Okay, firstly is there a wide screen version of this film anywhere?
Secondly, my Aunt seems to think that the character of Julie was Magnolia's real mother and reference to this was cut from the movie. I've researched and can't find anything on it. I didn't think she was right about it, but I'm trying to find out for sure. Any help is appreciated.
There has never been a wide-screen version of SHOW BOAT. To date, the last film version was 1951 and wide-screen films were still in the future. None of the three films, thankfully, have been manipulated to wide-screen format, except, if memory serves, for some clips in THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!
Secondly, Julie is not Magnolia's real mother, in the play, the films or the original novel. In the musical, their ages are too close. It's possible your aunt has seen the 1929 film which begins with Magnolia as a very young girl. After a scolding by Parthy, the child is being comforted by her friend Julie (grown and a member of the troupe). Parthy overhears Magnolia say something to the effect that she wishes Julie were her mother. Since the issue of miscegenation is not raised in the 1929 film, it is Parthy's parental jealousy that removes Julie from the show boat.