Cabin in the Sky | 
| Directors: Vincente Minnelli, Busby Berkeley
Actors: Ethel Waters, Eddie 'rochester' Anderson, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Rex Ingram
Studio: MGM (Warner)
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $13.50
You Save: $6.48 (32%)
New (2) Used (4) from $10.99
Rating:  47 reviews
Sales Rank: 23552
Format: Black & White, Color, Hifi Sound, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 99 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0792839994
UPC: 027616738431
EAN: 9780792839996
ASIN: 0792839994
Theatrical Release Date: April 9, 1943
Release Date: January 5, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Never Played .Excellent condition.NOB
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Amazon.com
The first film directed by Vincente Minnelli (who directed the original Broadway version), this musical offers its pleasures, but also may make you squirm at the racial stereotypes that were considered both acceptable and entertaining in 1943. A story of the struggle between good and evil for the soul of a man named Little Joe (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson), the film plays with the same kind of racial notions that made Stepin Fetchit a star. Still, there's much to recommend it, particularly performances by some of the greatest musical stars of the day: Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington, among others. The film also includes a terrific score, a combination effort by Ellington, Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, and E.Y. Harburg that includes the song "Taking a Chance on Love." --Marshall Fine
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| Customer Reviews: Read 42 more reviews...
 A Musical Morality Tale August 11, 2005
Alejandra Vernon (Long Beach, California)
28 out of 31 found this review helpful
Ethel Waters repeated her Broadway role of Petunia Jackson, a woman who fervently prays for her husband to mend his gambling ways for the screen with great success, as she sings and dances her way into our hearts. Petunia is the central character in the film, and has most of the songs. The film was also instrumental in making Lena Horne a star, and even though her part as the devil's handmaiden, Georgia Brown, is not a large one, she is stunning, and makes the screen sizzle with her sensual beauty.
Petunia's husband, Little Joe, is played by Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, and Little Joe's soul is in the balance, as Lucifer Jr. (Rex Ingram) battles The General (Kenneth Spencer) for where it will spend eternity. The scenes with Lucifer and his minions, who include Louis Armstrong, are hilarious, as they plot the best way to tempt Little Joe. The talent, music, and humor in this film make it well worth watching as entertainment, and also for its historical value of being one of the best all-black cast vehicles Hollywood produced.
"Cabin in the Sky" was the directorial film debut for Vincente Minnelli (he had directed the Broadway show), and some others in the terrific cast are John William Sublett, Butterfly McQueen, and Duke Ellington and his Orchestra. Music is by Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg, and more. The song list is: "Cabin in the Sky," "Happiness is Just a Thing Called Joe" (nominated for a Best Song Oscar), "Taking a Chance on Love," "Life is Full of Consequence," "Li'l Black Sheep," "Shine," and "Honey in the Honeycomb." Total running time is 98 minutes.
 Great music, great cast, Ethel Waters at her best February 21, 2000
chandy123@aol.com (cleveland, ohio)
26 out of 27 found this review helpful
This is a delightful film. The Broadway score, already one of the finer scores for its time, with the classics "Taking a chance on love" and "Cabin in the sky", was further improved with the addition of "Happiness is just a thing called Joe". There are several other wonderful numbers, including the Duke Ellington number with some great dancing, and "Bubbles" singing "Shine". The cast was the finest black talent of the day, and the movie demonstrates why Ethel Waters was considered the greatest singer and entertainer of her day. In this movie, she also demonstrates that she is a fine actress and a fine dancer. It's a pity that the racial climate of the time didn't allow her more films - she's as magical on screen as she was, by all reports, in person. The remainder of the cast includes a stunning young Lena Horne, surely one of the most beautiful women ever to appear on screen, and who is here allowed to be smolderingly sexy, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, who's an endearing Little Joe, Rex Ingram as Lucifer Jr, and smaller but memorable appearances by Louis Armstrong, Butterfly McQueen, and "Bubbles" of Buck and Bubbles. Seeing Waters sing "Taking a chance on love", "cabin in the sky", "Happiness is just a thing called Joe" and her wicked reprise of "Honey in the honeycomb", complete with some dance steps that will floor you, is more than enough to recommend the movie, but all performances are delightful, and the songs and background music are great. If we take it as a "fable", as we are counseled to do at the beginning, then I don't see it as a racist or dated film. The characters are almost all well delineated and believable within the "fable" context, and are no more stereotypical in this context than numerous films of white people at the time that were also fantasies.It's a pleasure to watch from beginning to end - clearly a timeless classic, especially valuable for archiving for all time the classic Waters performance and the superb acting, singing, dancing and comedic skills of some of the greatest black talent pre-World War II.
HAPPINESSS IS JUST A THING CALLED "Cabin" on DVD! January 21, 2006
Eric (Columbus, OH)
18 out of 20 found this review helpful
The beautiful Vernon Duke/John La Touche Broadway hit CABIN IN THE SKY was brought to the screen by the foremost studio of the era (the late and lamented M-G-M) and the foremost producer of musicals there, the magnificent Arthur Freed.
Freed engaged the services of the Broadway hit's original star Ethel Waters, and gave Vincente Minnelli his first assignment as a motion picture director. Minnelli had directed on stage, but spent two years at Metro learning the craft of filmmaking, before Freed gave him the opportunity to become one of the greatest of all motion picture directors. Minnelli's musicals are what he is best known for, but he also directed brilliant dramas (both period and contemporary), comedies (both slapstick and witty) and even films that could be considered noir. This man could do anything.....
The Warner DVD of CABIN features a clean, and crisp transfer with lovely extras including the Pete Smith short STUDIO VISIT which has the surviving footage of Lena Horne's outtake song from CABIN "Ain't it The Truth". The audio track for Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong's version of that same song, is used here with still visuals, as either that version was never filmed, or the number didn't survive in the copious musical outtake archive that the old MGM maintained, which now belongs in the hands of the mightiest of all studios (when it comes to DVDs) WB. I also loved the commentary with sound bytes from Lena Horne and Rochester's widow and daughter.
THIS IS A MUST HAVE! GET IT TODAY!
 A Great Classic Film June 23, 2000
14 out of 17 found this review helpful
With today's "political correctness" this film doesnt stand a chance of being watched as it truly deserves. Its too bad, because this film is a VERY entertaining and heart warming experience. I wasnt sure what to expect and I have to admit i was surprised when i found myself laughing at the humor in the film (no, it is NOT racist humor at ALL! ) For such an old 'period' film to be so entertaining, all the while keeping in line with the story and music, is a rare thing these days. Being a BIG Duke Ellington fan I had to buy this Video. Ellington and crew put on a fine show, along with the supporting role by Louis Armstrong, (a funny role! ), and some great tap dancing and a swing dance piece with one of the several featured Ellington tunes. (Great Trombone solo by Lawrence Brown also. In addition to Brown, if you are sharp you can also catch Harry Carney(?) and Johnny Hodges in the Ellingotn Line up.) I never imagined Lena Horne was so beautiful in her youth, but i must say "WOW" This is a great movie with a STRONG message that each of us can learn from. You will be happy to have this in your collection!
fine Ethel Waters vehicle with more stars than there were in the heavens to support her... September 4, 2007
a music fan
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
Cabin In The Sky was only the third or fourth film to be made with an all African American cast after "talkies" were introduced. MGM bought the film rights to the stage play of the same name and gave the project to first time director Vincente Minnelli. Wow, how wonderfully it all worked out!
The action begins with Little Joe Jackson (Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson) and his wife Petunia (Ethel Waters) going to church on a Sunday morning. Trouble is, the very religious Petunia worries that Little Joe won't make it to heaven because of his gambling problems. Although Joe goes into the church with Petunia, he soon sneaks out to meet up with his old gambling buddies. They remind Joe of his gambling debts to them; and they convince Joe to come with them and gamble just one more time at Club Paradise.
Well, at The Paradise Club Joe is mortally wounded in a shooting; and then the action REALLY begins. Back at home, Joe fights for his life; but there's also another struggle beginning. Lucifer, Jr. (Rex Ingram), the son of the Devil who wants Joe to go to hell for gambling, becomes entangled with The General (Kenneth Spencer), an agent of the Lord, who wants Joe to get into heaven. It is decided that Joe can live another six months so that they can determine where Joe will go--heaven or hell.
The Devil's agents throw the "temptation" of money and the remarkably attractive Georgia Brown (Lena Horne, seen here in her screen debut) at Joe to make him gamble and womanize as he cheats on Petunia. Meanwhile the agents of God stay equally close to Joe, coaching him all the way to help him stay the course and be a good man.
Will Joe manage to prove himself to the Lord that he is worthy of heaven--or will he be sent to hell for his sins? What happens between Petunia and Joe when Petunia sees Joe with Georgia Brown? How will the agents of both God and the Devil fight amongst themselves over which side gets Joe? No spoilers here, folks; you'll just have to watch the movie to find out.
The choreography couldn't be better; the dancing and the crowd scenes are extremely well done. The cinematography is equally good. The plot moves along at a good pace; and the musical performances by Ethel Waters stun me with her sensitive delivery of each ballad. Look for Ethel to sing "Taking A Chance On Love" and "Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe." Duke Ellington also happens to perform at The Paradise Club; they make awesome music! Louis Armstrong makes a brief cameo appearance as one of the devil's agents; his talent was completely wasted in this movie. Butterfly McQueen, who plays Lily, a friend of Petunia's, also gets a role much too small for her. Sigh.
The film has many talented actors and performers in it; but truthfully it belongs to Ethel Waters who gives a riveting performance as Petunia Jackson.
The DVD extras include commentary and audio outtakes with still photos while you listen to what was left out of the movie. You also get outtake footage of Lena Horne performing "Ain't It The Truth."
Cabin In The Sky remains a fantastic motion picture jammed full of remarkable talent from an all African American cast. The morality concept of the struggle between heaven and hell is somewhat dated; and the racial stereotypes that were considered "OK" when this movie was made are practically embarrasing.
Despite the flaw regarding racial stereotypes, I still highly recommend this film for fans of African American cinema because it is one of the first movies to have an all black cast. In addition, people who enjoy classic MGM musicals will love the numerous musical numbers in this film as well.
Enjoy!
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