History YMMV / Showboat

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: It's likely that Gaylord was meant to be a flawed but sympathetic character. To a more modern audience, he's more the jerk who wouldn't let his wife work. And then runs away because of debt.

* ValuesDissonance: Minstrel shows and a man telling his wife she shouldn't work and worry about the man's world.
Considered pretty normal in the 1800s (and early 1900s) but rather shocking to a modern audience.

* ValuesDissonance: Minstrel shows and a man telling his wife she shouldn't work and worry about the man's world. Considered pretty normal in the 1800s (and early 1900s) but rather shocking to a modern audience.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: "Ol' Man River" is an epic song that clearly sets up a story that's going to be all about racism and the struggles of black people...and then the plot decides focus on the unrelated struggles of some white people instead. In fact the black character who emphatically sings the line "I'm tired of livin' and scared of dyin!'" ... later sings a song about how he's laid-back and mostly content, before the plot forgets about him entirely.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: "Ol' Man River" is an epic song that clearly sets up a story that's going to be all about racism and the struggles of black people...and then the plot decides focus on the unrelated struggles of some white people instead. In fact the black character who emphatically sings the line "I'm tired of livin' and scared of dyin!'"...later sings a song about how he's laid-back and mostly content, before the plot forgets about him entirely.

* ValuesResonance It’s amazing to think that a song like ''Old Man River'', which is blatant about the racism experienced by black people, could be written and performed in '''1927'''!

* MemeticMutation: Ever heard the expression "Tote that barge, lift that bale?" It's from here.

* FairForItsDay: Focuses on racial issues in a rather sympathetic light(for the 1930's), and Magnolia [[spoiler: becomes a career woman after Gaylord abandons her, and raises her daughter well independently.]]
* HarsherInHindsight: The subjects of racial prejudice, alcoholism, love and abandonment are already serious. However, in the late 90s during an Australian production, cast member Marlon Brand stabbed his then-wife and fellow cast member Rebecca Jackson Mendoza nearly to death. She miraculously survived a massive tear in the aorta and a subsequent stroke, but Brand committed suicide. It makes the themes much sadder.
* MemeticMutation: Ever heard the expression "Tote that barge, lift that bale?" It's from here.
* ValuesDissonance: Minstrel shows and a man telling his wife she shouldn't work and worry about the man's world. Considered pretty normal in the 1800's (and early 1900's) but rather shocking to a modern audience.

* TheWoobie: Magnolia and Julie. [[spoiler: Both of their husbands abandon them! Oh, and Julie ends up being alcoholic.]]

* TheWoobie: Magnolia and Julie. [[spoiler: Both of their husbands abandon them! Oh, and Julie ends up being alcoholic.]]

** The original production used the N-word many times, mostly by bigoted whites or by [[NWordPrivilege blacks]]. It's even in the ''very first line'' of the opening song. Possibly accurate for the setting, but shocking even when the show premiered -- and completely unacceptable today as originally written.

* FairForItsDay: Focuses on racial issues in a rather sympathetic light, and Magnolia [[spoiler: becomes a career woman after Gaylord abandons her, and raises her daughter well independently.]]