Cabin in the Sky (1943)

Director:

Vincente Minnelli
(more)

Writers:

Joseph Schrank (screen play)
Lynn Root (based upon the book of the musical play by)
(more)

Release Date:

9 April 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Fantasy

Tagline:

Broadway's big, fun-jammed music show is on the screen at last--crowded with stars and songs and spectacle in the famed MGM manner!

Plot:

A compulsive gambler dies during a shooting, but he'll receive a second chance to reform himself and to make up with his worried wife.

Plot Keywords:

Hell | Prayer | Shooting | Church | Gambling Debt

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Ethel Waters	...	Petunia Jackson
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson	...	Little Joe Jackson
Lena Horne	...	Georgia Brown
Louis Armstrong	...	The Trumpeter
Rex Ingram	...	Lucius / Lucifer Jr.
Kenneth Spencer	...	The General / Rev. Green
John William Sublett	...	Domino Johnson (as 'Bubbles' [John W. Sublett])
Oscar Polk	...	The Deacon / Fleetfoot
Mantan Moreland	...	First Idea Man
Willie Best	...	Second Idea Man
Fletcher Rivers	...	Third Idea Man (as Moke [Fletcher Rivers])
Leon James Poke	...	Fourth Idea Man (as Poke [Leon James])
Bill Bailey	...	Bill
Ford Washington Lee	...	Messenger Boy (as 'Buck' [Ford L. Washington])
Butterfly McQueen	...	Lily
Ruby Dandridge	...	Mrs. Kelso
Nick Stewart	...	Dude (as Nicodemus)
Ernest Whitman	...	Jim Henry
Duke Ellington and His Orchestra		(as Duke Ellington and his Orchestra)
Hall Johnson Choir		(as The Hall Johnson Choir)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Duke Ellington	...	Himself
Doris Ake	...	Dancer / Jim Henry Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Juliette Ball	...	Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Lennie Bluett	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Daisy Bufford	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Vivian Dandridge	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Dorothea Durham	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Joel Fluellen	...	Mr. Kelso / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Louise Franklin	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Suzette Harbin	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Avanelle Harris	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Kathleen Hartsfield	...	Dancer at Jim Henry's Paradise (uncredited)
Maggie Hathaway	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Cleo Herndon	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Juanita Moore	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Tommie Moore	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Florence O'Brien	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Neva Peoples	...	Dancer / Jim Henry Patron (uncredited)
Henry Phace Roberts	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Carmencita Romero	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Clinton Rosemond	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Archie Savage	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Johnny Thomas	...	Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
Ernestine Wade	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)

Directed by
Vincente Minnelli
Busby Berkeley		(director: "Shine" sequence) (uncredited)

Writing credits
Joseph Schrank		(screen play)
Lynn Root		(based upon the book of the musical play by)
Marc Connelly		contributing writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Arthur Freed	....	producer
Albert Lewis	....	associate producer

Original Music by
George Bassman		(uncredited)
Roger Edens		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Sidney Wagner		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Harold F. Kress		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis		(set decorations)

Costume Design by
Irene		(costume supervision)

Production Management
Gilbert Kurland	....	unit production manager (uncredited)
Charles Levin	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Al Shenberg	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Hugh Hunt	....	associate set decorator
Leonid Vasian	....	associate art director

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director
William Steinkamp	....	sound (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Howard Shoup	....	associate costume supervisor (as Shoup)
Gile Steele	....	costumes: men's

Music Department
George Bassman	....	orchestrator
Vernon Duke	....	music by
Roger Edens	....	musical adaptation
Hall Johnson	....	choral arrangements
John La Touche	....	lyrics by (as John Latouche)
George Stoll	....	musical director (as Georgie Stoll)

Other crew
Vinton Freedley	....	produced on the stage in association with
Albert Lewis	....	produced on the stage by
Al Hirschfeld	....	poster designer (uncredited)
Millie Monroe	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Archie Savage	....	dance director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1943) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1946) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Family Home Video (video)
• Turner Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Western Electric  sound system

Also Known As:

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #8964) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

This film is generally credited with the first appearance of the "moon walk" dance step. It is performed by Bill Bailey, brother of Pearl Bailey.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the nightclub fight between Domino Johnson and Little Joe, the gunshot he fires accidentally hits Petunia. She falls down on the steps of the staircase, where she drapes her right arm twice over the side.

Quotes:

Joseph 'Little Joe' Jackson:Georgia, Georgia, remember you're a lady now.
Georgia Brown:I know it, sugar. I'm just trying to impress them with that fact.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.21" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe

Something that all ages can yet relate to...

I must admit, as a support to the Harlem Renaissance, I show this film to my students. No child has ever been left unaffected at seeing this film. What a wonderfully touching film. It addresses real issues of today in a yesterday atmosphere. The cinematography is somewhat lacking, but for the 1940s that is of no diminish to the beauty of this film. In addition, it is yet a marker to the contribution of the African American to the film industry and well worth the title of one of life's best kept African American secrets. The actors in the film also warrant acclaim for this. This all person-of-color film is so lovely, emotion filled and real, who would not want to spend their time evaluating its worth? As a 7th grade Language Arts instructor who is greatly proud of her heritage and the contributions my ancestors and friends have made, I am indeed proud of this cinematic star-studded glimpse of the past. And, I still cry every time I watch it today...