This film sticks very closely to the Edna Ferber novel, rather than the musical based on the novel. There are only two major changes from Ferber's book : *Julie in this version is a white woman, not a racially mixed one; therefore she and her husband are not unlawfully married. * Ravenal returns at the end, instead of dying as in the novel
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Laura La PlanteMagnolia | Magnolia |
 Joseph SchildkrautGaylord Ravenal | Gaylord Ravenal |
 Emily FitzroyParthenia Ann Hawks | Parthenia Ann Hawks |
 Otis HarlanCapt. Andy Hawks | Capt. Andy Hawks |
 Alma RubensJulie Dozier | Julie Dozier |
 Jack McDonaldWindy | Windy |
| JJane La VerneMagnolia as Child / Kim | Magnolia as Child / Kim |
 Neely EdwardsSchultzy | Schultzy |
| EElise BartlettElly | Elly |
 Stepin FetchitJoe | Joe |
 Jules BledsoeJoe [prologue] | Joe [prologue] |
| TTess GardellaQueenie [prologue] | Queenie [prologue] |
 Carl LaemmleHimself [prologue] | Himself [prologue] |
 Helen MorganJulie LaVerne [prologue] | Julie LaVerne [prologue] |
| FFlorenz Ziegfeld Jr.Himself [prologue] | Himself [prologue] |
 Max AsherUtility Man | Utility Man |
 Matthew BeardChild | Child |
 George ChesebroSteve Baker | Steve Baker |
| JJim ColemanStagehand | Stagehand |
| CClaude CollinsNot listed | Not listed |
| CCarl HerlingerWheelsman (uncredited) | Wheelsman (uncredited) |
| HHarry HoldenMeans | Means |
 Gertrude HowardQueenie | Queenie |
 Theodore LorchFrank | Frank |
 Ralph YearsleyThe Killer | The Killer |