CABIN IN THE SKY (DVD/P&S-1.33/ENG-FR-SP SUB) DVD

Cabin in the Sky
MGM knew it would take a bath on its all-black musical Cabin in the Sky (few Southern theaters of 1943 would touch the film), but the studio still provided its standard A-plus production values to the film; besides, it served as a training ground for up-and-coming director Vincente Minnelli. Based on the Broadway musical by Lynn Root, John LaTouche, and Vernon Duke, the film tells the story of Joe (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson), a shantytown denizen torn between the affections of faithful wife Petunia (Ethel Waters) and slinky seductress Georgia (Lena Horne). Seriously injured in a barroom brawl, Joe dreams that he is the centerpiece of a celestial power struggle between a heavenly emissary (Kenneth Spencer) and Lucifer Jr. (Rex Ingram, who ironically had played "De Lawd" in The Green Pastures). Joe is given another chance to redeem himself on Earth, lest he fall into the clutches of the Devil's little boy. Louis Armstrong briefly shows up, appropriately cast as "The Trumpeter." Song highlights include "Taking a Chance on Love," "Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe," "Life's Full of Consequences," and the title song. A troubled production thanks to the on-set rivalry between Ethel Waters and Lena Horne, Cabin in the Sky is nonetheless an excellent first feature effort from Vincente Minnelli. Thanks to his careful treatment of the material, the expected patronization of the black characters does not impede latter-day enjoyment of the film as much as it might have. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast Ethel Waters as Petunia Jackson Eddie "Rochester" Anderson as Little Joe Jackson Lena Horne as Georgia Brown Louis Armstrong as The Trumpeter Rex Ingram as Lucius Lucifer, Jr. Kenneth Spencer as Rev. Green, the General John "Bubbles" Sublett as Domino Oscar Polk as The Deacon/Flatfoot Mantan Moreland as First Idea Man Willie Best as Second Idea Man Fletcher Rivers as Third Idea Man, Moke Leon James as Fourth Idea Man, Poke William Norton Bailey as Bill Ford L. Washington as Messenger Boy Butterfly McQueen as Lily Ruby Dandridge as Mrs. Kelso Ernest Whitman as Jim Henry

Crew Edwin B. Willis - Art Director Hugh Hunt - Art Director Albert Lewis - Associate Producer Vincente Minnelli - Director Harold Kress - Editor Harold Arlen - Composer (Music Score) Duke Ellington - Composer (Music Score) Roger Edens - Composer (Music Score) George Bassman - Composer (Music Score) E.Y. "Yip" Harburg - Composer (Music Score) George Stoll - Musical Direction/Supervision Harold Arlen - Songwriter Duke Ellington - Songwriter E.Y. "Yip" Harburg - Songwriter John Latouche - Songwriter Sidney Wagner - Cinematographer Arthur Freed - Producer Cedric Gibbons - Set Designer Leonid Vasian - Set Designer Joseph Schrank - Screenwriter Lynn Root - Play Author Vernon Duke - Play Author

Cabin in the Sky
Cabin in the Sky was an auspicious directorial debut for the young Vincente Minnelli and provided Ethel Waters and Lena Horne with an excellent showcase for their considerable talents. Although the film is often criticized for what today are regarded as stereotypical characteristics (e.g., a weakness for gambling, a childish world view, oversimplified religious beliefs, etc.), overall Minnelli treats the story as the simple folktale it essentially is. His finely honed visual sense is evident in the careful compositions he creates for the camera and in the precise attention to detail in the sets and costumes. Minnelli also keeps the pace moving at a nice clip, although he's not afraid to slow things down when necessary -- as when Waters lovingly and deliberately intones the beautiful "Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe." Waters is wonderful throughout, creating a clearly drawn portrait of a woman whose love for two things -- her man and her religion -- will get her through anything. She punches home her laugh lines like the seasoned pro she is and demonstrates in "Taking a Chance on Love," and the title song, why she was one of the finest singers of her day. Horne matches her every step of the way, exuding an exquisite sultriness and demonstrating in her own numbers that hers is not a voice to be taken for granted. Eddie "Rochester" Anderson is a lovable and winning Joe, and the rest of the cast is quite good. The film's surprise critical success helped Minnelli land the job of directing the classic Meet Me in St. Louis the following year. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
 

E.Y. "Yip" Harburg: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Song (nominated) Harold Arlen: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Song (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: cc Commentary by Evangela Anderson and Eva Anderson (wife and daughter of Eddie "Rochester" Anderson), Fayard Nicholas, Black Cultural Scholars Todd Boyd and Drew Casper, with interview excerpts of Lena Horne Vintage Pete Smith Specialty short "Studio Visit" Audio-only bonus: Louis Armstrong "Ain't It the Truth" outtake Theatrical trailer DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 98 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1 -- Cabin in the Sky 1. Credits and Foreword [2:09] 2. Talent for Gambling [3:59] 3. Li'l Black Sheep [2:57] 4. Trouble [3:34] 5. Lucifer Jr. [4:39] 6. The General [4:49] 7. Little Joe's Reprieve [3:08] 8. Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe [3:31] 9. Roll of the Dice [3:09] 10. Cabin in the Sky [6:28] 11. Hotel Hades Idea Dept. [5:13] 12. Georgia Moseys [1:39] 13. Happy Birthday [2:07] 14. Taking a Chance on Love [4:41] 15. News Worth Reading [3:54] 16. Georgia on His Mind [4:49] 17. Life's Full of Consequences [2:01] 18. Petunia's Breaking Point [2:58] 19. Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe Reprise [2:24] 20. Duke at Jim Henry's [3:40] 21. Domino Johnson [1:39] 22. Shine [3:04] 23. Grand Entrance [1:53] 24. Honey in the Honeycomb [1:29] 25. Blossoming Petunia [3:42] 26. Honey in the Honeycomb Reprise [2:21] 27. Stormy Weather [2:44] 28. Devilish Demotion [4:10] 29. Stairway to Heaven [2:41] 30. Taking a Chance on Love Reprise [2:47]