 December, 1927. The original Broadway production was a huge success, playing over 500 performances. The show then embarked on a nation-wide tour after it completed its Broadway run in 1929. Norma Terris, Broadway's original Magnolia Hawks, went off to Hollywood to make films and actress Irene Dunne took over the role for the remainder of the national tour, which disbanded in 1930. A revival of the original Zeigfeld production opened at the Casino Theatre on Broadway in 1932. This first Broadway revival reunited much of the original cast and included the great bass Paul Robeson as Joe, for whom the role was actually written for. Unable to join the original production at the Ziegfeld due to other commitments, the role went to Jules Bledsoe. Prior to his appearance in the 1932 Broadway revival, Robeson had played the role in London for which he received critical acclaim and achieved overnight stardom. After an unsuccessful attempt at converting a silent filmed version of Edna Ferber's novel of the same name--on which the show is based--into the much ... |
