“Universal's excellent screen transcription, preserving the Jerome Kern score and accepting Oscar Hammerstein's book and lyrics, is the pleasantest kind of proof that (Showboat) was not merely one of the best musical shows of the century but that it contained the gossamer stuff for one of the finest musical films we have seen....
“There are melodies that are timeless and voices that should be, and Universal's (film) has both. We cannot recall how often we have heard Paul Robeson sing ‘Ole Man River,' but we do know we never have heard it enough.... With scarcely less enthusiasm can we mention Helen Morgan's singing of ‘Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man' and ‘Bill,' or Irene Dunne's and Allan Jones' liquid contribution of ‘You Are Love,' ‘Make Believe,' and a brand new, specially written ballad called ‘I Have The Room Above Her'....
“It is, of course, the music that makes Showboat, but...(t)he story has been well told, drifting easily from sentiment and romance to gay comedy and gentle humor, with the song and dance interludes blending imperceptibly into its pattern....”