Cabin in the Sky (1943)

Just perfect...

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

My grandfather, Arthur Freed, (and Louis B Mayor) took great financial risks bringing the Broadway play to the big screen. At the time this movie was made, 'black' films were made by black producers, with black directors, and only appeared in black only cinemas. This was the very first movie of its kind to be made for white audiences.My grandfather brought many talented people to Hollywood including Minnelli and Gene Kelly.For me the greatest joy is seeing such wonderful performers.

So rolling the dice is racist and stereotypical? No more than it is in "Guys and Dolls"! A great fable with the perfect cast Directed by the then-unknown Vincente Minnelli and produced by Arthur Freed. (The dance number "Shine" directed by Busby Berkley.) Outstanding performances by Ethel Waters, Eddie Anderson, Lena Horne, Duke Ellington and his Orchestra, Butterfly McQueen, and so many more. A beautiful and touching story and I was very pleased that almost everybody who reviewed it could see it for what it is: a joyous celebration of comedy, music, song, and dancing. The devil's bellboys vs. the all-dressed-in-white General and Army of the Lord both fight for the soul of "little Joe" a small-time gambler, who is given 6 months to reform due to his wife Petunia's powerful prayer to Heaven. Several recognizable songs, some by songwriter Harold Arlen (Wizard of Oz). Like Oz, the same characters appear in both the fantasy sequences and reality. There's even a terrific cyclone as the gambling hall is ripped to shreds by the "Wrath of the Lord" at the climax! Oh, I almost forgot to mention that it's an all-black cast and it's not in Technicolor, both of which are really minor details, to be sure. The deleted scene of Lena Horne's rather modest bubble bath is legendary! Look for it in the Pete Smith short on TCM or in "That's Entertainment Part III.)

Basically Inoffensive as the All Black Cast are quite Respectable and Professional All Around. The Film's Heavy Moralizing and the Religious Preaching are More Off Putting then the Dice Throwing and the Womanizing.The Film's Lead Characters are so Laden with Religious Overtones and the Fact that Jazz and Jitterbugging are Considered "The Devil's Playground" are the Real Dated Racial Stereotyping put forth by Do-Gooding White Folks.The Movie is Entertaining and has Enough Comedic and Musical Appeal that it Appears as Slick and Well Done as any of the MGM Musicals, Allowing for the Very Small Budget. It is Director Vincente Minnelli's Debut Feature and is Basically just a Filmed Version of the Successful Broadway Play with not Many Film Flourishes that are Above Standard or Pedestrian.But the Entire Cast of Singers, Dancers, and Comedians Deliver a Rare Treat with one of the Few Major Studio Productions made with an All Black Cast. Ethel Waters is the Star and gets the most Screen Time and Numbers, Lena Horne is the Eye-Candy and Sings a Few. Eddie Rochester is OK but Hardly Memorable, and Duke Ellington is Short Changed a bit but is there doing His Thing Nonetheless.Overall, a Pleasant Musical Comedy that Falls Somewhat Short of Greatness but is Very Good and Certainly Captures a Time and Place that is a Welcomed Historical Artifact.

Vincente Minnelli's first film for MGM was CABIN IN THE SKY, from the Broadway musical--a film that no other studio at the time would take a chance on producing. A splendid cast does justice to it and it's a rollicking good time to watch ETHEL WATERS, EDDIE 'ROCHESTER' ANDERSON, REX INGRAM, KENNETH SPENCER, Oscar POLK, LENA HORNE and BUTTERFLY McQUEEN have fun with the story and music.Rex Ingram is especially good as the horned Devil wearing black and Kenneth Spencer, using his rich bass baritone voice to good effect, is in excellent shape as The General in white. (Spencer sang 'Old Man River' as Joe in SHOW BOAT on Broadway in '46).Basically, it's the story of temptation coming between Petunia (ETHEL WATERS) and Little Joe (EDDIE ANDERSON) and her crusade to win him away from The Devil and away from the temptress Georgia Brown (LENA HORNE). Lena never looked sexier and plays her sultry role for all it's worth.A few of the musical moments don't come off as well as intended, looking rather awkwardly staged, and Waters has a tendency to overplay her role both in the acting and singing segments. LOUIS ARMSTRONG makes a brief appearance on the trumpet and the DUKE WELLINGTON orchestra gets to get the joint swinging with his big number. The HALL JOHNSON CHOIR does some excellent choral work for some stirring background music.What hurts the film is the pace, a bit too slow in developing its theme and the songs, while fine, are not always given the best possible treatment. I seem to remember seeing this in Sepiatone at one time, but the print on TCM is in B&W.