Show Boat(《水上戏班》,又译“画舫璇宫”)改编自1926年的同名畅销小说。
电影一开头，“棉花号”(Cotton Blossom)游轮缓缓驶进位于美国西南部密西西比河岸的纳齐兹郡(Natchez)的码头，男男女女的演员们聚集在船头，边敲着“凤阳花鼓”边做起了“广告”：
Are you coming to the show? 来看表演吗？
'Twill be delightful, 这儿有赏心悦目的演出
and quite rightfully we say, There's not a better show... 没有比这儿更好的了
From New Orleans to St. Jo...南到新奥尔良，北到圣约瑟夫(数我的演出好)
Captain Andy has gathered a troupe 安迪船长带领着一队人
in the greatest of dramas and jolly comedies. 为您奉献伟大的戏剧和诙谐的喜剧演出
Stephen Baker - the handsomest leading man, 男主演是英俊的史蒂芬·贝克
and beautiful Julie La Verne as well.与他同台的是美丽的朱丽·拉维女士
Cotton Blossom, Cotton Blossom, Captain Andy's floating show. 棉花号，棉花号，船长安迪的水上戏班
故事围绕着两对儿恋人，剧团的男女主演史蒂夫(Steve)、朱丽(Julie)夫妇以及天真的诺丽(Nolie)和游船赌徒戈洛德(Gaylord)。
朱丽是黑人和白人通婚的后代，这在纳齐兹郡是违法的。长官皮特以“通婚违法”为由，禁止朱丽登台演出，朱丽的丈夫史蒂夫，因为“沾有黑人的血”而被勒令退台。朱丽和史蒂夫这对儿昔日的戏台红人儿、顶梁柱，在无奈之下只好私奔。诺丽在朱丽走后，如愿以偿成为了戏班儿里的女主演，不久便与心爱的人戈洛德成婚。船工黑人乔唱起了那段被人传诵的"Ol' Man River"(老人河)。
然而，多舛的命运并没有就这样轻易的绕过了这两个女人。
多年后，被史蒂夫抛弃的朱丽沦为坊间夜总会里的歌女，而此时有着相似命运的诺丽也到了这家Trocadero夜总会试唱。一曲《情不自禁爱上他》("Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man")让两姐妹在分别多年之后，再度含泪重逢。
最后，诺丽与浪子回头的戈洛德在阔别十多年之后重修旧好，诺丽名利双收，和夫君再次回到了密西西比河畔。船工乔又唱起了首"Ol' Man River"... ...
Dere's an ol' man called de Mississippi
Dat's de ol' man dat I'd like to be!
What does he care if de world's got troubles?
What does he care if de land ain't free?
Ol' man river,
Dat ol' man river
He mus'know sumpin'
But don't say nuthin',
He jes'keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along.
He don' plant taters,
He don't plant cotton,
An' dem dat plants'em
is soon forgotten,
But ol'man river,
He jes keeps rollin'along.
You an'me, we sweat an' strain,
Body all achin' an' racket wid pain,
Tote dat barge!
Lif' dat bale!
Git a little drunk
An' you land in jail.
Ah gits weary
An' sick of tryin'
Ah'm tired of livin'
An' skeered of dyin',
But ol' man river,
He jes'keeps rolling' along.
Colored folks work on de Mississippi,
Colored folks work while de white folks play,
Pullin' dose boats from de dawn to sunset,
Gittin' no rest till de judgement day.
Don't look up
An' don't look down,
You don' dast make
De white boss frown.
Bend your knees
An'bow your head,
An' pull date rope
Until you' dead.
Let me go 'way from the Mississippi,
Let me go 'way from de white man boss;
Show me dat stream called de river Jordan,
Dat's de ol' stream dat I long to cross.
O' man river,
Dat ol' man river,
He mus'know sumpin'
But don't say nuthin'
He jes' keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along.
Long ol' river forever keeps rollin' on...
He don' plant tater,
He don' plant cotton,
An' dem dat plants 'em
Is soon forgotten,
but ol' man river,
He jes' keeps rollin' along.
Long ol' river keeps hearing dat song.
You an' me, we sweat an' strain,
Body all achin an' racked wid pain.
Tote dat barge!
Lif' dat bale!
Git a little drunk
An' you land in jail.
Ah, gits weary
An' sick of tryin'
Ah'm tired of livin'
An' skeered of dyin',
But ol' man river,
He jes'keeps rollin' along!
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