Stormy Weather (1943)

Director:

Andrew L. Stone

Writers:

Frederick J. Jackson (screen play) and
Ted Koehler (screen play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 November 1943 (Sweden)

Genre:

Musical

Plot:

The relationship between an aspiring dancer and a popular songstress provides a retrospective of the great African American entertainers of the early 1900s.

Plot Keywords:

Dancer | African American | Singer | Tap Dancing | Jazz

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Lena Horne	...	Selina Rogers
Bill Robinson	...	Bill Williamson
Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra	...	Cab Calloway Orchestra (as Cab Calloway and His Band)
Katherine Dunham and Her Troupe	...	Dance TRoupe
Fats Waller	...	'Fats' Waller
The Nicholas Brothers	...	Dancers (as Nicholas Brothers)
Ada Brown	...	Singer
Dooley Wilson	...	Gabe Tucker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cab Calloway	...	Can Calloway
Katherine Dunham	...	Katherine Dunham
The Tramp Band	...	The Tramp Band
Doris Ake	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Juliette Ball	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Lucille Battle	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Matthew 'Stymie' Beard	...	Stagehand (uncredited)
Talley Beatty	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Lennie Bluett	...	Dancer / Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Anise Boyer	...	Singer (uncredited)
Teddy Buckner	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Judy Carol	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Benny Carter	...	Trumpeter (uncredited)
Janet Collins	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Vivian Dandridge	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Robert Felder	...	Cab Calloway, Jr. (uncredited)
Louise Franklin	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Ruby Golden	...	Fat Girl (uncredited)
Suzette Harbin	...	Dancer / Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Avanelle Harris	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Kathleen Hartsfield	...	Hatcheck Girl / Dancer (uncredited)
Maggie Hathaway	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Charles Hawkins	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Coleman Hawkins	...	Saxophonist (uncredited)
Cleo Herndon	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Johnny Horace	...	Member The Shadracks (uncredited)
Illinois Jacquet	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Mae E. Johnson	...	May Johnson (uncredited)
Jo Jones	...	Drummer (uncredited)
Jeni Le Gon	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Johnny Lee	...	Lyles (uncredited)
Rosalie Lincoln	...	Dancer (uncredited)
F.E. Miller	...	Skit (uncredited)
Taps Miller	...	Trumpeter (uncredited)
Millie Monroe	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Tommie Moore	...	Dancer / Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Fayard Nicholas	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Harold Nicholas	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Florence O'Brien	...	Tucker's Gold-Digging Girlfriend (uncredited)
Neva Peoples	...	Nightclub Dancer (uncredited)
Henry Phace Roberts	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Ruth Scott	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Zutty Singleton	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Ned Stanfield	...	Member The Shadracks (uncredited)
Nick Stewart	...	Cousin Jake (uncredited)
Johnny Thomas	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Lena Torrence	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Emmett 'Babe' Wallace	...	Chick Bailey (uncredited)
Ernest Whitman	...	Jim Europe (uncredited)
Artie Young	...	Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Andrew L. Stone		(as Andrew Stone)

Writing credits
Frederick J. Jackson		(screen play) (as Frederick Jackson) and
Ted Koehler		(screen play)
H.S. Kraft		(adaptation)
Jerry Horwin		(from an original story by) and
Seymour B. Robinson		(from an original story by)

Produced by
William LeBaron	....	producer

Original Music by
Cyril J. Mockridge		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Leon Shamroy		(director of photography)
Lee Garmes		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
James B. Clark		(film editor)

Art Direction by
James Basevi
Joseph C. Wright

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little		(set decorations)
Fred J. Rode		(set decorations)

Costume Design by
Helen Rose		(costumes designed by: musical sequences)

Makeup Department
Guy Pearce	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Abe Steinberg	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Alfred Bruzlin	....	sound
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)

Special Effects by
Fred Sersen	....	special photographic effects

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department
Connie Bemis	....	composer: African Dance
Fanchon	....	musical sequences supervisor
Emil Newman	....	musical director
Benny Carter	....	musical director (uncredited)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Gene Rose	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Irving Mills	....	assistant to producer
Clarence Robinson	....	dances stager: musical sequences
Nick Castle	....	dance director (uncredited)
Maggie Hathaway	....	stand-in: Lena Horne (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1943) (USA) (theatrical) (as 20th Century Fox)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (certificate #9101) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Stage 14, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The Nicholas Brothers' "Jumpin Jive" dance number was done in one take.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: The first time Selena says "Bill Williamson" (in the first scene, before her character has met him) her mouth quite clearly says "Bill Robinson. Bill Robinson played Bill Williamson.

Movie Connections:

Edited into American Pop (1981)

Soundtrack:

Stormy Weather

singin in the rain

A sensational treat for anyone who does NOT love musicals to re wire their brain into why 40s dance musicals are often a major discovery. In Australia in 1944 - and I am sure many other Anglo countries, this awesome musical was NOT released! It was considered 'not for us' by the dim censorship board of the time. It was seen in a major release in Sydney in the late 80s and scored a bullseye with modern audiences immediately. Other commenters here will fill you in on the storyline and some sneer pointlessly, but take the general consensus that this is the major showcase of black talent on film from the time. Seen in a cinema the audience nearly loses their mind (and seats ) during the finale with the Nicholas Brothers. I like the woman listed here who showed it to high school kids who loved it...and that is the real test of a great old' film. I have had the same unforgettable experience in cinemas showing this film. It is absolute dynamite! Teenage boys especially watching this get the shock of their young minds at a genuine 1943 rap scene on board a paddleboat. The 90s rap performer EEK-A-MOUSE definitely got his look from this film!