When "The Night Boat" opened in 1920, it was an unqualified hit with good reviews and sold out performances. Continuing the tradition of Jerome Kern's smaller Princess Theatre musicals, Anna Caldwell's book rejected the style of the pretentious operettas of the era and created an ensemble musical in modern dress with a cohesive and intelligent book. Her sophisticated lyrics to Kern's song only enchanted the already stylish musical. Anne Caldwell was a pioneer of American musical theatre having written the books for over 17 musicals and contributed lyrics to many others. She wrote with some of the most talent composers of the day including Jerome Kern, Hugo Felix, and Ivan Caryll.