In the opening credits, there is a cardboard cutout display of a show boat parade, with cutout paper townspeople watching it, on a moving turntable. The parade revolves past the camera carrying cardboard banners on which are printed the title and other credits. Most of the parade figures are simply figures, but among them cutouts of Paul Robeson and Helen Morgan can be seen. (The appearance of these figures does not coincide with the appearance of their names onscreen.) In the background shadows of a paddlewheel and a riverboat can be seen.