where the two make amends, and he spends the night listening to the sounds of the mighty Mississippi River. Having recounted his life story so far, Kern feels his career has likely come to an end with Show Boat. On the contrary, he continued to write hit shows, including The Cat and the Fiddle (1931) and Roberta (1933). While visiting a sound stage at MGM, Kern is delighted to discover the studio has cast Sally to perform in a new film featuring his songs. Highlights of Kern's Hollywood career include songs from Swing Time (1936), Cover Girl (1944), and Broadway Rhythm (1944); the montage concludes with songs from Sweet Adeline and Show Boat. Cast Robert Walker as Jerome Kern June Allyson as Herself/Jane in Leave It to Jane Lucille Bremer as Sally Hessler Judy Garland as Marilyn Miller Kathryn Grayson as Magnolia Hawks in Show Boat/Herself Van Heflin as James I. Hessler Lena Horne as Julie LaVerne in Show Boat/Herself Dorothy Patrick as Eva Kern Van Johnson as bandleader in Elite Club Tony Martin as Gaylord Ravenal in Show Boat/Himself Dinah Shore as Julia Sanderson Frank Sinatra as Himself Gower Champion as Specialty dancer in Roberta Cyd Charisse as Specialty dancer in Roberta Angela Lansbury as London specialty Ray McDonald as Dance Specialty in Oh, Boy! and Leave It to Jane Virginia O'Brien as Ellie Mae in Show Boat/Herself Mary Nash as Mrs. Muller Joan Wells as Young Sally Hessler Harry Hayden as Charles Frohman Paul Langton as Oscar Hammerstein II Paul Maxey as Victor Herbert Cast notes Esther Williams makes a cameo appearance Sally Forrest and Mary Hatcher make appearances as "chorus girls". Kathryn Grayson reprised the role of Magnolia Hawks in MGM's film adaptation of Show Boat, released in 1951. Production The working title for the film was "As the Clouds Roll By". Gene Kelly was originally intended to play Kern, with Gloria DeHaven, Jacqueline White, Imogen Carpenter, a stage actress, and Jeanette MacDonald in major parts. None appeared in the film. The first 15 minutes of the film consist of a condensed adaptation of Act I of Show Boat, with the order of some of the songs shifted - "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" is sung after "Life upon the Wicked Stage", and "Ol' Man River" was used as an Act I Finale, dissimilar to the show. "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" as sung by Lena Horne